Synchronicity

Hey, it's Mau. I'm writing today & tomorrow's entry for Stephanie, and you will see why I'm writing it......

So, right after the SL race on Sunday the 27th, we had a wonderful banquet dinner and then we took a shuttle to the Anchorage airport. Got in around 9:30pm, it was earlier than we planned, but we wanted to check in our luggages ahead of big team like CAN team and NSCD team. Our flight left 00:30, which is technically next morning and we flew red-eye flight to Seattle and then to Denver. With her knee hurting from the fall from the SL race on Sunday, I'm sure it was uncomfortable flight for her, but we hanged on the long flight because we had a 'hope'.

The 'hope' was provided by Gwynn & Ray. They have been recognizing Stephanie's needs to see Ortho Dr. to figure out what's really causing her knee pain. Ray arranged an appointment for consultation with Dr. Sterett at The Steadman Clinic who is the head physician for the US Women's Ski Team. Yeap, he is the Dr. who evaluated Lindsey Vonn after her concussion this February. We were hoping this world-class knee Dr. would tell us what the best thing to do.

Our flight landed on time 10:30 am. I called my husband Charlie as soon as I got out of the gate to arrange our pick up. He answered, "I'm still in George Town......" Because of the snow, they closed the Barthoud Pass in the morning, so he had to go around through Klemmling back on I-70 from Silverthon. Our appointment with Dr. Sterett was 2pm, so I knew we would be late at this moment. I panicked a little, yet I was so tired that all I could think about is just keep going. Charlie picked us up noon and we were on our way to Vail. Of course our car's side window broke, so I had to drive with the window open for a while, then the snow started, so we had to tape a paint cloth..... AUGH!!!

Despite an hour delay to our original appointment, the team of Dr. Sterett accepted us and gave us a clear crisp diagnosis for her knee condition. She has medial plica syndrome, which is caused by repetitive use of the knee joint, the tissue in the knee joint folded over and wrinkled at medial side of the knee by the femoral condyle. This gives her irritation from over use and creates swelling and knee pain. Most of us have this condition in different degree, but Dr. Sterett told us that it will be beneficial for her to surgically remove it.

Dr. Sterett, "So, how soon would you like to have this surgery done?"

Me & Stephanie thinking about the summer training camp, "As soon as possible! Even tomorrow!"

Dr. Sterett looked at his PA and said, "Ok, will do it tomorrow then!"

We looked each other, "Really? Well, really?!?"

My brain started to run 100miles/hour after this conversation. Well, how soon can I bring her mom to fly from PA? How should I explain to her mom anyways? Where should we stay tonight? What should I do with Charlie? (he has been patiently waiting out side of office for 2 hours, ready to go back home) Does she have enough time to start PT here? What should she do for SkiTAM? Well, CAN I GO HOME TONIGHT?!?

While Dr. Sterett team arranging the surgery for tomorrow, I went out to the lobby to ask Charlie' "Can you take a day off tomorrow?" "What do you mean?" Fair thing for him to ask, but he already knew he had to take tomorrow off, didn't need to understand why. Dr. Sterett called OR, Charlie called his boss, and I called Stephanie's mom.

Thanks to my friend Jimi & Ryoko, we found a place to settle in Avon tonight. After we stumbled into the motel in a sleep-deprived stupor, I had just a enough energy left to think and wonder, "Somebody must have planned our day. This must be the synchronicity!" Stephanie started to ask random teenager questions about her surgery. I didn't have energy left to answer them. I'm sure she won't sleep well tonight..... It was a long day.