Book Releases

Holding On (Colorado High Country #6) —
The Colorado High Country series returns with Conrad and Kenzie's story.

A hero barely holding on…

Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey—until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help. He’s the last person in the world she should ask to foster this little furball. He’s barely capable of managing his own life right now, let alone caring for a helpless, adorable, fluffy puppy. But Conrad has always had a thing for Kenzie with her bright smile and sweet curves. One look into her pleading blue eyes, and he can’t say no.

The woman who won’t let him fall…

Kenzie Morgan’s life went to the dogs years ago. A successful search dog trainer and kennel owner, she gets her fill of adventure volunteering for the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. The only thing missing from her busy life is love. It’s not easy finding Mr. Right in a small mountain town, especially when she’s unwilling to date climbers. She long ago swore never again to fall for a guy who might one day leave her for a rock. When Conrad returns from a climbing trip haunted by the catastrophe that killed his best friend, Kenzie can see he’s hurting and wants to help. She just might have the perfect way to bring him back to the world of the living. But friendship quickly turns into something more—and now she’s risking her heart to heal his.

In ebook and soon in print!


About Me

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I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.

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Seductive Musings

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Quick update


Thanks, everyone, for your continued good wishes.

I think I've turned a corner here. I'm now one week out from surgery, and the pain is really very manageable at this point. Not that it's not uncomfortable, but I've been able to cut back on the narcotics, which is nice.

As my sister shared with you, I had a night earlier this week where the swelling in my throat got so bad that swallowing was very difficult and breathing even became hard. That was scary. We went in to see the doc the next day and he prescribed steroids, so I'm now taking prednisone to reduce the swelling.

The swelling is caused because they went through the front of my neck and used some kind of clamps to hold my esophagus (which connects your mouth to your stomach) and my trachea (which is what you breathe through) to the side, clearing space to operate on my spine. When the swelling reached its peak, I suddenly had a very hard time swallowing anything that wasn't liquid and couldn't sleep because I had to really push air in and out to breathe.

But the prednisone is working very well. It's not good for bone grafts. I have two areas that are full of bone grafts. They more or less took out two vertebrae and used a polymer and pieces of the removed bone to reconstruct vertebrae, which they then bolted into place with two titanium plates and eight screws.

I look like I've been partially beheaded. There's an four- or five-inch incision that runs along the bottom of my throat from about the center off to the right. Sexy!

As for how much relief I get from the nerve pain that made my life hell for two years, it's too early to tell, in part because of all the drugs I'm on and in part because it will take the nerves some time (and no one knows how long) to heal.

So that's the news from Colorado...

My parents, especially my mom, have been amazing in helping me. Benjy, my younger son, leaves for NY for college on Friday, and that is going to suck. Many tears that day, for sure.

Thanks to all of you for your cards, e-mails, messages and so on. Each and every one touched my heart.

8 comments:

Scorpio M. said...

I'm so happy to see you posting! Hugs & well wishes.

Diane W. said...

Partially beheaded???? *gasp* That made my skin crawl (and my daughter Tessa say "Eeeeewwwww!"). Well, I suppose on the bright side you could always dress up as Marie Antoinette for Halloween. ;)

Hope you're feeling 100 times better today!

Diane :)

Ronlyn said...

continue to think of you and send many positive, healing thoughts your way. I can't imagine how frightening that night was for you. (((hugs)))

Mary G said...

Hi Pamela
I appreciate the update, been checking everyday. Fingers crossed that you get some relief. ((hugs))

JennJ said...

So so glad to hear that you are getting better everyday. You take it easy and still praying and thinking of you my dear!

You tell Mom no more sniffing the Mace now LOL! God bless her heart.

Kelseya said...

I hope that you have a speedy recovery, and that the pain starts to go away soon.

Kristin said...

I'm so happy that you're recovering successfully! It's good that you can cut back on the pain meds already, I had to take nausea pills with my vicoden when I had my accident, I HATED pills and still do to this day!

Here's to a speedy recovery!

*hugs*

Kristin

Debbie H said...

I'm glad the pain is becoming managable and you are able to breathe and swallow. Tends to make life a bit easier.

Welcome to the neck scar club. I have one that happened at age 8. Freak childhood accident that almost cost me my life and left 21 stitches in my neck and a scar.

I will continue to send good wishes and healing vibes your way.

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