Financial Help after terrible fall down 8 stairs.
Donation protected
Sunday March 23,2025
Hello everyone
It's been a little while since I did an update, there really wasn't anything new to update. Beginning this week (3/17) I started my outpatient therapy.
*Still having a hard time with the hand. fingers still not working. Pain level is down to around 2/3 on a good day and 4/5 on a bad day.
*Learning to walk again, I have a walker to help with, but I am still in a wheelchair for a while yet. I can't walk far (yet) but am practicing as much as possible. My leg hurts so much after walking that it makes it impossible to sleep because I can't find a spot where to lay it where it doesn't hurt.
*Other then that, just taking one day at a time. thanks for reading and your support and prayers.
Love, Sherry
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Feb 16, Sunday
Good Morning
- Had a doctor appointment on Monday Feb 10th and they took more x-rays of the arm & leg. Dr Tippets said everything looked good and to keep the weight off the leg for another month. He wants me to continue on with Occupational Therapy (OT) (which is for the arm/hand) and increase the visits.
- Arm/hand: I have pretty good use of the thumb and point finger. Thumb doesn't hurt anymore, and I don't feel the nerve when using it and it doesn't have spasms anymore. Oh and I can touch my thumb to pointy finger. * Pointy finger - I'm getting more and more use of it. It still hurts, but not like the other three fingers. If I over work (exercise) it then starts having small spasms. Nothing I can't deal with. * The next three fingers are a different story. Thet still won't bend at the knuckles. I can feel the nerves that control them. It's like if you wrap many rubber bands around your fingers and try to move them. It is a lot of pressure and tension. They are still very tingly like they are waking up from a very long sleep. I know it will take time and everyday (I feel like it) they are getting better. I work them all day, opening the fingers, closing them, helping them bend, laying my hand down and doing the finger taps, trying to type. At the end of the day. my hand really does hurt, and I noticed that I do get more spasms at night. Now for the pinky finger, well that little girl is giving me the most fits. If anything touches it even barely, it shots pain right up that finger to the elbow. Just imagine if you took 50 needles, taped them all together and started stabbing the tip of your and one of them slide forward and stabbed you good.....yup, that is a big Ouchy. That is my pinky. * I do need to say that the tingly pain that has been running up the arm all the time has now subsided to an ignorable pain.
- Wrist: I still can't turn my wrist, but I am working on it every day also. It is moving further, I just got to keep exercising it.
- Leg: Like I said earlier...everything looks good still no weight bearing on it. After that changes then I think I will be off to the rehab facility (if insurance will ok it) so they can help me walk again.
- My daughter is still up here helping me from Pensacola Florida. She put her life and job on hold because I needed "round" the clock help.
- Physical & Occupation therapists (supervisors) will be out next week to reassess my progress and to evaluate on further visits.
- Other then all that, I am trying to keep a good attitude and stay positive. I have good days and some bad days. Some days I just have a pity party and woe is me. My family is supportive to those days and lets me cry it out. I don't have many of those days, but it would be lying if I said I didn't.
- Just keep me in your prayers and thoughts. I will give you another update in a week or two.
- All my love <3 Sherry
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Jan 28th, Tuesday
Good (very early) Morning
- Monday I had occupational & physical therapy come to the house to work with me. Man was that an experience.
- Occupational therapy worked with my arm and is trying to get more range of motion in it. Right now I have none. It’s like frozen in place. The nurse was very gentle with me while she was twisting, pressing and turning my arm. She was making it do things it hadn’t done on its own in a long time. She gave me and my caregiver Cassie exercise to do during the week until she returns next week. I have to be honest, after she walked out the door I broke down crying. I don’t think I have cried as much as I have since the accident.
- Physical therapist came a few hours later and worked with my leg. Not to much we can do with that until I can become weight barring again. she did give me exercises to do everyday to build strength in the leg. We also talked about my earlier experience with occupational therapy and how my arm was hurting and how I cried afterwards. She showed us this snippet of a video on how your arm moves. I never realized how it worked, even your wrist is controlled by that one bone. Cassie and I learned something new. I included the link of what she showed us, if you might be interested.
