Hello from the comfort of my bed!
I have been lying here for exactly one week, punctuated by short bursts of movement, exhausting episodes of chair showering and home visits from my friends and physiotherapist. I finally decided to pull the trigger on my much-needed ACL reconstructive surgery, and I went in completely clueless to the magnitude of what I was embarking on. I suffered from terrible pre-surgery jitters while waiting on the op to begin, but thankfully I was out like a light in less than one minute and I woke up with a big, bandaged leg the size of a Christmas ham and a morphine drip (Thank God for that morphine).
Returning home after 48 hours in the nursing home was a shellshock! Not only did I have to learn to maneuver my hanging-ham leg on crutches, but I also had to guard my leg from three excited jumping children who were thrilled to have me back at home. Pain and discomfort aside, the biggest emotion that I have been struggling with is guilt. Mom-guilt (a very accurate and pervasive emotion most mothers suffer from) triggered by lying in bed instead of running around doing everything for my family and CEO-guilt at lying in bed and not physically running around behind my clients and being constantly available to them. The first three days were the hardest and I proclaimed to my husband that “I was never getting out of bed again!”, but this idea was quickly thwarted by my Godsend of a physiotherapist. Mere days after surgery Nicolette entered my bedroom and scraped me out of bed and got me moving. She gave me a serious pep-talk on being young and able-bodied and the fact that some people went back out to work just days after ACL surgery (shocking reality check!). She also kept repeating “You are fine. You are doing so well.” I cannot tell you how much this encouragement lifted my spirits and turned my mood around. The physiotherapy made me feel like I had control over my healing journey and her positive energy permeated my funk. I will be forever grateful for this shining light of a person, and I owe all my progress to her!
I decided to celebrate my newfound positivity and zest for life by attending my friend’s gorgeous wedding over the weekend. I got all dressed up like a dog’s dinner and wore a long, flowing colourful dress to hide my patched-up knee and I spent the evening on a comfy chair with my leg elevated. I enjoyed food, drinks, and all the festivities. The wedding was an excellent distraction and I’m so glad that I didn’t miss out on an opportunity to get dressed up, feel good about myself, and celebrate with my closest friends.
Lessons I have learnt from undergoing this surgery:
- Invest in good health insurance. They covered 70% of my surgery.
- Don’t overindulge in research and the gruesome details of the surgical procedure – sometimes ignorance is bliss.
- Find a trusted physio who you mesh with and start therapy early – you won’t regret it!
- Be brave – there will never be a right time to be laid up, so just do it.
- Healing is 50% mental and mood matters.
- Don’t put your life on hold – YOLO! (You Only Live Once).
Enough about me, onto real estate news. Within the past two weeks we have listed multiple new commercial properties and whoever thinks Commercial buildings can’t be sexy is wrong! The word ‘sexy’ comes to mind immediately because not only do these buildings look good and exemplify expert planning and design, but they are also seated in stellar locations. Stanmore Haus, Newtown, Port-of-Spain is a brand new and ultra-modern, prime, class A commercial building located in the heart of Newtown. It looks like something that was plucked from downtown Brickell and lovingly placed in Port-of-Spain for savvy businesses to enjoy and flourish in. Stanmore Haus offers more than just 10,500 square feet of gorgeous office space – this building design has interwoven a unique food marketplace and a high-end restaurant to build a buzzing ecosystem of life, productivity, and professionalism all under one expansive roof. Truly an inspirational project and we are so happy to be a part of it.
In Barbados news, we have launched the ultra-sleek, ultra-luxurious Bijou Residences, Mount Standfast, St. James. Bijou is an architect designed, exclusive collection of 13 residences just steps away from the shimmering shores of one of Barbados’ most breathtaking beaches. Perfectly located between Holetown and Speightstown, Bijou offers effortless access to world-class dining, designer boutiques, and nightlife while preserving the serenity of a private coastal retreat. A standout feature is the rooftop infinity pool with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea and the proximity to my favourite casual dining lunch spot – Jujus Beach Bar. I highly recommend a cold rum punch, the club sandwich, and a side of homemade chips (you can thank me later!).
-Zoë
