Why Chicago for a New Knee?

My most frequently asked question of the moment!

The answer: Dr. Richard A. Berger.

When Susan told a friend of hers that I was needing

knee replacement surgery, the friend said,

"She needs to go to the doctor in Chicago my dad 

has researched."

In checking I found that this doctor is a graduate  
of MIT with a degree in mechanical engineering  

as well as an orthopedic surgeon.

He has developed and pioneered minimally invasive

surgery, allowing patients to recover faster and
with less pain than traditional knee replacement surgery.
His engineering background has helped him design
specialized instruments which allow the surgery
to be done without cutting any muscles,
tendons, or ligaments.
He also has designed gender-specific implants.
Oh...and by the way, he replaced both of 
George W. Bush's knees.
If he's good enough for "Dubya..."



The anesthesia which Dr. Berger uses is also
extremely important to me.
I am very uneasy about going under general
anesthesia at my age.
For my surgery I will have a spinal epidural and 
be asleep but breathing on my own.
  

CLICK HERE for amazing video!

***You have to scroll just a tad down to video***


I called and made an appointment the day we saw
that video!
Then we began receiving affirmations!


Susan has a friend from college who contacted her
after she posted something on FB about the possibility
of my using this doctor.
Her friend had had surgery years ago and had
traveled to Chicago for Dr. Berger to perform it.
She thought there was no one like him!


I can't remember (nor would you be particularly
interested in) all the other affirmations I got.
But I'm up to 7 or 8 reliable people who know all about
Dr. Berger, his amazing reputation, and know actual
patients of his who have had fantastic outcomes.
 I would have not expected any!
And Dr. Berger's online reviews are so impressive.



I absolutely know there are excellent doctors locally.
I have several friends who have had very successful
experiences with knee replacement.
Just one difference--not one of them
 is/was 80 years old!
I certainly wish I had this done at a younger age.
Dr. Berger said I have very poor range of motion,
and that I have needed a new knee for some time.
 I just did not realize I needed it until this year.
I have always been worried about osteoporosis,
but never osteoarthritis!


Susan will travel with me.
We arrive on one day, 
pre op classes, exams, and prep the next,
surgery and back to the hotel the next,
in room therapy the next,
return visit to doctor next,
then fly home on third day after surgery.
Physical therapy will continue here at home.


Reading this may lead you to believe that this was an
easy decision. It was not.
I've been about as decisive as a squirrel
sitting on the side of the road trying to decide
whether to run under your car or not!
I've made and cancelled more appointments
than a booking agent.
But doors have been closed and encouragements
received to the point of my feeling confident
that I'm doing the best thing for me.



"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, 
make your requests known to God;
and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7


Because, you know, only God can heal me.
I can carefully choose the most skilled surgeon.
He can do a perfect job.
But once he sutures my leg back together,
only God can cause that severed skin to rejoin
as good as He created it and
my body to accept and adapt to my new parts.


Thank you for caring enough about me 
to have questions!
I hope this answers them.
And I'm so grateful for the prayers lifted on my
behalf already. 
It will comfort me in Chicago to think of all my
prayer warrior friends back home.
I love you all very much.

Linda Stovall Come On Down!!!

I'd just love to tell you all about a very exciting event
in the the lives of the Stovall family!
We had gone to California for our 1978 vacation.
Susan was 18 and Jay 14.
We didn't have tickets for The Price Is Right, but when
we went to tour the studio where it was being filmed,
there was a line forming to see it.
Someone gave me two tickets, so we began asking
if anyone had two more extras.
Lo and behold, someone did!


We were there for hours.
At some point producers came down the line and
interviewed us.
I said I was a college sophomore, because I was
attending Texas Wesleyan at the time.


When we got seated in the studio, we were definitely 
hopeful that I was going to be
chosen, because the producers stood on the
stage and seemed to be scoping out the location
 of those selected.
And they were looking at us!!!


SO HERE WE GO...

CLICK HERE!


Little side note:
We were seated in the order we had been standing,
so we had gotten to be friends with those around us.
I thought I would never get out!


So here is my big moment!


CLICK AGAIN


I do not know whether or not I would be as nervous
now as I was then.
I felt like I was going to do something really ridiculous
with the whole world watching!
It's really hard to describe.
But as my face shows, I had no idea what number
to take out of Squeeze Play!


If I had been thinking totally rationally, I would
have removed the "0" leaving $1495.
That sounds so logical.
 But it still would have been wrong!


The dinette set was (is) actually pretty cool.
The sides fold down so that it is only 10 inches wide.
Susan and Rob used it, and we used it when we
first built our glass room.
It is still in my garage!
And...I did not know how often I say,
"That would be great," but to this day if I
say it in Jay's presence, I'm aware of his reaction!

