Surgery
Lynn and I spent a week in Fairbanks on our initial trip into town. We had a hard time finding a sitter for Snowball so we took her to town with us. We ended up staying at a TLF at Eielson AFB. The surgeon took some additional X-rays and a CAT scan of Lynn’s wrist and decided to do surgery the next day. She had two stainless steel pins inserted into her wrist to stabilize the fracture. The pins protruded from the skin so they could be removed later. We stayed a couple of days after the surgery so the doctor could ensure everything was healing properly. Galena was playing in a basketball tournament on Eielson just a few blocks from our lodging, so we went and saw a couple of games until Lynn needed to go back and rest. I have pictures of the pins in her wrist but she doesn’t think most people would like to see them.
One week later
We went back to Fairbanks a week later to have her wrist rechecked and I needed training on doing the pin site maintenance. Since the pins protruded from the skin they required daily cleaning to prevent infection. Everything looked good and we gathered up the necessary medical supplies and returned to Galena.
One month after surgery
After the pins had been in a month we went back and had them removed. Not as bad as you would think. They pulled them out in the office, (we kept them to show her students). Lynn had a cast put on her wrist to allow the injury to completely heal. She was happy to get the pins out and stop having to wear a sling. I think the sling bothered her more than anything.
Back to Fairbanks
We go back to Fairbanks this Wednesday after school, she is supposed to have the cast taken off Thursday and then start rehab. The doctor told her it would probably take until the first part of August to regain full use of her wrist. We are both getting tired of eating my cooking and it really bothers her that she can’t do any of the work around the house. She is a much better cook than me but the doctor won’t let her do anything with her right hand at this time. She is still working on her doctorate so I had to buy software that would allow her to dictate to her computer. The weather has really started warming up but hovers near freezing during the day. This actually makes the ground slicker than when it is very cold. It is very dangerous for Lynn to walk right now so we have to be very careful when outside. I have been busy with work and doing the chores around the house. Hopefully things will slow down after she gets the cast off.