FYI - Why Linda (shortline2) is mostly "lost"

Hi Linda,

Thanks for the update. We continue to think about you and Tore. Glad to hear that there is positive progress. You are a very strong person too.

God Bless both of you during this Holiday Season. :)
 
Hi Linda,

like the others my thoughts are also with Tore and You and Ihope that everything stays from now on on the good graded track.

God bless both of you
Kay
 
Hi Linda.

I don't read or post here as much as I used to, but I've been watching this thread closely.

I think you and Tore are an inspiration to others, and I'm looking forward to hearing about happier times for you both in the coming year.

Just think, this time next year you'll hopefully be adjusted to your new circumstances, and you'll be looking forward to a nice quiet and cosy Christmas in front of the TV. :)

Me and the family wish you both all the good wishes possible.
Brighter times are around the corner.

Brian.
 
Hi Linda,

I'm not sure how I missed this thread. You and Tore have certainly met your share of challenges this past year. I can only hope you have reached the bottom of that mine shaft and the only way to go is up.

My thoughts and best wishes are with both of you through the holidays and coming years. Take care and drop me a note sometime
 
Linda you really amaze me, I know of the pain both of you are going through. My Lindas father went through exactly what Tore has been through, the key is to keep moving, and never, never dispair, you still have each other, and a whole bunch of buddies here on the other side of the screen you are now looking at, and we all think of you, and wish you both well. We will see you in 2010, have a great Holiday !! Leave the pic for a little while, it will snow there too !!


Merry Christmas.gif
 
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Hello Linda,

May you and Tore have a great Christmas and wonderful near years -- I'm sure things will be fine in 2010 ... You are not alone, so always remember that ... spiritually, we're connected in one way or another!

Happy Holidays

Ish
 
Merry Christmas Linda and Tore

While you are in difficult times, I hope that both of you have had some time to enjoy the day.

Craig
:):):)
 
Hi friends,

Thank you all, we're still alive and kicking you can say, even if Tore has a hard time kicking me for the time being. :p

I wrote this entry in my blog a couple of days ago, wanted to repost it here, but decided that who ever cares to read it, can just head over to this link and read it there :
http://blog.cripplecreekrailroads.com/?p=90
Most of that is due to Tore actually writing a few words him self after I asked if he could do that, and I rather post those words in here as I felt proud when he said I could use those words to let you guys and gals know how we're doing.

Those who known me for years know I tend to go on and on and on in my writings, hence, I will surprise you all and just shut up right now. :wave:

I, we, Appreciate all the good words, thoughts, friendship shown us through this forum and personally messages/emails - A big hug to all of you and Thanks!!

Linda & Tore, who wishes you all a wonderful days for the rest of 2009 and a great new year full of lovely experiences and good memories to live long on when hard times may visit. :)
 
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Words from Tore him self - anyone can see why I love this man?

SOME MEMORIES FROM THE OPERATION AND THE DAYS FOLLOWING.

This is written 25 days after I came to the hospital to have my operation. Since that day many thoughts have rushed through my head.
I was pretty well prepared on what was about to happen, but I felt that I still needed some more information. Both my wife and I are very information hungry.

One thing was sure though, I had made the right decision. There seemed to be no way they could save my foot, so an amputation was inevitably. I simply had no other choice.
What I was unsure about was if this really was the right time? I thought so myself. Now they would amputate just 6 inches below the knee, if I waited longer it could have been all the way up to my thigh. And that would have been far worse.
When we arrived at the hospital the first day was a bummer. We had the impression that the operation would take place the next day, instead it was put off one day further into the future.
That blew my mind really; I was so set that the operation would take place the following day that everything else was just another blow to my mind.
And the doctor that received us did not seem very cooperative.

Anyway, the show went on and I was on the operation table on Thursday, December 3rd.
Before that they had given me epidural in the spine in order to keep me sedated.
But things happened, I wasn’t completely sedated. I had a short period when I was awake and felt the pain of the knife. I said something and moved my leg, and I heard the surgeon say that I needed full sedation.

The first night after the operation was probably the worst night in my life. I had never felt so much pain before. And there was especially one hour in the morning that was horrible. There seemed to be no way the nurses could keep me calm.