- https://youtu.be/4mJDWnczzFU?si=OaxEycep77xBqiCz
- Overall, things are looking good on recovery. Still another month of no weight bearing on the leg and arm. I have a Dr appointment on February 10th and we will see how things are looking. PT told me when the Dr tells me I can start putting weight on the leg & arm I need to ask him to order me a walker with a platform.
- That’s all that is new, taking one day at a time.
- Until next week. :-)
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Jan 20th, Monday
Good morning
- Nothing much to report this week. It was a good relaxing week. Still healing and doing my home therapy on my own. Still no movement in my middle and ring finger. No matter how hard I try nothing :-( there is still no feeling in the pinky. I’m told it will take more time, patience is not my greatest assist, but I’m working on it. I’m a girl that is always doing something. Even my boss asked how I was holding up being so still, told him I was driving everyone crazy. ;-) I have discovered that I hate TV. I will not understand how people can just set and watch it endless. By no means am I judging anyone that does, it is just not for me.
- Next Monday will be a big day. My arm brace can come off during the day, on when I sleep. As for the leg, we will take the leg brace off and start range of motion. I’m worried, but will tackle it with a good positive attitude.
- If you are following my updates thank you. If you can help in anyway whether it is in prayers, supports or monetary I will appreciate all the support. XOXO
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Jan 14, Tuesday
Hello
Had my second real outing on Sunday. I was able to go to church. It was so nice setting in the Lords house instead of watching it on live stream.
Monday was a big outing day. Had a doctor appointment at 1pm. I had some new exrays done and everything is healing nicely he said. I was able to snap some pictures of the results. If I can figure it out I will post the pictures.
Dr told me another 6 to 8 weeks (or longer) no weight bearing on the leg. However, in 2 weeks he said I could start attempting small knee bends. He said not much, just small bends to get the leg ready for more movement.
As for the arm, exrays also looked great (I was also able to snap a picture) and he said in 2 weeks I can start removing the brace during the day and leave it on during sleep time.
I asked about the length of recovery and when he thought I could be released. He said 6 months maybe longer. That was not really happy news. I’m probably close to burning thru all my sick and annual leave at work. When that is gone, not sure what is going to happen.
If you can help me in prayers or donations I really would appreciate it. I’ve worked so hard for everything, I really would hate to loose it all just because I fell down some stairs. To be honest, I really hate asking for help and I know there is no way I can repay anyone, other then in my appreciation and gratitude.
I’m going to close this update for today. Have a great Tuesday.
All my love,
Sherry
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Jan 6th, Monday
It’s been a long week. Still maintaining the pain level. The nerve and ligaments are firing. My hand feels like there are million of red hot needles poking me. I keep telling myself, this will pass. Healing is pain, pain is healing.
Just checked the mail and received the second ambulance ride bill. That one was from the hospital to rehab…$600. First one was $1200 from the house to the hospital.
Still waiting one the 3rd party people to fill out my paperwork for FMLA. The dr that I see and who treated me sends that out to a 3rd party entity, That cost me another $80.
This fall is getting so expensive.
Anyhow, my spirits are good. I keep praying everyday and I thank GOD for all the people that has helped me and supported me through this whole ordeal.
Sherry
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Jan 1 2025
Happy New Year!
Hello
My healing is slow going. Had home health contact me for physical
therapy and occupational therapy. They want me to get started right way with both. The lady tells me that I have to pay 20% of the cost each visit, from each one PT and OT. The lady tells me it around (estimated) $45 per each, each visit. They both want to come twice a week. That is a $160 a week. More money going out than coming in for me.
They tell me that the numbness in my left hand is going to take a while and a lot of work. Work I don’t mind, tell me what to do and I’ll do it.
The leg is still healing, still in my brace and still no weight barring.
Pain level. In the leg there is very little pain. Every now and then when I stand and accidentally put my foot down I will have pain for several hours.The arm on the other hand, it is constantly hurting. The shooting pain is the worst, I would find a spot that doesn’t ache or hurt and wham…shooting pain that takes my breathe away. We are controlling it with medication, but i hate taking all that stuff.
