Another Set of Crutches

Carter is a crutches salesman’s dream.  She needs them often and she keeps growing taller so she needs new one.  Tomorrow she is having meniscus surgery and she got fitted for yet a new pair of crutches today.  I optimistically brought her last set up to Triangle Ortho to see if they would still suffice, but no, they were already at their most extended setting and were considered too short.

Poor Carter has been living with this knee pain since her volleyball team beach trip in the beginning of August.  As soon as she made the team she got injured.  No one had any clue that the damage was as bad as it was, not that the adults around her paid any attention.  Having to have surgery is bad enough, but the worst part for Carter is missing playing basketball, which is all she was living for.

As a parent I would do anything to take this pain from her and keep her from suffering, but that was not an option on the extensive forms I had to sign today as her legal guardian.  Being a helpless observer is not something I do well.  I am doing my best to try and alleviate Carter’s fears about the procedure. I think that it would be considered really bad parenting to tell her how much fun anesthesia is going to be.

For me I am going to have to try and not deal with anxiety by eating.  Double whammy, worry about Carter and not eat sugar.  I know that eating does not help anything, but it sure makes stress more fun, if just for a minute or two.

Hopefully the complex tear will be in a place that can get sewn up and Carter will have a brighter knee future.  We won’t know that until after the Dr. has gone in. Please pray for Carter and Dr. Silver who is doing the operation.  At least I am a well-seasoned mother of a child on crutches and know all the best parking places.