Lance Armstrong bristled. He bristled when someone implied that it’s easy for him climb steep mountains on a bicycle. And not just climbing, but climbing fast. Did they believe him when he told about his legs burning and his lungs bursting? He said what about it? It doesn’t get any easier, it just gets faster. …
Gerry and I were married for 22 years. The following is from her Memorial Service in our hometown of Maryville, Tennessee. …
I was five years old at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. I was the youngest of three brothers, one of whom would later enlist in the army and be killed fighting in France. …
Down under Gregory’s Bald at the west end of the park is Big Shuckstack. A lookout tower is there. Forest rangers used to climb up and sit and watch for signs of smoke. Lower still is Little Shuckstack. It is steep between the two and your knees will let you know, don’t worry, as they did us ten or so Scouts the day we climbed down. …
After a total hip replacement, rehabilitation must become a top priority and probably an obsession.
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For the first two days following my hip surgery the pain was managed by the epidural which I activated with my friendly hand pump. After this they took out the tube that injected this into my spinal fluid and I went on oral pain medications. I recall that my surgeon had asked if I had ever taken Percocet before and my answer was no. Percocet was what I began taking for pain and to be able to get some sleep.
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I was in two hospitals with my hip replacement. The first was where I had the surgery and stayed for several days. The other was a rehabilitation hospital and I was there for several days as well. Although physical and occupational therapy were begun almost immediately at the surgical hospital, these were a focus at the rehabilitation hospital.
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Unknown to me, of course, my hip replacement lasted three hours. At 7:30 p.m. my very tired surgeon spoke with my wife and daughter, reported that things had gone as planned, and that they could see me shortly in the recovery area. …
The thing about major surgery is that you place yourself in the hands of others, most of them strangers, and become totally helpless. I remember saying to the anesthesia guy that I had three requests: put me out before the surgery starts, keep me out while it goes on, and be sure to wake me up afterward. …
A lot led up to my complete hip replacement on September 29, 2009. Thinking back on my decision process, I now know it was an evolution directed by my deteriorating condition. It was a long journey from a time where I thought I might need and benefit from surgery to one where no other choice was possible. …