I’m coming into the new year broken, but it’s going to be a great year. I’m going to heal and conquer this injury.
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Dec 27th
Hello — Here is my current update.
I got released from the rehab facility today. Had to do a wheelchair transfer to the car. That was very difficult to do. I had to have some help with it, but I managed to do. Another obstacle down.
Also had my follow up doctors appointment. It was at 1020am. There was a lot of waiting. Finally got taken to the back and had X-rays down, got taken to another waiting room to wait some more. Finally taken to a room and I have to be honest, I didn’t handle it very well. The removed 26 stitches from the leg and pu me back in my immobilization brace with no weight on it. For the arm, well that is were I lost it. They cut that cast off and omg, it hurt like crazy. The arm felt weak and the fingers looked deformed. Insert hyperventilating here. They started to remove the 30 staples in the arm and put some kind of stero strips where all the staples were. Moving the elbow and fingers was the worst. They sent me to get fitted for a special brace cast. I can only move it 60/90 degrees. My fingers are starting to look somewhat normal again. I can barely move them. Tomorrow I will try and do some therapy with them, I really need them to work again. Slow and steady and I believe they will get to normal.
Finally made it home by 230pm. It was a long day.
Sherry
Good Sunday Dec 22nd morning.
It has been 15 days since my fall, 13 day since they put me back together again. This journey/chapter in my life I’m going through has not been an easy ride. The pain I’ve experiencing is bad at times, which is something I can tolerate. I hate the random shots of pain that just goes through either the arm or leg, now that takes my breathe away. I’m due to leave rehab in 5 days with a follow up with the dr on the 27. I will be heading home with home health care coming into my home. I have to have someone with me because I cant stand by myself or walk. So someone has to be there for me. Not being able to do for myself, go to work, take care of my home or craft, is the hardest thing. I feel like all those things were stripped from me.
This is my update….if you can help thank you, if you cant just say a prayer for me.
With all my love,
Sherry
Hey everyone
My name is Sherry Tavis.
I am a strong independent woman who has worked all her life to earn everything I needed or wanted. I've never asked for help, I always had faith that everything will work out for the best.
unfortunately, I'm askIng for help
right now.
I fell down some stairs and shattered my left knee and elbow. I am going in for surgery in a few hours (12/10 @1p)
I do have sick leave but it will run out fast.
I could use some help financially . I really would hate to loose everything I worked so hard for.
So update: surgery went for 7+ hours. Apparently I busted the tiba and knee joint. They had to use cadaver bone to fix it. 10 pins and plates were used.
The elbow is anther story. Apparently I shattered the bones,tore all the legaments and stretched the nerve out really bad. He had to cut my arm on both sides. He had to reattach all the legaments.
I can't put any weight on my entire left side, Dr said for three month.
update: today I will be heading to rehab and start the next chapter in this long journey.
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Update, this is Sherry Tavis husband Michael i wanted to give everyone an update about her care and recovery . She got moved to encompass rehabilitation center in Gadsden al. Today was her first day of therapy she said it was rough but she’s in good spirits . Still worried about the fact that she’s got a Long road ahead of her with virtually no help once she goes home other than me. Her full recovery is going to take at least 6 months . She completely demolished her elbow , the surgeon spent 3 and half hours on her elbow alone . New ball socket , reapaired the broken bones and re attached all her ligaments. As for the leg it was around 2 and a half hours ,she now has 2 plates 9 or 10 screws and some cadaver bones . She broke both bones right below the knee . Her mobility is going to be very restricked .The surgeon says absolutely no weight bearing on the leg or arm for at least 3 months . She is extremely worried about being able to pay our bills . Because I’m an over the road truck driver and I’m going to have to limit my time away because she needs help when she goes home . We would appreciate everyones help , support,donations and even your prayers ! Anything would be greatly appreciated and would be used appropriately for bills and medical help . Everyone knows that even though you have insurance it just isn’t enough ! God bless all of you.
Co-organizers (1)
SHERRY Tavis
Organizer
Anniston, AL
Michael Tavis
Co-organizer