ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


 At the completion of this project, I have a profound respect for

the amount of time and energy others have given to assist me in my

quest. To rank order my expressions of appreciation is impossible,

because the role of each person has been essential at some point.

 Let me begin, then, by expressing my gratitude to the patients who

gave me their time and encouragement during a period of great stress to

themselves and to the surgeons who were convinced this was a worthwhile

study: Allen Y. DeLaney, Alex M. C. MacGregor, and A. Moneim Ramadam,

who kindly allowed me to interview their patients. Without the help of

Elizabeth Ward, this study would not have happened. The staff of North

Florida Regional Hospital, Alachua General Hospital, and the Lake Butler

Center for Hand Surgery were always helpful and interested. I owe

special thanks to Ann Smith, Director of Nursing at North Florida

Regional Hospital. Becky Evans was most helpful in organizing data

collection procedures for the hand surgery patients. The staff of the

Physical Therapy Department of the Lake Butler Center were especially

helpful.

 The chairman of my committee, Dr. Barry Guinagh, reviewed the

many versions of the various chapters and provided an oasis of serenity

as I took the many stressful hurdles toward completion of the project.

Dr. Robert Soar, cochairman of the committee, was always available to