Well, this next post took a little longer than originally expected. I guess I wasn’t truly expecting to be completely down one arm… or to be able to do more one-handed than I have been. As it is, doing things with only my right arm has proved truly challenging.
I had rotator cuff surgery on the 6th, and since then, I’ve been on Family Medical Leave (FMLA) from the university… which isn’t to say that I haven’t been working—not by any means! The true disadvantage of being one of the only staff members is that sometimes you are truly indispensable, and no one else knows the answers to certain questions except you. The downside is, of course, when it cuts into your recovery time — though hopefully doesn’t cause it any delays!
Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t have anything to say; it just means that I don’t have the physical means of saying it, short of voice-to-text. That said, Little Miss Siri has some… difficulties with my accent and accurately transcribing text. She can get a bit bogged down and locked up, more’s the shame.
It’s been an exercise in patience, learning to do everything more slowly, relying on others for help, and figuring out what’s actually necessary versus what can wait. I’ve had to let go of some of my usual perfectionism—whether it’s how the laundry is folded or how quickly I respond to emails. Things just take longer, there are so many delays —and that’s something I’m still adjusting to.
That said, there are small victories every day. A little less pain, a little more movement, a little more independence. And while recovery isn’t a straight line, I know that every little bit of progress counts. Hopefully, I’ll be back to typing with both hands soon, but until then, bear with me—and let’s just call this one little delay more.