For those with whom I have not previously communicated the following? I had my appointment with the orthopedist this afternoon. Everything is fine, compared to living in Cuba or fleeing Ukraine.

My arm is worse than expected. I require surgery for both Cubital AND Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. <<< The reason for numbness on all of my left hand and forearm.
https://www.stgeorgesurgical.com/.../cubital-tunnel-release/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/.../carpal-tunnel-release
Dupuytren's is the least of the problems. LOL
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/.../dupuytrens-contracture

So Elbow AND wrist surgery same day PLUS Physical Therapy down the line for rotator cuff shoulder problems. Wait and see. The surgeries will be performed consecutively on December 1. And recent endoscopic biopsies revealed NO pre-cancerous cells in a cyst. YAY!!!

It's been a rough few years for nearly all of us here, so I'm trying to keep my own situation in perspective. After Tracey die in 2019, I lived with my older brother and his family. Their rental was sold and their need to relocate left me needing housing, so since May of 2020, I have been living in an apartment not too far from my inlaws. Up until then I had never lived alone. And my brother no longer believes our father molested our sister and me.

As if Tracey's family had more than enough to deal with after her death and the death of a beloved brother-in-law. her second oldest sister suffered a violent death last year. It affected everyone since she was a sweetheart whose absence has been both sad and soul-shaking.

In the midst of this I started having significant pain in my left hand. The above diagnosis and subsequent intervention described above hopefully culiminates with relief. I've been typing for about a year with one finger on my right hand

I came out to my son and daughter-in-law earlier this year; my writing serving for the time being as my sole introduction. Tracey had been helping me formulate a plan to talk with them almost immediately prior to her death, and their wedding later that year gave me pause, since both of them were so broken-hearted by her absence.

My son explained he already knew; like a TG story trope, I had left a document open on the computer and he discovered it. When I told abouut 'me.' i explained I had been fearful to tell him. "Why? I love you!" was his reply. (just like his Mom) My daughter in law asked me about identifying prounouns. I told her no change for the present.

Much love to y'all!