Second and Third Weeks After Surgery

Hadrian went back to see Dr. Cullen on the 11th day after surgery. They clipped her stitches and cleaned up her incisions. And, they put tape on her incisions to hold them together. Dr. Cullen said she is looking good!!

Her right leg will flex and has mobility, but her left leg is being really stubborn. So, Hadrian needs to get into physical therapy right away to stretch the muscles in her left calf.

We took Hadrian's crutches, and they adjusted them to fit her and gave her a lesson on how to walk with them! So, no more wheel chair!! We have advanced to crutches!

Hadrian went back to school for a half day with her crutches on Day 12. She said it got old telling the story over . . . and over . . . and over again. She said every person at school asked her "what happened?!" And, I think she "grossed" a few of them out by pulling down her support stockings! HA

Hadrian started physical therapy on Day 18. After the first day, she was in pain again. After the second day of therapy, she was able to walk on her own without crutches! Yay! She looks normal again! She has had three sessions total, and she will continue therapy for a while.

Things are pretty much back to normal at our house. Hadrian is driving again and definitely making up for lost time with her friends!!

We go back to see Dr. Cullen again on Monday, and I think he will be pleased with her progress.

Thanks to all for your prayers! Hadrian has done amazingly well! : )

Days Six through Ten of Recovery

On Wednesday night, May 5th, Hadrian went to support her teammates in the second round of the state playoffs. Cory is pushing her out to the car! This is the first day she put on compression stockings. One of the main concerns now is preventing blood clots.

After the soccer game, we stopped at Frontera to eat and to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Yum!! Hadrian kept her legs elevated in a chair.

Thursday, Hadrian couldn't move! She had a few really good days before Thursday, but apparently she did too much too soon. She was in lots of pain again and had to stay medicated so she slept all day. And, we had to get to Warner Robins for her sister's graduation, so we left really late Thursday night after we got Hadrian ready.

Hadrian with her two sisters, Hannah and Haley

Friday, May 7

Going to graduation was a bigger ordeal than I thought it would be. Haley's husband, Austin, helped me get Hadrian loaded in the car and drove us to Macon to the coliseum. But, when we arrived, we quickly realized there were NO handicapped parking spaces! Lots of handicapped grandparents go to graduation ceremonies! So, we had to unload Hadrian out of the car, and then Austin had to go find a place to park the car. And, when we finally got in the coliseum, all of the handicapped seats were taken! Some really sweet old people offered to squeeze Hadrian's wheelchair in between theirs, but Hadrian declined. She did not want to sit in the middle of a group of elderly people that she didn't know for the entire graduation ceremony! (ha) So, we wheeled her all the way to the other side of the coliseum and found a seat for her. Whew! We finally got settled in to watch the ceremony!

Haley had a graduation party at her house on Friday night. Hadrian was given baby duty since she couldn't get up. I think she was perfectly fine with that! Haley's niece, Kaitlyn, is an absolute sweetheart!

Hadrian got Kaitlyn to sleep and loved snuggling with her! : )

We came home from Warner Robins on Saturday afternoon. Hadrian was still using the ice packs, staying elevated, still in her wheelchair, wearing the compression stockings, and occasionally took her pain meds. She seems to be doing well, and continuing to recover!

Days Five and Six After Surgery/Pictures of Incisions!

Pictures of the Incisions on Fifth Day

Outside Right Leg

Inside Right Leg




Outside Left Leg

Inside Left Leg

Hadrian spent her fifth and sixth days after surgery trying to stand up and regain some mobility. She was able to bathe in the tub which was major progress! And, she had good spells with no pain mixed in with some painful episodes - all perfectly normal on the road to recovery. We continued with the ice packs and pain medicine and celebrated baby steps!!

Day Four - Turning Point

Yesterday was the fourth day after surgery for Hadrian. And, it was definitely a good day! She did not need any of her pain medication at all. This was a big change from the three days before when she was taking two pills every three hours. Hadrian woke up yesterday and said she wasn't hurting, and she made it through the entire day and night without asking for her meds! Yay!!

And, I held her up and she actually took some steps yesterday, too! From what I have read, people sometimes have surgery on one leg at a time, so they have one good leg to assist with walking on crutches. Once the one heals, they go back and do the other leg. So, progress will be slower, and it will obviously take Hadrian a while to walk since she had surgery on both.

We unwrapped and checked her legs again yesterday. She has lots of bruising up and down her calves, and she has a big blister under one of her bandaids. I called the nurse this morning, and she said blisters are actually normal, so no worries.

So, we continue with the ice packs. I go out and buy ice everyday to keep her cooler pumping cold, cold water. The girl at the Kroger gas station probably wonders why I show up every day and buy a 20 lb. bag of ice!! lol

So, Day Four was definitely the turning point for us - from constant pain to no pain! And, Hadrian was just a happy girl yesterday. She actually got bored, and we watched funny stuff on the laptop! Laughter is also great for healing!

Thank you very much for all of your prayers! I see that they are working!

The Big Reveal

Hadrian and her friend, Cory, starting to take off the wrappings on her legs.

The ice pack

The ten pounds of cotton underneath the ice pack!

And, finally, we actually see the first big boo boo!

The incisions in both legs!

Not so bad!

Well, we finally got to see what was hiding underneath all of the bandages, then Hadrian and Cory wrapped her legs all up again!

Saturday Update - The Soccer Banquet

Just a quick update to let you know that Hadrian is still alive and . . . . . well, not kicking! She is wiggling her toes which we are proud of. The pain has come and gone with bad moments and good moments. But, overall, she is doing well and remains in good spirits. Yesterday, her day was filled with getting ready for her high school soccer banquet. She started about 1 p.m. knowing that she wouldn't be going to the banquet until around 8 p.m. It was an all day process, and we had to allow plenty of time for resting!

Hadrian had to put on her bathing suit to get her hair washed.

Hannah washed Hadrian's hair! What a great sister!!

Hannah and I were exhausted running up and down the stairs for Hadrian all day. We had to get her tweezers, her makeup bag, the hair straightener, her body spray, her dress, her underwear, and on, and on, and on. LOL

And, in between this, I was packing the cooler for her ice packs, getting her drinks, her pain medicine, her food, and trying to keep her comfortable. : )

She was allowed to go to the banquet for 30 minutes (approved by her doctor), so we didn't go until after the dinner and jv awards were over.

Her teammates were really happy to see her!! Hadrian was just glad to be there!

And, I was thrilled that we were able to get out of the house for an hour! We feel really blessed to be doing so well!