handiversary

Would you believe today is my "Handiversary"?

[No? You don't like my made up word of celebration? Fine... the Anniversary of my Carpal Tunnel Surgery.]

It's been one year. It's a little hard to believe that much time has past.

On one hand (no pun intended... ha ha... seriously... not intended, but funny.), it feels like forever ago. It's been so long since my hands have gone numb, or since my dexterity was compromised. I haven't dropped any dishes in months!

But on the other, it seems like I just got my bandages off a month ago. Like my stitches just came out. I still feel renewed strength everyday.

My scars are almost unnoticeable. They've healed beautifully. (Truth be told, they are still so alarmingly obvious to my eyes, but when I show anyone else, they almost don't know where to look, because they blend in with all of the other lines on my hands.)

It took awhile for me to feel strong in my wrists and hands after surgery. Six months later, I still felt like I didn't have 100% support or strength back. I couldn't bend my wrists back very far. I couldn't do anything that required full weight on my wrists (like a push up, or sitting on the ground, leaning back on your hands.).

But, would you like to know what my little hands can do now?

Just about anything I want... [grin]

I've been able to carry heavy things, play the piano to my heart's content, knead bread dough, decorate cakes, eat with chopsticks again - I've even been able to do a few push ups lately!

One interesting thing I've noticed lately... my handwriting has changed. And maybe only to me. But I noticed the other day that I've altered how I hold my pen, and it has resulted in just a slightly different way that I write. Better or worse? I'm not sure. Mostly, I'm just grateful I can write and not want to chop off my hands afterward.

I'm so grateful for how well my hands have recovered. And so grateful for modern medicine. Who knew that one little slit in each hand would alleviate so much pain? It's truly amazing.

I've tried to remember to thank my Heavenly Father everyday for all of the many things I can do with my hands. He's blessed me with the ability to do anything I set my mind to, and even more important, blessed us with the opportunity to be healed when we are broken. I'm so very grateful. Some days, I'll forget - because now almost everything feels natural again - but then I'll notice a certain way my wrist is moving when I do the dishes, or I'll be able to play a really hard piece of music that I haven't played since surgery, or I'll be doing something and have to twist my hand in a weird position. And then it will hit me again:

Look at that! I used to not be able to do that!

And more gratitude will ensue.

So... Happy Handiversary to me! [I don't care if you don't like it. I do. It's clever. And obvious. Ha ha]

I hope I always remember how blessed I am to have working hands that can do amazing things.