In need of prayers, a couple actually

[woodsprite]

I was walking the dog in the rain last night at 11:45 (so still Fri 3/13 - lots of talk about that in the ER). Noelle - all 80 lbs of her - took off running after a raccoon or cat. I was trying to keep up with her and get her back under control when I tripped on the curb. I let the leash drop and put my arm out to break my fall, heard something crack and pop. I dislocated my shoulder and have a proximal humeral fracture.

I was calling out to anyone who could hear me, but that didn't work. Noelle came back to me as if to say, "why are you on the ground, mom?" I couldn't us my arm at all, so I used Noelle to pull me over enough that I could get to my cell phone with the opposite hand. Called hubby (in the house about 100 ft away) so he could come get the dog, then had him call an ambulance.

The pain meds seem to be working well until I can get an ortho guy lined up on Monday, but the doc who saw me in the ER said I need to be concerned with how long the shoulder was out of place (4 hrs). He also said I might need surgery to pin the fracture together. I'm still numb about 6" between my elbow and shoulder. He said if there was nerve damage, it might be permanent.

Also for my brother. He's been going through all kinds of tests because his smokers hack has been getting worse. I found out today that the official diagnosis is emphysema. They also found other things - some plaque buildup in his carotid arteries, a 40% blockage in his heart! and a small spot on his adrenal gland. None of them are far enough along that they can do anything with them, so it's just watch and wait.

Any prayers you could spare would definitely be appreciated.