First few weeks and Christmas

We just hit our halfway mark of being down here in Florida!

For the week and a half after discharge we did daily PT. The main goal is to keep her knee moving from full extension to at least 90 degrees flexion/bent. She was able to bend farther then that pre surgery which she should gain all back over time. She has pretty much met this since her third session! Her knee does tighten up through the day and her quads are not yet strong enough to keep the knee straight on her own. So we’ve been doing our own home pT for another 1-2 times a day on top of clinic.

The house where we were staying until Christmas had so many fun activities! She saw Santa 4 times, held baby Kangaroos, made 10 bags of slime, made cookies and gingerbread houses, and lots of art projects. She also met some new friends from Ohio and South Carolina who we did some fun things with as well like go to turtle sanctuary and dress up like a Rainbow High doll. Grandma was here for 5 days and we went and saw the Sandi Christmas tree and hung out down town. 

She managed to keep up on her school work! Mom, on the other hand, is a bit behind. She also LOVED to check the mail and email each day. She got so many lovely cards notes and packages. Thank you to all of you who took the time to send things! It made her day.

Thursday 12/22 we saw the doctor for her post op appointment. He said that her leg looked straight, was healing good, and she could move to active PT! She needs to spend a lot of time strengthening her quad muscles so that’ll be our focus of last 4 weeks.  

We then luckily caught a flight to Minnesota Thursday night to home in time for Christmas. We were not sure that was going to happen with the weather so Dylann was pretty happy to get home for 4 days!

We had a great Christmas then headed back to Florida Monday 12/26 evening. We moved into an apartment since returning so no longer have the same mailing address. Trying to see if we have options as I know some of you have asked for it. We do have access to a pool so Dylanns pretty happy! ❤️ 

Post surgery updates

 

It’s been a busy few days. Dylanns first 6 hours after surgery was quiet. She was very sleepy and it took all her energy to even speak.  Mid afternoon she started to perk up a little and ate some lunch. She had some more moderate pain before bed (outside of that was pretty controlled) so she took some stronger meds and was pain free for rest of the night. We shared her bed and got a little sleep.

Wednesday she was back to herself. PT came and helped us get her up in a walker which she was able to do independently. Her leg is in a long immobilizer brace and she should be cleared to stand/walk on it in a few days, although she’s not excited about that :).

We were cleared for discharge around lunch and left a few hours after. This was the quickest she’s recovered post surgery! Her other major surgeries she was inpatient 3-5 nights with different issues like fevers or oxygen support needed. So we weren’t expecting to get out so soon.

She rested the rest of the day in bed and was finally able to have her ice cream! Got her favorite at Culver’s. She had a spike in pain before bed but after some medicine she hasn’t taken any more in over 24 hours now.

Yesterday was pretty good. She had some nausea in the morning and was sick a few times. Dad left to go home so I think some it was her nerves. Grandma gets here Saturday. She got some mail at the house which made her very excited and happy. Now we’re on an hourly mail check schedule LOL!

After dinner my full Dylann was back. She was getting around in her walker. She was making jokes and happy. She drew me this sweet picture ⬇️

She had a virtual piano lesson with her music teacher and wrote a song.

Before bed we removed her dressing over her knee as instructed. She was very nervous about this in case her knee moved anticipating the pain. There’s minimal swelling and all the coverings looked great. She decided on her own to try to move it and was able to straighten and bend it just a little on her own! She said it felt tight but didn’t hurt so is a little less scared for Saturdays first PT session.

I continue to be amazed at how strong and resilient Miss Dylann is. ♥️♥️♥️ Today/Friday we hope to get outside and enjoy the 80 degree weather for a bit between activities. 

First few days of FL update

 

Florida update!

We left Friday and it took two days to get here. We made it to Illinois the first night and had a nice comfy hotel. Second night we got to just past Chattanooga TN and didn’t quite have the same experience of hotel. Lots of reasons but Dylanns only request was to swim in a pool before surgery so we made sure it had a good one. We stopped early, checked in, ordered dinner, got changed and headed to the pool just to learn it was closed. 😢. She was so sad. We told her we’d make it up to her on Monday after her appointments and go to an outdoor public pool in west palm beach!

Sunday we arrived about 630 and got all unpacked and settled. Monday she had her pre op which went well. We then tried to find our pool for pool day. Tried 5 pools and apparently Mondays are not the day to find a pool as they’re closed out here. Fail #2. We did go spend a few hours at the ocean instead ♥️.

Today was surgery day. We got there early - 6 am - for 8 am surgery. Things went well. Her surgeon said her knee is straight (was the goal) and he didn’t have to shorten the bone like he thought he might. This is good news from a recovery standpoint - less pain and recovery but also means she can start standing on it much sooner. That was a win! She was pretty tired for awhile after she woke up but has perked up tonight. She’s almost back to herself. It’s going to be a long 6 weeks of rehab to keep her knee moving as much as possible. 

Today her only request was a M and M mixer from McDonald’s. I went to two and apparently west palm beach McDonald’s ice cream machines are down. 0 for 3 this week on Dylanns wish list 😢.

If you want to reach her between now and 12/22:

Email - dylannsdash@yahoo.com

Mail 

Dylann Paradeis 

Quantum House 

987 45th Street, West Palm Beach, FL  33407