Since I made it onto the stage I got to spin the 
Big Wheel.
Must warn you--this is a heart breaker!

CLICK TO SEE ME SPIN THE BIG WHEEL!


I had it until that last spin!
But we were perfectly happy with what I won!
(At the time...I got greedy later!)


CLICK TO SEE MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY


And my girl was highlighted between segments:

We took a few pictures afterward at the 
Farmer's Market where we went to eat, but they
are slides and too hard for me to get to.
It was sure a fun event for all four of us!


I keep thinking of other things I want to tell you.
This was in the very early days of VCR's, so we
had to rush home and buy one so we could record
the show when it aired.
Even if I had won, it
might not have arrived soon enough.
(But I should have won that showcase spinoff!)

My Problems With "Lovely, Still"

I am very literal. I acknowledge that.

My mother said that I had no imagination.

I think that is probably true, too.

I know this movie is fiction, but its wildly misleading

story line is just too much for me.

Robert, played amazingly by Martin Landau, is an

elderly gentleman who works at a grocery store.

He lives alone, gets up by an alarm every morning, 
and prepares himself impeccably for work--
even down to and including flossing his teeth.

One morning, however, he accidentally 
leaves his front door wide open while looking

 across the street at new neighbors moving in.

One of those new neighbors, Mary, also beautifully

played by Ellen Burstyn, is in his home 
when he arrives there after work.
Robert is understandably very upset.
Mary tells him that she and her daughter, Alex, are
the new neighbors across the street, and
she manages to reassure Robert that she was
just looking out for him.
She rings his doorbell again later and invites him to have dinner out the following night.


A very excited Robert asks his much younger boss at the grocery, Mike, to assist him in making
plans for the evening.
This sequence and others are very pleasant.



We are given only one hint of anything amiss.
Alex does not think her mother going out for
the evening with Robert is a good idea.
But go she does, and the evening is a joy to watch!


Hint No. 2 is that Robert places an X each
morning on his calendar when he awakes.
(Not much of a clue to me! I should adopt the plan!)
By day 2 or 3 he is a nervous wreck because Mary
has not called him, and he attempts to call her.
As it turns out, they were dialing each other at
the same time.
They do lots of lovely things together.

So enjoyable to this point.
And then the cracks start appearing.
Spoiler Alert
Don't read any further if you plan to watch.


Robert suffers from Alzheimer's Disease.
Mary is his wife.
Alex is his daughter.
And Mike, believe it or not, is his son.
It is intimated that Robert had previously left Mary.


The author is asking us to believe that this man, Robert,
can set an alarm, be perfectly groomed, and show
up for organized work every day
...but...
does not remember his wife, daughter, or son.
That's not the way it works.
The short term memory goes first.
At least with us, my face would have been the
last thing Jack ever forgot.


Another very disturbing occurrence to me...
A part of the story showed Mary at her home 
counting pills and coming up short on a weekend.
There is a panicky trip to the pharmacy and
call to the doctor.
The viewer assumed the pills were for her.
They were not.
She was sneaking them into Robert's medicine cabinet.
And he was taking them every day, of course!
When he had a terrible meltdown, we were shown
that he had forgotten to take one pill.
Not happening.
The pill to keep Alzheimer's victims on an
even keel has not yet been discovered. 
This, and the whole movie, is so misleading.


I must say that I did admire and appreciate the
kind manner in which everyone treated Robert.
So respectful. Reassuring.
There were also all too familiar scenes of 
excruciating misunderstanding and confusion.
So heart breaking.


Somehow the world has managed to go on turning
for 7 years without my intervention
regarding this movie.
I will admit that I watched it a second time after I
knew what was coming.
I didn't cry nearly as much.


NOTE TO SELF: 
Remember it's a movie not a textbook!



Please refer to Paragraph 1.
I just can't help myself.

Trying to Surprise Susan and Terri for Christmas

I would just love to get Susan and Terri, 

who do so much for me all year long, 

something really wonderful for Christmas.

Something  special--and a surprise!

So one night this week, when I should have been

working on preparing to have my BSF group over,

I spent A LOT of time searching for their presents.

I decided to look at Nordstrom.

I knew I could find something there to fit the bill.

And...they were having a S.A.L.E.!

You, my friends, are in luck today.

I am going to share some of my finds with you.

Yep, bit the old bullet for you again!

It's really hard to decide what to show you first.

**********
I guess I'm choosing this little number,
since it was the first to "catch my eye!"

Eye catching it is, but
uh...no, I don't think you're quite right for
my girls even at that bargain price.

