Cane @ MindSay 
Causes of Leg Cellulitis
MRSA infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria — often called "staph." MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It's a strain of staph that's resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it. MRSA can be fatal.
ANYway, she had a boil with the diagnosis of cellulitis. The Doctor had to numb her then slice open the infection to drain out..Needless to say, it was painful for her. We decided to go to the ER when she said after supper that her whole leg was going numb and hurt really bad. My RN cousin in Mississippi said to take her too. Glad we did! She is doing better, went on to school and such. Just have to watch for more redness or swelling or draining.
On the other side now, James' Mom got her cast off two weeks ago Wednesday now. She walked with a walker and a cane for awhile but is doing good. After our Labor Day cookout, My sister-in-law went home. Joy took her back to the doctor last Thursday, got her home and she passed out again but was sitting. She is still doing this. All the tests she had in the hospital came back okay, we do not know what is causing this. James told her that they decided she should not drive at all now. What if she couldn't pull over in time,etc?. Not good.She agreed to that. There are enough of us around to drive her wherever she needs to go. My work schedule is pretty well set, so Thursday mornings I can carry her anywhere. I have to be at work by 12:30 on Thursdays.On her next appointment she will discuss with her doctor some options to see what is going on. It worries us. That's why she had the cast on. She passed out and fell while shopping with my niece, fractured her foot and chipped the bone in her other foot. That's why Joy had been staying with her since July 12th.
We had an interesting day today, let me tell ya! I was up at 4 am because I slept through my pain pill dosage and I tried popping up out of bed. Yay that was fun! We sleep on a queen size air mattress that sits on two twin size box springs. Really close to the floor! I had a folded over pillow under my knees and a huge comforter underneith my feet so I wouldn't feel the blood loss I tried to turn over on to my stomach and can we say I yelped like a cat who got wet the first time and rolled myself out of the bed! Randy slept straight through it! Even my muttering and cursing trying to find the wall that had the cane next to it! I found the cane and realized with my knee hurting and stiff there was no way I was going down the steps upright. I tossed the cane down the stairs and proceeded down the steps on my ass!
Anyway I got my pain pill, checked on the boys sleeping on one of the hidabeds and hobbled my way back up the stairs. Yes, I mananged to kick Randy with my good leg........by accident of course 
I again woke up at 6 am because I heard the subtle sound of the tv going from one channel to the other so realized one of the boys was up and around. I again slid my butt down the stairs and made coffee, gimped into the bathroom and grabbed a load of towels to start laundry and wondered into the living room where Austin was up and watching cartoons. He came into the kitchen with me and DeLaney wondered downstairs. Austin and DeLaney proceeded to make waffles while I busted out the apple slices and dip for breakfast. It was a nice morning .........no fighting! Having a kid in the hosue that isn't related to DeLaney does wonders to my mood! Finally Austin decieded Coltin had to get up so he went and put the kitten's butt in Coltin's face and threw a pillow on him to boot! Coltin came in grouchy as normal and I told him to stop and you know what that lil punk ass kid of mine said?!?
"You better watch out mom cause I will hide your cane and crutches on you!"
Dayum kid takes after me way too much! Finally about 8 am, Randy wondered down and grabbed a cup of coffee and a cig and wondered into the living room. Where he promptly challenged Coltin and Austin to a game of Halo 2! Then he had the nerve to tell me I should really sit down and get off my leg. I ignorned him liek normal:D
I just sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy reading the news, blogging on mindsay and drinking my coffee ......I realized that DeLaney and Casey (her friend that went to taekowndo with us) had Shondeen's birthday party at the Roller Rink afterwards and I had NO LITTLE GIRL gifts in the house! I hurried up called Brenda (Casey's mom) and asked her what she got because we do the cheap bday shopping at the same place. I have I said that I love Dollar General? Got the run down of what they got Shondeen and rearranged our plans to meet from our place to Dollar General.
I didn't want to mess with putting the ribbon on my cane that Randy got me so while DeLaney and I were choosing a variety of Faery and Princess items that didn't match what Casey got Shondeen I found myself some purple bows to put on the cane!
