Hip, Hip Hooray!

Well, looks like I’ve got myself a brand-new hip!

They say third time’s the charm—though if you ask me, that’s two times too many.

Back in February, I never imagined a fractured hip would still be holding me hostage by late September. But then again, I also never put “seven-month staph infection” on my 2024 bingo card. Life comes at you fast… and sometimes with IV antibiotics.

But here’s the thing: it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Along the way, I discovered daily blessings—big and small. My wife Jane, whose love and support have been amazing; my kids and grandkids who kept my spirits up; neighbors who never let me down; incredible medical teams at Baptist Hospital, Bluegrass Orthopedics, and Lexington Infectious Disease Consultants (because of course I needed a whole consulting firm for this hip); and friends from around the world who prayed, called, and cheered me on.

Oh—and let’s not forget Jow Jow and Boomer, our loyal four-legged nurses, who specialized in “sloppy-kiss therapy.” (Highly effective. Zero copay.)

So the infection has been conquered, the new hip is finally in place, and now I’m headed into the fun part: rehab. Time to learn to walk again—and maybe even chase Jane around the house, if she’ll let me.

From the bottom of my (well-patched) hip, thank you all for your prayers, messages, and love. You’ve helped heal more than just my body. I love you all!