A Good DR's Report

Hi to all,
Tuesday I saw my Dr. He ex-rayed my left hip, femur, knee and chin along with my right ankle. The ankle, talus bone has died, but we already knew that and as it is settling into position, I now am bone to bone completely now. This doesn't cause me to much pain because of all the severe damage yet I do have some bad days with it. Now lets talk about the messed up left leg.
It's healing slow but sure, Yeah! There doesn't show any further dieing bone. There is allot of recovery ahead of me yet- to restore and strengthen the muscles. The Dr feels I have about one more year and I might feel that I'm coming out of my trials.

What a year it has been! It was so good to see all my friends and neighbors in Az again. You all were so kind in helping me make it through a very difficult time on going home without my Honey. I've been home sick ever since I got back. Thank you all for all your love, support and prayers. I couldn't have made it this far without you.

Please pray that my legal issues get resolved so I may get my life moving forward. I've waited patiently for 16 months and still have no answers.

Thank you
love
Shellyrose

Happy Valentine's to All

What a beautiful day to remember true love. I have been blessed. Although I adjust from traditions of today, I quiet my heart and feel blessed that I easily am flooded with many memories. My Bruce lives in my heart forever and as he once asked: close your eyes, feel his heart beat, hear the beat and know that when he is gone remember that moment and feel his love beat for me from far away. So that is what I'm doing today. His love is still with me and I can only hope you other valentines have or had such great love. Happy Valentines Day to all.
Love
Shellyrose

Where's My Suitcase, I'm Going on Vacation!

Yeah! To All,

Good news, Bad News. I went to the Dr yesterday and all test came back. There isn't any form of virus or infection in the fluid that was drawn from my knee. And as we already heard, there doesn't seem to be a defect in the hardware (joint replacement) but there is a possibility that there is a microscopic looseness that only can be found through exploratory surgery. I asked the Dr if that meant moving the skin aside to see the movement of the muscle or what? He said worse, he would need to remove all the muscle from the joint area to see the movement and look for any slipping. That means full surgery and recovery would be as starting over.

I can barley walk, and transfer so I'm defiantly getting worse instead of better. I want to rule out that this isn't weather related because it is real cold here and I don't now how but I'm going to bite the bullet and do more intense therapy and try out the pool for no weight bearing exercise. I do have good days here and there so I'm going to play/work before I face another surgery.

I'm going to Az for 2 weeks.  I will be stepping back in time.  It has been since Dec 1 of 2008 since I have been home.  I'm looking forward to so much and yet know already how hard it will be without my Honey with me.  I also know I'll be in a safe place with family, friends and neighbors.  If you want to get rich quick I'd buy stock in the tissue stock market because I know the sales are going up in March.

I could use some help if anyone is available.  I'll see you all soon.
Love
Shellyrose 

Thank You for all Your Prayers

Monday went well, thank you. I went in at 6:00 am with the support of my two sisters, Valerie and Wendy. It was so nice to share some laughs while I was fighting off the white coat syndrome I seem to be developing. After 4 pokes they found a vain for my I-V. I truly am getting to hate that part. The procedure started at 8:00am. The DR twisted and turned on my leg and seemed to be pleased with the motion and tightness, so he went to plan B. He tapped off allot of fluid to test that and discussed the options off reinforcing the femur with supporting rods . But that means another intense surgery so we're waiting on the fluid results and we will know when we will know on what to do next or if any thing. I will keep you all posted.

Today , Tuesday, I woke up with a rash from the waste up and I think it could be the new pain meds but I'll take a few more and see. (I don't think that would be to dumb, oh well 53 for my first mistake wouldn't be to bad. Hey this is my story and I'm stickin' to it.)

I went junkin' with my sister in law today for 4 hours we had a ball.