The whole time trying to walk as fast as I could up and down the toy isle at Dollar General and get in and out of Randy's big ass Truck! Again Randy goes you really need to sit down and get off that knee! I of course continued to ignore him!:D
We get to taekowndo. The girls rode with Brenda and the boys with Randy and I. Teri and her boys, Conner and Colin meet us up at the Academy. While the kids were busy breaking boards, Randy was busy playing on his cell phone, Brenda, Teri, and I were discussing the rowdiness of kids and what we were doing for the Eqouinoix (sp?) and ohing and awwwwwwing over the kids breaking their wooden boards. My cousin's boy Ryan came in for a private lesson to make up for all the classes he has been missing from football and harvesting and his brother Eric got himself a date tonight.........an older woman! He is a sophmore and she is a senior! Go Eric! Again Randy made a bid at getting me to sit down and this time I told him to shut up! Teresa, Ryan's mom, started laughing at Randy and said just be happy she is standnig in one spot! Brenda took the girls to the birthday party and we took the boys to Micky D's and then Austin on home!
Again where Randy got all uppity about me sitting down and taking a pain pill! Well I couldn't very well sit down after taking a pain pill because Brenda would be bringing DeLaney home! Doesn't that man know anything? So I did a few more loads of laundry, sanded and added soem more spackle to my hall way wall that had a hole in it and finally finished priming the kitchen and started painting the color on the wall! All the while gimping to and from the kitchen to the living room! Finally I had to go outside because Brenda showed up and Dooley was all tangled up on his chain and me and gravel just don't get along so I had to grab the cane again!
You should have seen me! Climbing up on a chair to get up high and then trying to figure out how to get down with out jumping on my knee! I figured it out though! Grab the non painted wall for balance and jump off with the left foot first! Finally after cooking dinner (Steak, Cottage Fries, and Tomatoes!) Randy grabbed my cane from me while I was sitting down and put it across the room! Theif!!!! Handed me a pain pill and said shut up, swallow the dayum pill and put your leg up woman! I love it when he gets all manly on me! 
The above pictures are of me finally getting off the couch after he got all manly on me and I was screwing around going "Look at my pimp walk!" Don't I have some sexy legs! And just for you pervs out there wondering! No, I don't have anything on under my tshirt! :D
Well I am all gimpy for a while! My surgery went okay. I had a surgical nurse Thrusday night try to pull a fast one on me! She found out real fast I dont' feed into bullshit. My doctor's office called and asked me to show up a half hour earlier then 6:30 am yesterday because they planned on running early and could get my surgery done an hour earlier. Then this Surgical nurse calls at 7pm Thrusday night going well they pushed you back and you shouldn't come in till about 7 or so. Kiss my ass bitch! I don't care if you want to move someone up before me or not my ass is coming in when my doctor told me!
Paid off I got in right on time and was out of the hospital by Noon yesterday. They cleaned out the bone spures and realized that even though I had a ton that wasn't what the main issue was! Nor was it major tears in my cartilege! I have a condition that is normally not seen in 40 year olds or younger! My cartliege is pulling away from the bone and rotten away basically! Lovely huh! So the doctor cleaned up as much as he could with the cartlige and once I am healed up somewhat I get to start another form of medication to try and get my cartilege to repair itself!
I forgot my crutches at the house but that is okay I haven't really needed them. I have been pimping it with my Grandpa's old cane! Granted Grandpa was about 6'2" so it is a bit to long for me but I only need it for stablization. I am going to be drove crazy wiht the banage though! I have to keep it on till Sunday (tomorrow) and nothing but showers after that for at least a week. I already made Randy take the ace banages off and cut away some of the gauze that they put clear down my calf and ankle. He rewrapped it with one ace banage. I was so drugged up yesterday I slept most of the day away and still went to bed at 9pm.
Now I am the last one to get ready for taekowndo today. It is Bring a Buddy, Break a Board day and we have two extra kids joining us. Not to mention another couple of our friends meeting us there. After taekowndo DeLaney and her lil friend that is coming with us have a Birthday party to go too! Luckily Casey managed to talk her mom into going with us to Taekowndo so she said she would take the girls to the Birthday party and then bring them home! Yay me!
