@gennepher sorry pressed wrong button I’ve been out of bed since 2.50am today
I too have arthritis mine being osteoarthritis I’ve had it since I was a young woman of 28years in my spine in my knees ankles and nodules in my hands that are pulling my fingers towards my palms slowly.
Like you I’ve suffered deafness in both ears from birth but not profound deafness my eardrums were perforated but didn’t really ever heal has some do so without realising I have been lip reading all my life.
I had an operation on my eardrum when I was 24 years old they grafted part of my earlobe onto my eardrum and had to stay at home until it healed, this was not possible has my youngest son was in intensive care has I was having my operation and due to be transferred to the Southport Spinal Injuries Hospital within days.
There was no way could I let them do this without me accompanying him has he was only 4 years old and the spinal injuries were the result of a car accident a few weeks before my operation I needed to be with him, and against hospital advice I went with him in the ambulance very slowly driving all the way to Southport Spinal Unit.
And everyday after that, I travelled by bus and train from my home to be with him, consequently my operation failed so I still have perforated ears which heal and then perforate usually after some incompetent procedure is done annually at the local clinic, but they eventually heal.
He is to this day confined to a wheelchair we went to see him yesterday afternoon he works at home since Covid, he is a finance manager for our local council he’s never let anything stop him doing what he wants to in any wheelchair sports we have taken him all over the country competing in racing,archery, white water rafting, basketball and being hoisted up the side of a small mountain in the Lake District he’s my hero he’s marvellous. And he’s soon to be a grandfather his sons partner is due to give birth in May this will be our third great grandchild in last two years can’t wait. K
Hopefully you get some respite from your health problems and kitty kats along with all the wildlife in your garden will help with distraction from time to time, carry on with your wonderful stories and art works you give so much pleasure to many. K