**********
Now Terri is a runner, as many of you know.
So the term "jogger pants" got me all excited!
And they're a "new markdown!"

Really??? Don't you think they might trip her?
Hard to turn down that cheap price, but...just not right.

**********
I was with Susan recently when she tried on a military
green jacket, so I know she wants one.

Maybe this is more what she was looking for.
Serious contender.

**********
For a couple of years I have thought about buying
them boots. 

What do you think? Remember, they're 30% off.
No, I don't think that's cheap enough.

**********
Now how could I go wrong with just a simple skirt?

As lovely and cheap as it is, I'm afraid they wouldn't
have the right footwear to set it off.

**********
So what about a simple little frock?
At 60% off, remember.

I can just hear them now.
"This makes my hips look so wide!"
So, no.

**********
One year I got Susan a blazer for Christmas
which she has just worn and worn.
This one is a little different, but?

I really am afraid she would think green
and purple iridescent is not her color.
What a shame. Under $800!

**********
I'm glad I have a picture, cause this one would be
hard to describe, wouldn't it?

Is it just me, or do those sleeves not match?
I'm sorry, but I just don't "get" this one.
Besides, neither of them has this skirt.

********

Since I don't seem to be having much luck here,
I thought I would try some accessory items.
Like this simple scarf...

I may be a Scrooge, but I think this might be a
little too simple for $284.98! What about you?

**********
Do you think they might find it exciting to have a
F E N D I  phone case?
With legs?

Does that look like Susan? Does it look like Terri?
NO!  Fendi Schmindi.
I give up!

**********

The good news for you, my darling girls, is that you 
will NOT be getting any of these bargains for
Christmas, as marvelous as they are.

I'm hoping my research pays off for one or more
of my dear friends, though!
But I don't think so.

It Looks Like Thanksgiving Around Here!

Due to a change in plans, I got to have our bridge club

in November this year.

In order to stay in the decoration competition

(which, of course, no one owns up to us having)

I had to dig out some thanksgiving stuff.

 Some of these items had not seen the light of day
 in years, and I had forgotten how pretty they are!

So...I want to show them off.

They may not come out again in my lifetime!


Starting at the front:

My darling Susan planted this urn for me!

And you've seen this!
It does come out every year!


The entry hall:

Don't remember ever seeing these before,
but aren't they darling!



The hearth:

I knew where these little fellers were hiding!



This is not really "thanksgivingy" but...

I did it with stuff I had!

Something special in the kitchen:

Susan gave this to me when Jack was so very ill.
It also comes out every year, and I always
hate to put it up. 

And on the kitchen table:

Lo and behold, this turkey was hiding with the
little pilgrim couple under a table skirt!




The dining table:

 Began with these beautiful placemats
blatantly copied from Darlene Mitchell!

I took 14 pictures, and this was the best.
You'll just have to take my word for how 
splendiferous it looks! 


I couldn't resist buying a special sofa pillow--
the one on the right that says Gather Together--
for Thanksgiving.
I love the way sofa pillows look, but always find
them somewhat irritating when trying to 
actually sit on the sofa.

I looked up and...
Apparently my bridge friends agree.

These photos are only partially posed!
Barbara Martin had actually placed the one she is
 holding on the floor beside the sofa when I noticed it.
And poor Ken Mitchell was suffering through sitting
on "Gather Together!"
But Joan Clements and Steve Lockwood
were already holding theirs, exactly as pictured!
Be sure to note that even the small one from one 
of the chairs has
been relegated to the coffee table by Dan Phillips!


We had a great evening, as usual.
I made a special cake for these tee-totalin' Baptists.
It is Shay Shull's Margarita bundt.

I told the group they would have to show their ID
in order for me to serve them!
Of course, I laughed more than anyone else because I 
just tickle myself to death, you know!
But all loved the cake!


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds."
Psalm 9:1

Rescued Again!

I believe that every day I live is a miracle from God.

He enables me to wake up in the morning.

He gives me the breath and strength for each new day.

But occasionally he does something spectacular.

Something no one could deny is a miracle.

I related the most memorable of those 

HERE

Just click and read about a miracle that saved a trip

to Jordan for about 20 people!

In a real dichotomy of location, my latest miracle

happened in Las Vegas.

You may have read that I visited there recently

with two girlfriends.

One of the highlights of our visit was seeing

"O" at the Bellagio Hotel.

I was staying at a different hotel

 from Joyce and Adelene, one which required my taking an uber to the Bellagio.

That ride was amazing.

The car was the nicest uber vehicle I have ever been in.

The driver's name was Humayun.

He told me he was retired and gave all the money he

made from ubering to charity.

We discussed at length our mutual faith in God.