Don't for get all you Pagans, Spiritualist, and non main stream Religion folks, it is Pagan Pride Weekend! Bust out your Purple and Pinks and get to wearing them! Randy bought me some purple ribbon but I didn't get a chance to get it on the cane so I will be wearing what ever!:D I usually just adverstise myself with my ink and necklaces!:D All the time!
today was somewhat okay. i had more of a lunch, including oreo cakesterss.! yum. school sucked nonetheless though. i haven't really been getting out much which is depressing because usually im always outside. i hate the change of seasons sometimes. it really triggers my allergies. hmm.. anyways this disease called superboredom has wiped out my intire immune system therefore meaning the only cure was to entertain you people. mhm thats right. well, homework is calling, and i have a ton to do. ugh. 
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
May 15, 2007 – Two local woodworking groups followed a Civil War custom today by presenting a ceremonial cane to a soldier who lost his leg in Iraq. The groups seek to extend the ritual to all combat veterans who have suffered traumatic leg, foot or hip injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Northern Virginia Carvers and Capital Area Woodturners, Inc., presented an "eagle cane" to retired Army Lt. Col. Dennis Walburn, now deputy chief of operations for the Army's Rapid Equipping Force.
The REF, based here, partners with industry, academia and military leaders to get developmental as well as off-the-shelf technologies to deployed troops as quickly as possible.
Walburn was a Florida National Guard soldier deployed to Iraq to evaluate soldiers' equipment needs for the REF when he lost his leg to an improvised explosive device. He had volunteered for the 179-day deployment and was on a patrol with the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team when the incident occurred near Mosul on May 28, 2005.
Nine people, including a U.S. soldier, died in the attack. Walburn lost his leg but credited quick action by combat lifesavers and the Mosul-based combat support hospital with saving his life.
Today, the Northern Virginia Carvers honored Walburn's sacrifice and his continued service with the REF by presenting him a cane inscribed with his name and topped with an intricately carved bald eagle.
Jack Nitz, a member of the Eastern Oklahoma Woodcarver's Association and former Navy chief petty officer, initiated the Eagle Cane Project to honor wounded heroes at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington.
The project has spread to woodcarving and woodturning clubs in 13 states. Woodturning is the process of shaping wood into forms on a lathe.
Henri "Hank" Cloutier, an Air Force retiree who coordinates the Eagle Cane Project here, noted that cane-presentation ceremonies date back to the Civil War as a sign of respect and honor for wounded troops.
The eagle carved into the cane is symbolic, as well, Cloutier explained. Native Americans believed that warriors wounded on the battlefield returned as eagles.
"This cane is not to be seen as any sign of weakness," Cloutier told Walburn. "It is a sign of respect and honor and thanks for your personal sacrifice."
Walburn said during today's ceremony that he was proud to accept his cane, not for himself, but for all wounded warriors.
He offered a word of encouragement for those undergoing the long, difficult rehabilitation process. "Life is going to hold a lot of promise still," he said. "And you will be back on your feet, doing great things for our country. There is a path ahead, and it is going to be good."
Army Sgt. John Keith, another Operation Iraqi Freedom amputee serving with the Rapid Equipping Force who attended today's ceremony, called it an emotional crescendo to the long healing process he and Walburn underwent together.
Keith lost his leg to an IED in southern Baghdad on Nov. 9, 2004, selected his own eagle cane today. The woodcutters will inscribe it with his name and date and place of injury, then present it at a future ceremony.
"He is a true symbol of a warrior," Keith said of Walburn. "We all had bad days (during rehabilitation), but he always had a smile on his face and was never down. He was an inspiration to us all."
Walburn said efforts like the Eagle Cane Project go a long way in demonstrating the American people's support for men and women in uniform. "It's a great morale boost that helps them go forward with their lives," he said.
The Eagle Cane Project is an example of the myriad projects individual Americans, schools, church groups, companies and other organizations are taking on to show support for the troops. The Defense Department's America Supports You program showcases these activities while helping people involved in them network with each other and attract other volunteers seeking ways to show their support.
Despite any public debate about the conflict itself, Walburn said, the country remains unified behind its troops. He cautioned against "compassion fatigue" from giving so much for so long. "We all have to continue," he said.
Cloutier said his and other woodworking groups participating in the Eagle Cane Project hope to expand their effort to honor all combat-wounded troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The problem, he said, is that privacy laws make it difficult to contact those troops. He encouraged wounded troops or their families to contact him at hankusaf@verizon.net or call 703-430-1222 to arrange to receive a cane.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
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