Background- My right hand had developed a condition called Dupuytrens Contracture. Scar tissue forms under the skin of the palm causing the hand to pull into a permanent fist. It started about 5 years ago and I have managed to avoid corrective surgery until now. The surgery is extensive and delicate, involving risks to possible nerve and tendon damage. It finally had progressed to where I was experiencing difficulties in holding a wine bottle and restoring kettles. That was my tipping point for embracing surgery. So, this past Thursday after the WKC picnic I was scheduled for the three hour surgery under general anesthesia. Never having had a real surgery before, I started becoming anxious, thinking more and more of the "what ifs'. That was until my wife received a text Wednesday afternoon from her girlfriend about an add on LetGo.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/06/09/DSC06219.jpg)
See my wife has told her girlfriend (and probably every stranger she has met) about my hobby of collecting vintage Webers. Funny thing is her girlfriend had just signed up on the Letgo site Wednesday afternoon. My wife told her it was one of the resale sites I use. Finding the add on my PC I see the add has been posted for only 12 minutes. Pretty good odds. Problem is the kettle was in Placerville where my wife's girlfriend lives. That's a 2 1/2 hour one way drive from our house. She asks if I would be interested in the kettle and offers to have her husband run and pick it up. I don't need to tell you what my answer was. About 30 minutes later we receive a text from our friend saying the seller had responded that the kettle was sold and someone was on the way to pick it up. Wow, now that is fast to have beaten a 12 minute response time. I start texting the Sacramento guys, hoping that one of them had scored it. One by one they respond no, eliminating the grillfellas I know in that area. I figure that some lucky person got a heck of a score. It was all good as it was a great distraction for me and kept me from thinking about the surgery.
After the surgery on Thursday, my wife drives me home and this is sitting in my driveway.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/06/09/DSC06221.jpg)
Apparently my wife's friend had scored the kettle and was stringing us along about it being sold. They had a job in the Bay Area Thursday and dropped it off at our house as a surprise. Caddywhompus and a bit of rim rash but quite a nice surprise to come home to.
This was three hours out of surgery. Looks like the anesthesia had not worn off yet. Kinda have a glazed look.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/06/09/34669115_2017416561604889_1003139880278032384_n.jpg)
This has been a challenging post to write as I am right handed and have had to type this left handed using the "hunt and peck method". Try using a mouse with your weak hand sometime. Talk about reprogramming your brain. My surgeon said the procedure went well and she does not expect any complications. I have to wear a cast for 6 weeks and have some upcoming physical therapy but I say bring it on. Come on, I got a lime to restore.
Awesome way to score that Limey! Looks good already. More than anything, glad you are doing fine after the surgery. Looking forward to seeing this lime restored after your full recovery in about 6 weeks time.
Darn it I guess I need to get back on letgo that was right in my backyard! 25 minutes away
hahaha, that's not anesthesia, it's the dazed "OMG I have a Lime" look. Congratson both the Lime and hopefully, the successful surgery !
Glad to hear the surgery went well Jim. Now I know why pics of the Cado haven't been posted yet. Hope you have a great recovery and that your hand is better afterwards.
Congrats on the Lime also! Now you've got another agent out there, pretty sweet.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Glad all went well. And killer lime!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hoping for a speedy recovery good sir, and you are a walking kettle karma machine.
Wait Wait Wait! You said it was an 18" Lime in your text!? ;)
I haven't been checking LetGo lately, so you caught the Sac-Crew "slippin'" on this one. Nice connection for you guys and a good grab, Jim. Glad this beauty was secured.
Also, great news that the surgery went well. If you are having a backlog of resto's, please feel free to park that at my place for...well...forever.
Get better soon, Jim. We need you to fire up that WSM. My crystal ball sees a full packer brisket in your future. ;)
Glad the surgery went well Jim. I was searching sites that day including letgo. I never saw the add but glad it found a great home.
Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=91018)
Damn it Jim!
Glad to hear the operation was a success! Now heal up, we're counting on you! Oh, and congratulations Jim, you deserve that grill. Not the Ambassador, but that one. ;)
Wishing you a quick recovery so you can get at that grill
Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=91018)
I can't think of better PT than restoring that beauty Lime.
Congrat's on the limey Jim.
I wish you a speedy recovery.
Blessings and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Life will be better for you after the healing.
Sent from my LG-TP260 using Weber Kettle Club mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=91018)
Glad it worked out for you brother. Good luck on the mend.
You got a beauty there, as well as your wife. Congrats
Hope that's not your wine drinking hand. "Here's" to speedy recovery, indeed.
Hunt and peck around your computer to see if it has a speech-to-text feature. Might make the next few weeks better (or go horribly wrong.)
Thanks for all of the well wishes. I have quickly adapted to using only my left hand. I had been practicing for a few weeks prior to the surgery. Three nights not grilling is all I could take. Tonight I have set up Robigus (18" WW) to grill some sausages and cauliflower. The wife is doing all the prep work, dishes and anything requiring the use of a knife. Man I miss using my Shun's but you really need two hands for that.
Sweet grill! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Thanks for sharing and speedy recovery to you. Grate looking lime.
Sent from my SM-G965U using Weber Kettle Club mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=91018)
Glad to hear the surgery went well
@Cellar2ful . Since you'll be in a cast for six weeks and you NEED to be active on here, you might consider some speech recognition software called Dragon Naturally Speaking. My father in law lost some fingers in a fight with a table saw a few years ago and he teaches college classes online. I bought him the software and it works so well and he loves it so much that he said he wished he had it before he lost his fingers. Just a thought if you're someone who writes much on the computer.
Get well, brother!
Speed recovery Jim glad the surgery went well... congrats on the lime. Your kettle karma is AMAZING.
Sent from my SM-G965U using Weber Kettle Club mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=91018)
Congrats on the Lime, wishing you a speedy recovery!
Congrats on the lime, and prayers for a speedy recovery!
Jim, I expect you will walk right through this and get that kettle going. Good Luck.
So yesterday I had my first post op appointment. The cast and bandages were removed and I got my first look at my hand. Shocking to say the least. I have about 50-60 sutures in two separate areas of the right palm, with one suture line running halfway up my middle finger. Good thing is, still no pain. Now I have a removable hard splint which makes life a little easier as simple things like flossing your teeth really require two hands. Next week I meet with the surgeon and hope to have a time line on when I can return to weight lifting and restoring kettles. For now I quench my weberitis thirst by BBQing every night. I look out my back sliding door and the kettles awaiting restorations are lined up like little puppy dogs waiting for attention. Maybe I can at least give the lime a bath today (left handed of course).
That all sounds like good news. I wish that I could help you with your "puppy dogs."