Thank you for your time and Prayers
Love you all
ShellyRose

I'm Asking for Prayer, Please Join Me

Hello Everyone,
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Mine was good considering everything. It was wonderful to be with family for Christmas because it had been 7 years. I quited my heart many of times to hold on the memories Bruce and I had shared and I needed to feel his heart beat from far away. Our love still is strong and I miss him dearly but I'm trying to advance into my new life.
I had hoped to spend some time in AZ this winter but my leg isn't doing so good. I went to the Dr. Jan. 5th and my plans of being a snowbird this year might have changed. I knew things weren't feeling right and with a little testing the Dr. has some concerns too. At this point we're praying it is as simple as scare tissue, but the Dr has prepared me for possible doing the full surgery over again.
As of January 5th, I'm going back into the hospital. He is going to put me under and the twist, turn and pull on my leg. We're hoping to break loose some scare tissue yet he has prepared me for the full blown surgery to be done again. Our concern is it didn't take, cement came undone, or even the replacement was a defective one. I asked him if he would let me know and he said as long as I'm under he is going to do what ever is necessary and a 4 hour block has been reserved for me on the 25th. If this is happening again, my recovery might take me through this winter season and I'll miss this season in AZ.
Please pray for me. That God's will be done, and that I serve him proudly. I wish for some sunshine, less of a medical life and that decisions become clearer to me. Please pray my dear loyal friends.
love
Shellyrose

Happy Thanksgiving to You

Hi,
I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. (Better late than never) Wow what a year. Dec 6th marks a full year all ready. On Thanks giving one usually gathers with friends or family and takes turns on what they're thankful for as they review their past year. On that note I'm forced to make a choice. How does one review such a year. Yes there were blessings amongst the horrors. I cry for my Bruce and yet knowing he is holding me through this I laugh as I draw my strength through God and my memories. Remember how Bruce would have me open a gate or door and his mystery Turkey would travel the room and then would slip out again? If he got away with it, he proudly smile and guide me to our next victims of child like play and pleasure. My Bruce is dear in my heart. My pain is only deep because I've been blessed with great love, friendship and memories. When life challenges us, take the challenge and face anything asked of you armored up in Gods love and protection, but it is normal to hurt when their is such a great lose as with a love one. Holidays can be rough but I hold on to the traditions that Bruce and I shared and rise above the hurt with the warmth of his love and memories we shared. Happy Thanksgiving everyone and give each other a hug and say that's from Shelly and Bruce. I Love You All and hope to see my Az family and friends sometime this year.
God Bless
Love Shelly

Howdey Everyone

I thought I'd take a minute to write you. Thank you for all the prayers and support. As you have all ready heard the surgery took 3 hours longer then planned, but all went well. Do to the rebuilding of my femur bone the surgery was done without a tourniquet. Therefore I was given 5 units of blood over the next two days following. I did consider becoming a vampire for Halloween, but then realized I also would make a good Mrs. Frankin Stine with my new 54 staples on my leg. Decisions, decisions.
It was rough at first but resting and renew in the palm of God's hand, the strength is coming back. Thank you all being my leaning pole as I renew and heal. The surgery was Monday and by Thursday I was moved to Mary Free Bed. This is a Hospital for rehabilitation. I had 6-8 hours of therapy a day, lots of naps in between and many happy pills.
The first day therapy started at 7:30 am. I was grumpy to think so much was asked of one so soon that truly was hurting but I grumped my way through and was ready by 7:20 and ready for a nap already.

When the first therapist came at 7:30 she explained I did what they had scheduled to help me with and were amazed I did so much without assistance. 7:30- 8:00 was to get help on bathing, 8:00-8:30 was eating therapy, which I have not been hindered in any way in that department. Then 8:30-9:00 was to learn to get dressed using the hip kit and many other aids, following with 9:30-10:00 was make-up hour. Now my work was cut out for me to achieve all that was necessary in 30 minutes. And that was how each day started after that. No more of doing it on my own and being done by 7:30. The grumping stopped.

Then you get a 1 hour nap and believe it or not, the simple tasks in life that we so easily do without thinking truly is a work out for me now. Yes I could easily cry on how my life has totally changed but I am seeing a world that I never stopped to watch in a long time. It either makes you or can break you. It won't beat me cause I will do what ever God asks of me.

Then I headed down stairs to the work out room. There they had an apartment for you to practice transfers, and home tasks. As I stumbled in my attempts, the therapist saw me through many ways until we found what worked best for me. I learned and they costumed made me equipment to help me through my new life. I'd work 2-3 hours in the afternoons, nap and more happy pills.

