My Crazy Summer — Part 2 by Margaret Hart

I’ve been absent from my blog for the past couple of weeks in part due to what I wrote about in my last blog, “My Crazy Summer.”

My mother and sister arrived at my house on June 30th, and my sister had total knee replacement surgery on July 9th. She’s currently at in-patient rehab, and due to be discharged later this week.

Prior to surgery there was a flurry of activity with last-minute, pre-op tests. Since the surgery, my mother and I have spent 14-hour days at the hospital keeping my sister company, explaining what she doesn’t understand, helping to allay her fears, and in general, helping her cope.

The surgery is considered “medium risk” and there’s always concern about blood clots and infection. But for my sister, who is an individual with Down’s Syndrome, it was just frightening. Fortunately, she had one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the Northeast, and was treated at a hospital that has received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for excellence in total hip and knee replacement; this, along with the fact that my mother went through the same surgery in February, gave us some peace of mind.

Given that my mom and sister are several states and hundreds of miles from home, I’ve been helping with most of the logistics. I’ve also been trying to provide moral support for my mother—as a mom, I know how hard it is for a mother to see her child in pain. I’ve also been trying to be the best big sister I can be!

So my crazy summer is half over and I have survived! I’m looking forward to the “dog days” spent at the pool, our beach vacation, and a family get-together with my husband’s brothers and all the cousins, before gearing up for “back to school.” It will be here before I know it!

Tags: beach, big sisters, family, mothers, pool, summer, total knee replacement surgery