I AM HOME!

I CAME HOME ON THE 5TH OF FEBRUARY AND IT FEELS GREAT! ALTHOUGH NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO STAY HOME. I QUICKLY TOOK OFF THE NEXT THURSDAY AND HEADED DOWN SOUTH TO ST GEORGE. WE HAD A FUN WEEKEND IN THE SUN, WATCHING WILL PLAY IN HIS SOCCER TOURNAMENT AND HANGING OUT WITH SYDNEY. IT WAS HARD TO COME BACK TO THIS COLD WEATHER!
YES, I AM HOME, BUT NOW THE WORK BEGINS! AFTER LAYING AROUND FOR 3 MONTHS AND THEN THE LAST 15 DAYS IN AGGRESSIVE REHAB.............I AM READY FOR SOME ACTIVITY.
I ACTUALLY WALKED FOR THE FIRST TIME, WITH A FOREARM WALKER, THE END OF JANUARY. I HAVE TAKEN ABOUT 50-75 STEPS A DAY SINCE. I CAN'T WAIT TO SHAKE THE ALUMINUM ACCESSORY AND DO IT ON MY OWN! THE WHEELCHAIR IS MY MAIN MODE OF TRANSPORTATION NOW. (IT'S DEFINITELY TEMPORARY)
AFTER MY CHECK-UP TODAY WITH MY ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST, I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AND TO HAVE THE MOVEMENT I HAVE. I WILL MAKE A FULL RECOVERY! NOT SURE I WILL BE AS QUICK ON MY FEET, BUT I FEEL BLESSED! I AM FULL OF RODS, SCREWS AND PLATES, BUT NO WORRIES! I AM DETERMINED TO GET BACK TO A HUM DRUM BORING LIFE! AND THE FOOD IS MUCH BETTER!
THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE MY CHEFS, CHAUFFEURS, AND HOUSEKEEPERS! LIFE IS GOOD!
I LOVE EACH OF YOU!

Traci is coming home!!

Friday, February 5th, Traci will be leaving the Rehab Center and coming home for the first time since November 1st, 2009. She is filled with mixed emotions, gratitude and love. The Elders and Priests in the ward, under the direction of Wade Mattson, built a first class ramp to facilitate her wheel chair getting in and out of the house. Traci can walk on her own, but will need to practice and get more steady on her feet. Every weekday but Thursday, she will return to rehab for therapy. The Relief Society has arranged meals and is ready and willing to help out any where they are needed. WELCOME HOME!!

I AM STANDING!

Traci started today in the pool. She is standing and putting weight on her feet.

Young Women Visit

For our combined Young Women activity, we all piled in cars and went to visit Traci. We purchased an older looking Book of Mormon and each young woman that was willing to commit to reading the Book of Mormon for the stake virtue challenge signed the book. We presented the book to Traci and talked about our experiences as we read and finished, or didn't finish the Book of Mormon. It was a touching reunion, full of laughter, hugs and tears. Traci, you are truely a Christlike example to all of us! We love you!

I HAVE MOVED!!

I AM NOW LIVING BACK AT UTAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER. I HAVE GRADUATED TO REHAB AND IF ALL GOES WELL, I WILL BE HOME IN 2 WEEKS! I CAN'T WAIT!

THE LAST SURGERY WENT WELL. I HAVE IMPROVED THE RANGE OF MOTION IN BOTH KNEES AND IT FEELS GREAT TO SEE MY LEGS BEND!

I WILL SPEND THE NEXT 2 WEEKS SWIMMING IN A 90 DEGREE POOL, STRETCHING MY KNEES, AND TRYING TO TURN MY FLAB BACK INTO MUSCLE! IT'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD!

THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE PRAYED FOR ME AND MY FAMILY! I HAVE ENJOYED ALL THE VISITS, TEXTS AND CARDS!

LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU ALL!
TRACI

SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE CEDAR PASS 2ND WARD YOUNG WOMEN AND YW LEADERS: SEEING ALL OF YOU ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME. THE SPECIAL GIFT THAT YOU GAVE TO ME TOUCHED ME DEEPLY. I LOVED THE NEW BOOK OF MORMON YOU GAVE ME TOO! I CAN'T WAIT TO BE BACK WITH YOU!

Update

Traci went under the knife again on Wednesday. Surgery #10. They did whatever it is they do to break up the scar tissue in both of her knees. She is continuing her therapy and is very sore.

THANK YOU! FROM TRACI

NOW THAT I AM MORE ALERT, I CAN UPDATE YOU MYSELF AND GIVE CONNIE A BREAK! THANK YOU CONNIE FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS BLOG! YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT FRIEND!

THANKS TO EVERYONE! I WANT TO SEND EACH OF YOU A THANK YOU NOTE! I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL CARDS, EMAILS, BLOG COMMENTS, TREATS, GOOD FOOD, AND MANY VISITS. I EVEN HAD MY HOSPITAL ROOM DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS! IT IS GREAT TO HEAR FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A LONG TIME. I APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU. YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND LOVE HAVE MEANT MORE TO ME THAN ANYTHING. I ATTRIBUTE MY QUICK RECOVERY TO ALL THE LOVE AND PRAYERS I RECEIVE. KEEP THEM COMING! I FEEL SO MUCH LOVE THROUGH YOUR ACTS OF KINDNESS! THANK YOU!!!

TODAY I HAD ME FIRST SHOWER SINCE NOVEMBER 1ST! IT WAS FABULOUS! I WILL NEVER TAKE SHOWERING FOR GRANTED AGAIN! HOW LUCKY WE ARE!

I WILL BE HAVING MY 10TH SURGERY TOMORROW. THEY WILL GO INTO MY RIGHT LEG AND LOOSEN UP AND REMOVE THE SCAR TISSUE. THAT LEG SEEMS TO BE GIVING ME THE MOST TROUBLE. WHILE UNDER ANESTHESIA THEY WILL MANIPULATE ALL MY OTHER JOINTS AND WORK THRU THE SCAR TISSUE. MY ARMS ARE DOING GREAT! I HAVE ALMOST 100% MOBILITY! JUST A BIT MORE!

AS FOR WALKING....I HAVE TO WAIT 10-12 WEEKS FROM THE SURGERY DATES BEFORE I CAN PUT ANY WEIGHT ON MY ARMS AND LEGS. LOOKS LIKE I WILL GO TO THE UTAH VALLEY REHAB CENTER ABOUT THE BEGINNING TO MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE POOL THERE!

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN! IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME TO HAVE SUCH GREAT FRIENDS! I LOVE EACH OF YOU!