But you know what? As I waited for my turn for therapy I met others that had there own stories. Victims of drunk drivers, People that rolled their cars dodging deer and even someone that went on vacation, sat on the bed by the window of an hotel room visiting with her family while outside sat a man in his car. He was angry with his hotel bill so he chose to run his car through the hotel window back it up and run it through the other room across the road, running over this lady that sat there visiting with her family. This woman buried two family members and now is left paralysed from the armpits down. This woman has the warmest smile and a forgiving heart. She too lives for God and not for her wants or needs. How does anyone handle such changes without God? I've seen the Hurt I lived the Hurt, I've had great lose in loosing my Honey and I've seen and heard so much in these hospitals and therapy rooms. People, it doesn't always happen to the other guy. It can happen to you. Please don't wait until tomorrow to met God. He'll wait but do you have the time? Please stop taking chances by putting off to the tomorrows when your mind is with you today. I love you enough to want to share God with you. Can I help? This is a journey that I just couldn't do without God's promises and fellow Christian's praying me through.

I'm back home now. I can't walk for 2 months then if the bone has healed I can add weight slowly as I begin to walk again. I am 1 month away from when this all began. I've lost so much this year yet witnessed allot of blessings that is seeing me through this. I will be playing soon, I pray.

For the record I dressed my roommates, that I sit and have dinner with for Halloween. Betty, about 85? wore black and a sign that said pepper, Ilah 93 wore white and a sign that said salt,
Wanda 87? wore pink and a sign that said cinnamon and I middle age wore brown and a sign that said brown sugar and my mom, older than middle age wore green and a sign that said "The spice Girls" I made them silver hats and full blown hooker like make-up we shared allot of laughs that after noon.

I still need my happy pills. This surgery really has been hard and allllooottt!! of pain but I am making progress. I love you all and I am thankful of each and every one of you.
Love
Shelly Rose

Shelly is Out of Surgery

Hello everyone! Back to the "guest author" until Shelly gets near the Internet again. She went into surgery around 11:00 today and got out about 3 hours later. Things were complicated by the fact that the doctor couldn't find the part of the screw that broke off and did not want to leave it in there. He eventually got it, so Shelly no longer has a screw loose . . . in her knee. :-)
For those of us trying to figure out what exactly they were doing, we have some more drawings. As you may recall from one of the early posts Shelly's femur was broken in so many places they put a plate next to her femur and screwed the pieces of bone in place so they could grow together. Well, they never did. So today they removed the plate, the screws and the broken pieces of bone and extended the unbroken part of her femur (thigh bone) with a metal rod down to where her knee is. The new artificial knee is built right into that rod. It looks like this:

Typically, they will also run a rod down the shin bone for more stability. Although this is a lot more invasive than they typically prefer for a normal knee replacement, this gives Shelly the best chance for a very strong and stable leg going forward. In fact the doctor hopes that the strength she will eventually get in this leg will take some pressure off the right leg where she still has to deal with a dead talus bone in her ankle.
Shelly will be in the hospital (St. Mary's) only a few days, but she will be limited to only about 25% weight baring on that leg for about 6 weeks so the cement they use can dry. Losing the freedom she fought so hard to get back will be difficult. But we are hopeful this will be a key step toward even more freedom later. So please keep her in your prayers for a speedy and thorough recovery.

