I received another “note” from Mary Lynn Tumniello Johnson on her progress following knee surgery. Its included below.
Family and Friends,
This is my third report to you on my progress in the rehab facility. Most of what I have to report is about the same, yet there continues to be improvement in my leg agility.
The doctor came in yesterday and said the leg looks good. It's healing as it should and beginning to lose its bruising. The staples will come out on Thursday and I go home on Friday. As of today, they are monitoring me to see how independent I will be when I leave here. I got a cane to walk with in my morning session. It feels less supportive than the walker.
While contemplating my stay here, I realized that there were items that I was stashing. So here is my top 10 list of items to stash.
Saving/Stashing, AKA Hoarding in the Rehabilitation Hospital
10. Napkins. They give you one or sometimes two. Who can eat a meal so neatly while sitting up in bed that more than one napkin is not necessary?
9. Plastic ware. I have needed a spoon at 3 in the morning, a fork after midnight or a knife to cut my dessert AFTER the tray has gone back. So now I lick them clean and stash them in a drawer.
8. Wash Rags. They give you plenty but they pick them all up, whether they are clean or dirty, and you are left with...none. I'm stashing those suckers in my underwear drawer.
7. Pillows. Not all pillows are equal. Some are so flat I cannot tell they are under my leg. Others are okay. None are fluffy, full pillows. The Hilton, this ain't! I did think to bring one of my favorite pillows to keep under my head. Used my head! Snicker, snicker.
6. Ice. The ice melts faster than a glacier would if dragged to the middle latitudes. I am constantly asking for more ice. They do accommodate. This is an un-stashable item.
5. Crackers for snacks. I have been hoarding my little packages of crackers. In part I save them because THEY FORGET TO GIVE THEM TO ME ON THE MEAL TRAY and in part because they are a good 3 am snack. Waste not, want not!
4. Food. I do not ever let the food tray go back without my first taking inventory and deciding what I can graze on until the next meal comes. For instance, I kept my cheerios from breakfast in case I would want it before PT or after. I got thrown off my plan when the head PT guy decided to keep me there for 2 hours this morning instead of one. I missed my snack cereal. I was starving for my lunch. It came. I had ordered chicken fingers, squash casserole and corn bites, a salad and cookies. They forgot my roll and gave me the wrong dressing for the salad. I am keeping the salad for an afternoon treat and may eat the chicken. If not, I will offer it to Phillip when he gets here. If he doesn't want it, then it will go to the trash. Waste not, want not...
3. Artificial sweetener/powdered creamer. This one really bugs me. When I get my coffee and it's hot, that's when I want, nay, need, my sweetener and creamer. By the time they get back to me the coffee is cold. I am stashing those two items big time. In fact, one of the nurse technicians just brought me a whole round container of the creamer. It's good to make friends in the hospital. By the way, I brought my flower pens for the surgery hospital and here and they have been a hit. I came with 30 and have had to make an additional 20 more. I only give them to "friends." I have scores now.
2. Extra salt/pepper. It's the same principle with the sweetener and creamer. Get it to me with the meal, gosh darn it! The food gets cold too quickly. That stash is not as large as the sweetener but it's an amount that makes me feel secure if not smug for having it in hiding.
Drum roll please.
1. Toilet tissue. I have a thing about toilet tissue. I want lots of it in storage. Never, but never, do I want to run out of TP. I noticed a while ago that I currently have only the roll that is on holder thingy. I'll get my pal to bring in a couple of rolls for me.
This list is to serve as a guide for anyone who will be confined in a hospital or similar facility. I consider it a public service that I took the time to make the list for my friends so they will be better prepared when they go to a hospital. It's far better to take care of yourself--and they will like you better for it--than to be a whining, snotty-nosed adult about it all.
I'll be home on Friday.
In residence,
Mary Lynn
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