All posts by Richard

6-Week MMA Follow-up

Today was my 6 week follow-up at the Emory Clinic. It was a good visit. Met with Dr. Roser. Also, got to see Dr. Optid and Dr. Cho. They were the ones that kept close watch on me right after surgery, so they will always have special meaning in my life.

Dr. Optid was first assistant to Dr. Roser during my surgery, and Dr. Cho was second assistant. They have been really great doctors, but more importantly, they are very warm hearted people, whom I now consider friends. I will miss not seeing them. I highly recommend Dr. Roser and his team for this type of surgery.

  • Healing progressing well
  • Voice returning to normal. Still a little scratchy and weak but improving
  • Feeling returning to nose and chin
  • Some feeling returning to front gums, more feeling near the back
  • Sleep apnea alleviated completely by all accounts. Will probably do another sleep study in the Spring to confirm
  • Afternoon sleepiness alleviated
  • Still some pain in the gums usually after eating or at night but controllable
  • Still on soft food, such as pasta, fish, soft veggies, etc.
  • Still using Afrin at bedtime to help with nasal congestion but need to start weaning off
  • Ok to start with orthodontic treatment to fine tune my bite
  • Have appointment next week with my orthodontist, Dr. Moody Williams.

Amazon Kindle

This looks like the coolest gadget! Downloads books, blogs, newspapers, etc. through cell phone technology. Also has some special technology that makes it easy to read even in bright sunlight.

Coolest thing about it is there are no service fees. Amazon covers the service fees in order to sell book downloads. Most books are around $9.99. Check it out.

Happy Birthday Jeffry

photo by Julie Gandy, Gandy Photographers Today is my brother’s birthday. He’s 35, the youngest of 3 children born to Robert and Geraldine Gandy. My sister Joy is next, and I’m the oldest weighing in at almost 49 years young.

This photo was taken by Julie, Jeffry’s wife, at St. Augustine beach while they were photographing Dustin and Katie’s wedding.

See Julie’s post about Jeffry’s birthday on their blog.

Jeffry usually shoots with that honkin’ Canon 70-200 2.8L lens. It’s big and heavy, but it’s one of the sharpest lenses I’ve seen. Plus, the bokeh is beautiful. Bokeh is a term for the aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photo.

Growing up, Jeffry was very enterprising. He was always fixing up an old bicycle or something to sell. Our dad would get so irritated because Jeffry would "borrow" his wrenches and not put them back in the right spot.

I always knew Jeffry would be successful. He turned out to be a well-rounded young man with a wonderful family of his own.

Happy Birthday!

Voice Much Better

Photo 12/02/07 Thanks everyone for your prayers!

My voice is much stronger and almost back to normal sound. If you could have seen the little video the ENT doctor did of my vocal cords, you would understand how miraculous this is. There was no movement of the left cord—paralysis due to injury from the intubation tube during my MMA surgery.

I was really bummed out after that visit, but Jeaneane got me back in line spiritually when she got home that afternoon. Thank God for Jeaneane!

Photo from 12/02/07. If you’ve been following the blog, you know we’ve been taking photos to document my progress. I don’t think I’ve had this many photos taken of me in my entire life. I’m usually the one taking the pictures. You can see the photos in chronological order on the MMA Photos tab.

Selling 2002 Mercedes CLK320

We bought this car in 2005 for my wife. At the time, we had a pickup truck we used for hauling mainly gardening stuff. We have since sold the truck, and now Jeaneane wants to sell her car and get a truck. Go figure!

Call Jeaneane at 678-642-2836 if serious about purchasing.

See more photos and read about the car on the tab above or click here.

Basic Info.

  • Price: $20,900
  • Mileage: 50,000
  • Engine: 3.2L V6 215hp
  • Transmission: Automatic 4-speed Tiptronic
  • Bose Premium Stereo with CD Changer
  • Gas Mileage: Around 27 in town and 31 hwy, which is great for a car this peppy.
  • Interior: Gray Leather with 60/40 fold down rear seat.
  • Car has no dings or scratches, has been kept in the garage, and is in excellent condition.
  • Serviced regularly. Always used Mobil 1 Synthetic motor oil.

Sliver Mercedes CLK320

Silver Mercedes CLK320

I Love Thanksgiving

I am so thankful for many things but mostly for the family God has given me. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. It’s generally the time of year we spend with both our families eating, talking, and playing. Jeaneane and I are both from the same hometown, Adel, GA, so when we go home for the holidays, we’re able to spend time with both sides of the family.

This year was different though. Since we were all together in St. Augustine for Dustin and Katie’s wedding the week before, and I was not feeling too great because of my surgery, we decided to spend Thanksgiving at home in McDonough. So, it was just Jeaneane and me. What to do about Thanksgiving dinner? It’s really not practical to make turkey and dressing for two people, so we thought about going out. But then the phone rang! It was Ann Sexton, our next-door neighbor.

When Ann found out we were home all alone, she offered to cook for us. She brought over turkey and dressing on her way to her family’s get-together. It was awesome! Thanks Ann. You’re the best!

Dustin & Katie’s Wedding

Attended my nephew’s wedding in St. Augustine, FL. Doctor said travel is OK, but no flying yet. Obviously, Jeaneane did all the driving. The weather was a little chilly on Friday evening – OK is was downright cold – but it warmed up nicely on Saturday to about 70.

The ceremony was at 5:30 on the beach. It was great! I smiled and laughed so much at the reception that my mouth was killing me. I had to cruise back to our condo just before the karaoke started. Bummer. I heard my daughter Jessica and cousin Sherry rocked on I Feel Like a Woman. Not that I particularly like that song or anything. I’m just sayin’. Sorry I missed the karaoke.

Katie is one of the sweetest young ladies I have ever met. It’s official now. Welcome to the family! We’ll have to wait on the wedding photos. My brother and his wife shot the wedding. They’re professional photographers from Valdosta, GA and have been featured in major magazines, such as Grace Ormonde’s Wedding Style and Studio Photographer. They’re always booked months in advance, so it may be a little while before the photos are online. Check out their blog if you like great photography. By the way, I taught them everything they know about photography – well, maybe not everything – well, maybe just a little bit.

 

Fishing Boat—St. Augustine, FL

© Richard Gandy