Second and Third Operations

 

            The second cryothalamotomy was for the right side. Remember I am improving a bit on the left side. This surgery was performed in June 1969. I don’t recall this one that well. I do know they shaved my head all over again, but I was expecting it this time. Dr. Alexander was furious. He said they shouldn’t shave my head to where I was bald! There wasn’t any improvement this time.

            So, I had my third surgery. That would be in December 1969 for the right side. This time I was home for Christmas! I recall certain things about this one.

            First, I was working on a Christmas skirt for the tree with my first grade, homebound, teacher when the call came for my surgery date. Mom came upstairs to tell me thinking I would be distracted. I remember that all I wanted to do was finish my masterpiece and stay home. We did finish the skirt, and we have put it around the tree every year. I still use that homemade Christmas skirt. It reminds me of how far I have come.

            Second, Dr. Alexander shaved my head! He wasn’t trusting anyone else to do it. As I said, we had gotten to be pretty close by then. He carefully shaved only the top of my head. I’m not sure he did me any favors though. Instead of looking like a cue ball, my hair was growing on the sides with the middle missing; a backward mohawk, if you will. it looked weird. But he tried, and it did grow back.

            Third, I remember lifting both my arm and leg without any movements for Dr. Alexander during the operation! I think when we both saw that, we felt like rejoicing! I do recall a bit, just a tiny bit, of resistance when I put my right arm back down. (Maybe I am recalling another time.)

            Fourth, the next day I ate a hamburger with both hands! Now I know it is a small thing that most everyone does, but for me this was a major improvement!  If I want, I can remember the feel of that hamburger laying in both my hands! Just think a minute, one day my movements are so bad I cannot eat by myself to two days later, when I can hold and eat a hamburger all by myself! You see, when one part of the body moves, it messes up the other side too. (I can tell that as I type this.)

            Fifth, the uncontrolled movements came back. I am not sure why but by the time I got home, five days following the operation, I was back to where I started. That was like reaching heaven only to be told you are going back to hell.

            But I gradually started improving.

            It was a few years later when Dr. Alexander wanted us to “meet” a colleague of his. I was still in a wheelchair at this time, but I remember my mother and Dr. Alexander talking about “legions.” Dr. Alexander had forgotten I knew exactly what they were discussing! He wanted me to go to Canada for another surgery! By the time we saw this other doctor, I was in tears! I didn’t want another surgery! Been there and done that! This other doctor said he would not recommend it because when I cried, I was relaxed. Thank goodness, I think. Maybe if I had gone, I would be well now, or I could be so much worse. Oh well…

            It is best not to look back; just go forward with what is. Go forward, I have.