Medical Update #1
#kneetoo has been for surgery and after several days of recovery and learning to walk again, I had the good fortune to collect her this morning.
85 steps before breakfast, the physio said. So how does 90 sound. 🙂
20 more steps per day, means 140 more per week, which equates in one of those logarithmic graphs to a 1000 in just a week or two, and then 5000, and well you get the idea, #kneetoo will be back in the field before I can recharge the camera batteries. 🙂
Seriously, but. Lots of work to do, crutches, walking frame (thankfully Dolly the Trolley has been waiting for this moment) heaps of physio work—coincidentally many of them looking like Tai Chi moves. I’ve got to do this… Oh, I said you mean “Part Wild horses Mane”.
I’m not one that is much into blood and gore, so most of the medical stuff gets by me. I go into panic on a paper cut, a slip the kitchen knife is enough for me to sit down for awhile. So most of Mr Slice’n’Dice’s handiwork is not something I’m going to pursue. However I am fascinated by the mechanical process of the production of the replacement knee joint. And more particularly how the robotic process results in such a precision job. The attachment joints are something that my old woodwork teacher could have only dreamed about.
Here’s what #kneetoo’s looks like.
Her suite at St Vincent’s In Werribee overlooked Hoppers Lane. David Nice’s patch. A large window gave her a grand view of the roadway, and traffic and more importantly the gardens and trees on the Uni Campus across the road. (PS you can just make out the trees over the road in the xray shot, as I took it against the window)
So, in her secure Birdhide window, I’d get daily reports.
What the local pair of magpies have been doing, where they are feeding and roosting. How the local Willie Wagtails and Magpie Larks were in regular dispute over feeding rights. The three young Hobbies that flew past. And the numbers of Purple-crowned Lorikeets feeding among the flowing gums. Perhaps I should have taken her in a camera.
So thanks to everyone for their kind words and support. We both really appreciate it all.
While #kneetoo was in ‘confinement’, I took the opportunity of a sunny morning for a quick run to the Western Treatment Plant. Mostly I wanted to see if the Flame Robins had turned up in any numbers.
As I rounded a corner, I saw a Brown Falcon on a tree ahead, slowed and although I knew the bird was too far away, I slipped around iAmGrey to get a better look.
To my surprise her mate, (bit of guess work there), was sitting on a stump, among the grasses and shrubs. And the light was just about right. No doubt the birds was sitting out of the breeze warming up in the bright morning sunshine. The beautiful rich white chest was on good display.
This is not a bird that I have worked with before, so had no idea what it would do. He(?) sat for awhile, but it was obvious that my presence made him uncomfortable and I wasn’t going to move any close or to a better angle. I’d worked out his flight path would be down and away from me, so I’d only get one chance at a flight shot. However, he beat me, dropping from the stump, and not wing spreading till he could glide behind one of the bushes.
So I retreated. Happy to have made the acquaintance, and hoping that a return visit will be a closer experience.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
Great to get the progress report – bravo! And a lovely Brown Falcon as a bonus.
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HI Eleanor, thanks for the thoughts. #kneetoo, is responding well at this stage. Bit slow, but all good we think
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Lovely story and yes those new knees are something aren’t they Best wishes
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Hi Ginny, thank your for the kind thoughts
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Love your stories …..and Pics of course.
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Hello Cheryl, thank you dropping by
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Great to hear that #kneetoo is home again, always better than a hospital bed, no matter how good it is.
You will have to go into training to keep up! The xray is fascinating to see.
Had I known she had a view to Hoppers Lane I would have gone that way and waved – I usually go behind the hospital – but haven’t been out all week anyway.
Great image of the Falcon, he sure had you worked out!
Our best wishes to #kneetoo!
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G’day David, Yes, I kept asking if you had put in an appearance. The weather has been less than conducive to being out and about.
Seems that there are three young Hobbies somewhere in the area.
No sign of the Kestrels, or the Falcons. But they might not travel that way. She had been hoping that a Kestrel would use the window ledge for a perch. 🙂
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There has on occasion been a Kestrel perch on those window ledges!
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Best wishes to Dorothy and glad to hear she is doing well.
Regards
Rodger
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G’day Rodger, all good so far. Lots of new learning experiences I guess.
Werribee Wagtails (the new group) is planning a trip to Royal Park, and I might drop you a note on any good spots to check.
As I won’t be going so soon after her get out of hospital card has come up. :–)
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Good to hear that all is on the best way to recovery – just count these steps carefully. All the best to Dorothy/#kneetoo.
As for the Brown Falcon leaving the stump in an unattractive way I would not regret too much. That stump was the best possible perch to pose for your fabulous photography.
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Hello Adam, There will be a track worn down the hallway in short time. 🙂
I was so interested in the other bird further away, that I completely missed this one till I was right on top of him.
His excellent little stage and enclosing theatre looked a treat in the viewfinder and I was delighted with the fall of light. Had I not been within his ‘circle of comfort’, I’d have guessed a much longer stay would have occurred.
I really prefer to work with the light chested birds, as they have quite a fetching presence.
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Wonderful to read that your wife is recovering well from her surgery and will soon be out birding again, Prosthetic surgery is quite remarkable and constantly improving. The Brown Falcon was nice addition to the day, a bird we never see here on the coast,hopefully you will get more opportunities later. Enjoy nore of this beautiful Autumn weather and have a wonderful week.
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Hi Ashley, it all seems to be going well. Plenty of pain but she’s endured pain from a back operation many years ago, so we have a baseline to work with and while impossible to eliminate it, we have developed a few coping strategies.
I grew up in the Mallee among the farming areas, and Browns are part of landscape, I enjoy them as they come in such a range of colours and dress, so it makes id of individuals a little easier. Being hunters of the ground, they have some well established characteristics that is always an enjoyment to see it being played out by the bird.
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