Wrapped in support (Giveaway still open!)

I didn't think I would be putting up my first post-op shoot so soon. Having stored up so many outfit photos ready to use during the recovery period, what is the first thing I do? Go out and pose for ten minutes among the leaves before retreating to recline melodramatically on a day bed and recover... The trouble is, having a new torso is like having a new camera - suddenly I don't want to post anything PS (Pre Surgery), with the old me. However, there were some great outfits, so they will be shown.

It feels great to get back to the old familiar formula of describing what I'm wearing and the location; a nice little sprinkling of normality.

Simple, comfortable clothes are all I can wear at the moment  - anything that is easy to put on! So this silk wrap-dress (worn back to front) appropriated from my mum has been one of the recent wardrobe staples. I love the bold, twenties style feel to it. . The brown lace up boots are also my mum's, and the hat is charity shopped Kangol. In one shot I'm wearing my favourite woollen cardigan - from a charity shop, as per usual. And I borrowed the pearls from my grandma's collection of jewellery.

I felt that me wearing a wrap-dress was also quite symbolic for the theme of this post. I've felt so surrounded (or 'wrapped') by support and well wishes - from the blogging community, to friends and family, plus hospital staff and neighbours. People have been totally extraordinary in their kindness. So once again, thank you. Also, my spine is being supported by its new metal-work  - I like to think of it as my scaffolding, holding up my fused vertebrae and keeping my back straight. My helter-skelter spine has now become a drop slide.

A little over two weeks on from the surgery, I can begin to reflect on the experience and its consequences. The surgery itself went well - I now have a lot of titanium metal work and rods screwed, hooked and bolted onto my spine, and have gained at least 2 inches in my torso due to the un-corkscrewing effect. I'm suddenly just under 5'11", which is another advantage (in addition to an obviously straighter spine.) However, as mentioned briefly in my last post, I had a really nasty (rare) reaction called 'cast syndrome' afterwards. When mum read my previous post, she was shocked that I referred to it as "slight." It's amazing how the brain covers up traumatic events; she's right, it was an absolutely horrible experience. I ended up feeling a like a pin cushion with the intravenous fluid drips, injections and blood being taken...

However, I was discharged on the Wednesday before last, and am currently recuperating in London before the long journey home. To complicate matters further, unfortunately I blacked out and collapsed against a wooden sideboard a week ago on Saturday morning (just after my friday post about how I was on the road to recovery), badly hitting my head and back. Voila, back in a different hospital for half a day - ambulance transfer and all. Luckily nothing else has happened since then. It'll take a while to get used to all that metal work in my back and for the pain and discomfort to gradually ebb away, but fingers crossed, it does feel like I'm out of the worst of it now. I'm really looking forward to when I can to tie my own shoe-laces again!
I'm also looking forward to the prospect of weilding my camera once more. Sadly, part of the recovery process is not being allowed to carry heavy things for some time. Good - in that when I eventually get back to school, apparently I have to have my bag and books carried for me (!) - bad for the weighty beast that is my Canon 5D though.

Fortunately, a lovely friend lent me a smaller camera a few days ago so I can still attempt some photography, which is great, as I was having a nasty dose of PWS: photography withdrawal symptoms!
The great thing about the height gain in my torso (and loss of rib humps and sticky-out twisted shoulder blade) is that I can suddenly wear clothes that were impossible to put on before. The possibilities of mid calf length Laura Ashley skirts are suddenly very alluring... Having said that, some of my mini dresses are now more like tunics. I think this calls for some much needed charity shopping to replace them once I'm better.

The mummy's scissors project has got off to a wonderful start, and I was overwhelmed by all the unique interpretations you lovely people have created. I'm really looking forward to seeing some more.

This incredible version, created by Kathryn held particular resonance for me. I felt that the encasing of metal in something else very solid drew a lot of parallels with the surgery I've just been through. She said that during the firing process the glass cracked and warped. Somehow I think this added to the effect - beauty in imperfection.
And generally, the whole idea of wrapping metal in soft fabric 'bandages' (as demonstrated so beautifully below) has been particularly symbolic of my recent experience. However, no bandages for me - I just had a very modern pressure dressing!

I will be putting up a list of links to all those who have been involved. Please see the previous post for the links to all the images featured above and the wonderful people who made them.

Note - My giveaway is still open until Wednesday the tenth, please see my previous post for the details. There are two pairs of Mummy's Scissors made by me up for grabs.

Wrapped in support (Giveaway still open!) 2010-11-05T13:46:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Unknown