Later thing became more normal. I was on my feet (foot) twice less than 24 hours after the operation. I was determined that I should make it through and back to a normal life again.
I started physiotherapy almost right away. It was exhausting, but also fun at times. I had supervision normally once a day, but I also limped along in a walking frame whenever I felt for it.
All this time I was accompanied by my lovely wife.

I had one serious accident though, and that happened four days after the operation. I was about to sit down in my wheelchair when I was putting my butt too close to edge and I fell on the floor.
This became serious as I opened up the wound from the operation and the surgeon had to come back and stitch me up again. I have been much more careful since then, although I still push my limits.

I stayed in the hospital for almost two weeks. These days after the operation were much more pleasant than the first four. I had a good time at the hospital.
They had a good staff that took good care of me, and with my wife along my side all the time, it was almost fun.

But I had to leave, and on Monday, December 14th, we left for a rehabilitation facility 90 miles further south.
The reception there was not very pleasant. I had the permission to bring my wife along, but it soon seemed that they didn’t like that she stayed there with me.
But my wife is a part of me, and wants to follow me every step along my way to full recovery. I simply had to have her there.
She documents in words, pictures and video what I do and how I’m doing it.
As time progressed they became more used to my wife being there, and two nurses expressed great pleasure in hearing that she would be there with me all the time. I like it that way.
I exercised once or twice a day during the week I stayed at the rehabilitation facility.

Then came Christmas and they closed down for the holidays. We had to go home, or in my case, to a small local hospital.
We headed north on December 22nd.

On our way north we stopped by the hospital and met with the surgeon that did my operation. She wanted to take a look at the wound and see how it healed.
She was so pleased with what she saw that she decided to take the stitches there and then. That was two days ahead of schedule. She even removed the extra stitches she did 15 days earlier.

We were well received at the local hospital, but there was something about the atmosphere there that gave me the critters. I didn’t like what I saw.
After some discussions with myself and my wife, we decided to go to our house anyway, even if it was filled up with various things and not at all fitted for a man dependent on a wheelchair. We decided we could make it livable for me with a few modifications.

And here we are. It’s been four says since we came here and it works out for me to be there.
Some arrangements had to be done, but it wasn’t too much.

You see, in addition to my wheelchair I have brought with me a walking frame and a pair of crutches. So I manage.
We have to go down to the hospital every three days though, in order to change the bandages on my amputated foot and to take some tests. But we can live with that.

We will go back to the rehabilitation facility on January, 4th.

During the time since I left for the hospital the first time on October, 9th, my wife and I have become much closer.
We do our best to come through this together, and when it’s finally over I think we are stronger than ever as a couple.

We have had our arguments, and I believe we will still have them in the future, but this time they can only make us stronger.
We had a very heavy one on the second day at the rehabilitation facility, but we came out of it, even if it took some time.

At this time both of us and our cat suffer from cabin fever. We are stuck in the house because of too much snow.

And I, with only one leg, can’t do a ****ing thing about it.

All this kind of work that I used to do, my wife have to do now.
No wonder that I love her.

Tore B.
 
Linda and Tore,

That was great to read both sides of the story you have experienced over last few weeks.

You have both struggled with your situations and found that you need each other much more now for various reasons.

The best part was that you decided to go home and enjoy some quite time together, and then work out what needs to be changed at home to make it more comfortable for Tore. When my father was confined to a wheelchair some "Community" Service People came in and built a ramp to the veranda and a small ramp over the front step for him. Apart from that he was than able to go almost every where, especially to a club for some drinks with his mates (almost every day :hehe: ).

In time I am sure you and Tore will work out all these "little" problems and how to solve them.

Take care and all the best for your New Year celebrations, I am sure 2010 is looking much brighter now for both of you.

Craig
:):):)
 
Linda,

There is really not much to say about you and your husbands situation.

The only thing I can offer is to say a prayer for both and you.

Thank you for taking the time to talk about the situation, that often helps.

Please keep us updated and remember, sit down and talk about it, it does help.

Warmest regards to both of you.

Ron

same here!:(
 
Thank you, every one and single of you for warm thoughts, words, prayers and everything!

We have survived the New Year, had a hard time really but we did, and is now 8 days into the up to 8 weeks long stay down here at Bakke Rehab., south of Halden in southeastern Norway.

I'm going to cheat a little and repost a blog entry of mine as Internet connection down here is so slow and awful I hardly can be online... :'(
If I'm lucky now a days I get like 1kbps...

anyway, here is what I wrote:
---
For those who might read and follows the story around my husband Tore and his "search" for a new left foot and part leg, the latest news are now in, and we have a new foot and leg right now standing in the room!! :D

Last Wednesday, the 6th of January they decided down here at Bakke Rehabilitation Center that Tore's leg and his wound there should be able to survive a casting in plaster so they could start build his first prosthetic leg/foot.
Today the big day was finally here where he was to see, feel, try on his new foot/leg - and he been very anxious the past few days and kinda been counting down the hours in his head.

So, around ten o'clock this morning (Norway time) Tore was at the office of the physiotherapist that is assigned to him here at Bakke.
The orthopedist engineer was also there, and he took and open a big bag where Tore's new foot was inside of it! It looked strange, large, wrongly built/dimensioned as it felt rather short, very wide at the top where the rest of the leg is to be put inside, skin colored at top, a piece looking like a foot in skin color in bottom, but rest was steel tubes and moving pieces to allow for angles and movement of the foot.
Strange feel - how Tore felt I don't know.

It was told that this is not heavier then the foot he lost, it did feel heavier, Tore also said that when it was on his body and not just holding it - but the engineer claimed it not to be. We know for a fact Tore lost 2,3kg from one day to the other with only the surgery and amputation in between - so we have the actually weight loss. :p

There was lot of talk, showing, stuff - but then the foot was clicked on, and Tore was given a "preachers chair" on wheels to hold on to when he for the first time in 6 weeks once again stood on two feet!!
Lovely sight, must been wonderful and weird for him I imagined.

This evening, 6 weeks ago was the last time Tore took some walk around on his two feet, now, at least for a few minutes today, he could walk around again - that is magic nearly! :D
Six weeks ago he could walk without support, now he needs support and training, but in maybe 6 more weeks that might not be needed anymore maybe...
It's wonderful - but life will not go back to where it was.

It is a new life, new challenges, new lot of stuff - but, he has a foot now, and while only few minutes every day is allowed to use that foot to train up and allow the skin to adjust and heal for the task ahead of allowing tore to walk around again, we will get there!

I'm proud of my husband, it is not the brave wonderful man I saw near end of last year - but I see a man still struggling to make the best he can to get on his feet again, and a man a little more scared then the other, but that also means most likely more safe then the other.
Which is good.

Tore has maybe walked 20-30 meters today, among those maybe around 10-15 meters backward, and everyone seem to think he did great - which I find great!!

Tomorrow exercise starts up with a few more things on his feet, maybe Friday night if body is OK with the foot we will be allowed to do a few more exercises, including the evening by our self.
Only time will tell, but for now - a great day!

For me too, I got a package today with stuff from a seller in Colorado with some great Victor photographs - wonderful, both Tore and me got presents today... :hehe:

Till next time, take care

Linda
http://blog.cripplecreekrailroads.com/
 
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Linda I am so pleased for both of you for learning to adapt to the new things in life.

You both will slowly adapt and get to accept the new things, and rejoice in the fact that the bad part is behind you, and to look forward to a better new year

A Happy New Year to both of you from snowy PA !!!

Take care
 
Kinda and Tore, that is great news.

I am really pleased to hear that everything is working out at the moment. There will still be some difficulties ahead but after the past few months these may not seem as bad. The thought of loosing a foot is a lot worse then the thought of being able to stand up again and start walking around, it must be a great feeling for Tore.

Take care,

Craig
:):):)
 
Really glad everything is going well for you both now, the worst seems to now be over and things can only improve now in time, mind you by the sounds of it Tore is not going to waste any time getting back to as near normal as possible.

Best wishes and a happy 2010
 
Great news Linda! Thanks for sharing it with us. Give Tore a slap on the back from me. He's really doing well. I'm so happy for both of you. Best wishes to both of you for the coming year. It is off to a better start already :)

Todd
 
It's always sad that people grow closer through crisis, but when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel (pardon the RR joke :p) you see what a wonder it has done for you both.

It's great to hear from both you and Tore and see the bonds and emotions.
Stay strong Linda :)

The best to you both
Dave (GP)
 
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