I remember feeling so blessed that I got him to drive me!

(I had no clue how blessed I was.)

We had a wonderful fish and chips dinner at Bellagio.

When we got ready to pay, the bottom fell out.

Not only did I have no credit card in my purse,

I also had no driver's license, which was required to

claim my ticket for "O."

In order to claim my ticket, the agent had to call my

hotel to verify my identity!

I guess you can imagine that I did not enjoy "O" 

as much as I could have.

(I was able to appreciate that it is about the most

spectacular show I have ever seen!)

My only hope was that I had left the two cards

in my hotel room, but I was almost sure I hadn't.

I paid cash for a taxi back to my hotel after the show.

My heart sank as I searched in vain for my cards.

How was I even going to fly home without my I.D.?

Then I received a message on my cell phone.

It was from uber asking me to call them.

I was told lost items had been found by my uber

driver in his car!!!

I almost can't believe this as I type it.

Humayan drove 25 minutes back to my hotel

to bring me my cards.

An observer would have thought we were long

lost friends when he got there.

I hugged and hugged him (and gave him a huge tip!)

He called me and told me I gave him too much money!

Some people never learn.

Here is the "cute" purse I was carrying that night.

Like the bag in Jordan, it did not close securely--

no zipper.

One little magnetic snap which sometimes did and

sometimes didn't catch!

I really feel like the Lord has given me more

than my allotted share of miracles

regarding open top cute bags.

But no one could be more grateful than I am.

"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with

all my heart.

I will tell of your wonderful deeds."

Psalm 9:1

My Wings Have Been Clipped

"Into each life some rain must fall...

(followed by large hail and damaging winds.)"

That last part is not really me, 

but it is raining pretty good!

I have severe osteoarthritis in my right knee, to the

 extent that I need a total replacement.

It was rather difficult, to put it mildly, for me to be

convinced that this was really the case.

Since the first of the year I have been to 

Las Vegas 3 times.

The first time I bussed to the west rim 

of the Grand Canyon.

And I walked 13,000 steps one day to ride the big ferris

wheel, The High Roller.

The second time I took a much longer trip in a van to

the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

This nearly killed me.

The third time I went with two girlfriends--one 

who had never been before, and one who had not been 

in about 28 years--and walked 10,000 steps one day.

(By this time what I was doing was not really walking

but rather limping or "cripping" as I called it!)

Actually, I was riding in a wheelchair through the

Las Vegas airport on my 3rd return home!

Between the second and third trips I spent a week

 on the largest cruise ship in the world,

 the Harmony of the Seas.

Trips #1, 2, 3, and 4 were completely nuts!

I call myself the eternal optimist. "Oh, I can make it!"

"I don't want to be a hypochondriac!"

Now I have to carefully plan my parking when I go

to Waco!

And...I am not getting to go to Ogunquit, Maine, to

see my Madeline in From Here to Eternity.

On second thought, THIS is the large hail and

damaging wind.

I am completely crushed.

Also heart breaking to me is the fact that I can't

handle singing in the choir any more. 

Even if I can crip in to the loft,

the range of motion in my bad knee is so limited that

I can't straighten that leg, so after minutes I

begin to feel unsteady and can't continue standing.

I mustn't go any longer without acknowledging

that I fully realize my problem is fixable.

Some of you have situations which are not.

I am blessed way beyond what I deserve, and I

do not know why.

Since I irresponsibly tortured myself through these 

trips, I wish to "share" (probably "bore") you

with some photographic proof!

 Foolhardy Trip #1

This is the location of the glass floor over the

Grand Canyon, which was on my bucket list.

This eagle formation in the canyon was beautiful.

And the man made attraction-The High Roller

and me riding

(I'm hiding my pain!)

Double Foolhardy Trip #2

South Rim--added to my bucket list after the West Rim

At Mather Point

Really Questionable Trip #3

Jay and Terri took this picture from the live web cam

 of me actually departing from Ft. Lauderdale

In Labadee, Haiti

How big was the ship?

16 decks of mile long corridors!

I got to tour the bridge, limping all the way!

(There was absolutely no one driving the ship!)

Fun Through The Pain Trip #4

Las Vegas Girls' Getaway

With Adelene Howell

and Joyce Brockenbush 

We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower!

We saw white tigers at:

We had a wonderful dinner at Bellagio before

seeing "O" 

(Someone seems to have taken a bite of my fish 

before I took this pic!)

And here I am in my room icing my poor tortured knee

between events!

Only consolation?

Adelene was in about as bad shape as I was.

This is how we looked the majority of the trip.

I've had some angels appear along the way during

this summer of painful travel.

I'm saving those stories for another day.

(I know--you're glad!)