CHECK IN AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR AND A NEW SURGERY

My friends,

I wish to express my great thanks for all your prayers. They have been a great comfort and assist in yet another surgery. Having surgery at a major hospital in the midst of a pandemic surge is challenging. Ruthie and I got to the hospital at 8:30 am. She was allowed to only be there for a short time and then was required to leave. From about 9:45 am to when I left post-op, she basically sat in the car until she was called to pick me up. Because we live so far away from the hospital, it did not make sense for her to go home. The fact that the temperature was sub-zero, made things all the more difficult for her. The surgery lasted about 90 minutes. Ruthie and I got home around 2 pm. Our daughter, Meg, had to work that day, but set up the portable ramp into the house. Our son, Andy, and our grandson, Aidan, were on hand to wheel me into the house, thank God. With the bitter cold and snow, it was more of a challenge than it would have been in warmer months.

While I am unable to put full weight on my right foot, because of the location of the incisions, I am able to put weight on the point of the heel of my right foot. That is a great assist as I transfer to and from my chair, commode, and bed to my knee scooter. Trying to negotiate our cracker box 1930’s house in a knee scooter is a challenge and frustrating, but not impossible. I think I used up all the profane words the Benedictines taught me in high school within the first day and a half, and then decided instead of calling upon Almighty God to damn all the obstacles, chose to take a deep breath and think of how to negotiate the obstacles. I now reserve those words the Benedictines monks taught me in high school for the conservative majority of the Supreme Court and most of those in the political party of trump, and traditionalists and restorationist clergy and bishops who are in opposition to Pope Francis in the Catholic Church.

I am extremely blessed to be married to one of the greatest nurses on this planet. Ruthie takes such good care of me. I try to fend for myself as much as I am able, but still rely upon her to bring breakfast and supper to me. Every night, Ruthie changes the surgical dressings. So far everything is looking good. There is very little discharge from the two incisions (one long one on the top of the foot and one on the side of the foot in which screws were inserted), and no sign of infection thus far (thank God!). The pain block lasted a good 24 hours after surgery and began to wear off at around 2 am Wednesday morning. That was the first time I took any pain medication, with the exception of extra strength Tylenol, to take the edge off the pain (about a 7 on the pain scale). I took another pain med at 5 pm Wednesday and took my last pain med at 10:30 pm that same day. Since then, I have very little pain.

I will be seeing my surgeon January 28th to get the stitches out and get x-rays (hopefully everything is healing the way it is suppose to). Though it is a few days past the normal two week period, my surgeon is down in New Prague that day making it a lot easier for Ruthie and I. If everything looks good, I will be able to begin putting full weight on my right foot again by the last Friday in February.

With occasional journeys to the bathroom, or to the kitchen to get an apple or fill up my water thermos, I spend most of my time in the chair with my feet elevated. Time is spent petting the dog (a lot), listening to podcasts or books, watching television, paying bills, working a little on income tax, and the occasional nap. It has been six months since I have composed music, so I will return to composing another song cycle of music based on the Canticle of the Creatures (Canticle of the Sun and Moon) written by Francis of Assisi. With the exception of reading the Star Trib every morning, I try to abstain from watching the news on cable television, a near occasion of sin for me, opting to focus my attention on something else when Ruthie watches her news programs in the morning and afternoon.

Because I am expending very little energy, I monitor what I eat and how much I eat. Of course, prayer remains major pillars in my day. I remember all of you in prayer in the morning, and remember many who have gone before me in life, in the evening. All in all, while I had not included in my plans for this winter and new year a broken foot, a Covid infection, and surgery, I still have so very little about which to complain. I was largely asymptomatic during the Covid infection, thanks to the vaccinations and booster. I was utterly surprised to find that I tested negative a week ago for Covid, understanding that following a Covid infection, most people continue to test positive up to 90 days following the infection (due to the shedding of dead virus). The care and love I receive at home by my family is extraordinary.

It is easy to look over all the hospitalizations and surgeries I have had during my life and be bitter and shake my fist to the heavens in anger at God. What I have learned from all those hospitalizations and surgeries is that as hard as they are when being experienced, they have been moments from which I have grown as a person and as a deacon. They also have been moments in which I find myself not set a part from a suffering humanity, but in solidarity with a suffering humanity. I have come to a far greater understanding of words written by a woman who suffered from a chronic illness. She wrote, “The words that I hate to hear people say is, ‘There by the grace of God go I.’ These words are a mean spirited condemnation by those who look down on others who are different from themselves because of illness, injury, addiction, or sexual orientation. After years of suffering from my chronic illness, I prefer the words, “Here by the grace of God I AM!'”

So, week One is now past, week Two has begun, and a week from this Friday, I will know whether the surgery remains successful. I pray that when the first day of March arrives, I will be able to get out and walk, perhaps with a walker, and see you all. In the meantime, I will pray for you as you continue to pray for me.

Peace,

Bob Wagner