My Dr Visit Results

Hi good People,
Well It's official, I have a screw loose. Well not just that, I broke one. About three weeks ago I jumped up to help Bruce and I heard and felt a snap. I have had a lot of pain and swelling ever since, because we all know I'm truly a size 3.
The first plan was to strengthen my femur bone by placing hip bone, from my hip, into the four inch area of femur bone that has died. Recover over a 2 month period, wait one year for it to strengthen, add a rod through the femur and do a knee revision. Well that no longer is the goal. We both think it will probably won't take, plus I would be weakening a good hip bone. So after realizing the snap I heard and felt was the femur bone breaking and snapping the screw in half, the Dr is trying to get me in as soon as possible. The plan now is to replace the knee using an extension shaft and cutting up the femur bone to a good bone area, about 4 inches above the knee.
In case this leg becomes shorter, I've already figured out a solution so I don't end up walking in circles. I plan to weigh done the opposite leg pocket with winnings from nickle jackpot or with the casino winnings. So here we go . Please pray for my recovery. I prayed for a break so the good news is our prayers truly are heard. But we must always remember to pray specifically and with detail. We serve a loving God, that can take a joke, and is use to me. So sorry if my humor shocks you. I'll keep you posted if you still want to hear of this journey. I truly feel it is coming together and there is joy within our sorrows if you choose to see it. I'm running around, I mean I'm rolling around in my new 2008 town and country van. Bruce told me to get a Chrysler because they take the best impact. When the time came to look for a car, Brother Ed did his home work with love and time once again. Then when we saw this on the Craig's list, it only had 17,000 miles on it and had a power chair lift in it too. Two days later I took my first drive in 9 months. (Sept 17th I went through a drivers road test to see if it was possible for me to drive again with my new limitations. I past and I can go Junkin' again).
Oh, I thought you might like to know, I decided what to do with the gift money sent to me from the funeral. I took this love gift and went to the jeweler. I am having my band of my previous wedding ring welded into Bruce's and then having a cross welded over the two rings and putting a loop on the top so I can wear it as a pendent on a chain. The three of us made a wonderful marriage. God, Bruce and Myself. I will hold that time of my life dearly forever in my heart. Thank you for the gift that will symbolize that.
Love, Hugs and Kisses
Shellyrose

A Note to Clear up some Confusion

Hi Dear Friends and Family,
During the recovery of this stay, I have become a Michigander again. I'm living in an assistant living home that is like an apartment. What I like about it is there is in house therapy, house keeping and emergency pull cords for help in each room. Which by the way do trigger off with bad cooking, or burnished cooking. I'm forced to stay here at least until I get through my surgeries. My next one is in the second week of Oct. If the Dr. has success on bone transfer, I still need to wait 1-1 1/2 years for the femur bone to strengthen for the next surgery of double knee revision. That is a 4 month recovery for each knee. After this first surgery in Oct. I will have a 2 month recovery time. So I was thinking 2 months and 1 day, I should visit my AZ family. I have no idea for how long and if I can even face it with out my Honey. I do have a peace that he is at rest and even feel his heartbeat from afar, but who am I without my Honey? I know I'm one of God's children, therefore I know I'm loved, watched over and protected. God loves me yesterday, today, and tomorrow, but I do need to take a deep breath and re plan my goals as an individual serving God rather than a partner to a better half.
I'm forced to live here for now do to this accident and recovery and to be with the Dr.'s I know. But I love AZ and my family there too so in time I will do more of what I want instead of the life this accident has forced me to live. But the good news is, when God is in your heart and therefore you're never alone, it doesn't really matter what four walls you're asked to stare at. Her is may temporary new address:
Shelly Steegstra
Lincoln Square #135
3121 Lake Mi Dr. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Love Ya All,
Shelly

A Note From Me, Shellyrose

Thankyou so much for all the support and lovely cards. The outreach of love is so so kind. I'm so glad Bruce and I had his last month of life together 24/7. We had some wonderful talks and many of laughs, I don't regret staying with him. But, now I'm home alone, no Bruce and no more visits. It is hitting me hard now that I know I'm left with memories only and yet I'm so glad I have some wonderful memories to forever hold on to.
Did you know if you go on the enternet and type in: mlive.com then grand rapids MI then obitauaries then Bruce Steegstra then search, it will bring you to our personal guest book. I would love it if you took the time to write a story of Bruce and or something that you experienced by reading our story on the blog. This sure will help fill the void of my alone time. I am trying to get creative on how to keep busy. Writting our story in book form, crafts, and taking my motorized wheel chair out and about garage saleing. On a good day I can make 18 miles. But it is a challange when the bags pile up on your lap to when the uncoming traffic thinks of you as a mound of bags sitting curb side waiting for trash day. Oh the looks you get when you supprise them when the pile of trash moves. Hey thats life for now until I get one again.
Love ya
Shellyrose

The Other Story

For some time now, all the posts have updated you about Bruce. Of course, Shelly's story is not complete. We will update you soon on some of the things she has postponed since Bruce took a turn for the worse. But she still needs our prayers and she still has an incredibly inspiring story.

So to pump her up for the comeback, and to remind us all of what we are praying for, please enjoy this video: