[Birdtalk] Home n' Happy

[Kristin Purdy]

Hi Everyone,

I arrived home from the hospital on Thursday and am so happy to be home. 
I've learned a few life lessons since January 8th that I thought I'd share 
with you:

I've received so many well-wishes, prayers, and encouragement that I'm sure 
you all are a significant reason my surgery and convalescence have gone so 
well. I can never thank each of you enough. Folks who I know well and folks 
I've just gotten to know called, sent cards and flowers and visited and I've 
been overwhelmed by what a caring group of people you are.

The University of Utah hospital system has assembled more caring people than 
I thought existed on the planet. I don't know how they did that. Everyone 
was so caring there that I felt like the hospital was created just for me. 
Maybe it was.

My husband must have somehow obtained a degree in nursing while I wasn't 
paying attention. His care has ranged from giving my hypos (not exactly the 
high point of either of our days), organizing my medication schedule, 
obtaining the hospital equipment I needed for the transition home and even 
buying pajamas. I can't even buy myself pajamas.

If you're birding opportunity is about to be cut short by a dump truck 
driving 50 mph, GET THE BIRD FIRST. Pomera reported for me the most 
important aspect of that birding trip, that the flock of Horned Larks was 
filled with Lapland Longspurs just before the lights went out. The next 
thing I remember was hearing my husband's voice in the McKay-Dee Emergency 
Room, where I was life-flighted. I have no memory of the time between seeing 
the longspurs and hearing John's voice. But I remember the longspurs.

Buying stock in Home Depot BEFORE an accident like this is a good idea. It 
appears from the post-surgical x-rays that half of Home Depot's hardware 
stock has been installed along my spine, including titanium cages around 
vertebrae, two titanium rods and ten titanium screws. I like titanium and it 
now allows me to walk nearly without assistance only 10 days following 
surgery.

All-in-all, there's really no apparent reason that I'm still alive. That 
being said, however, I have also to say that despite a seriously broken 
back, this has been a very positive experience and that I'm in good health 
and good cheer. Thanks to you all.

Kris

P.S. Anybody want to buy a used Tahoe with a few bumps and scrapes, cheap?