Hey there folks!
I hope this finds you all doing well. I’m cooped up here at the family farm, and although I haven’t written for over a week and a half, it hasn’t been from complete lack of good news. We think we just may be seeing PROGRESS!!!
The plastic surgeon said last Monday that things continue to look well (even though my untrained eyes think that things couldn’t look more disgusting). I know that I’m doing the world a grave disservice by not having posted my pictures on the web by now, so I’m going to do my darnedest to get them on my facebook page tonight, and hopefully also on the little blog I keep for a few folks who don’t get these LOV emails – www.toddytoddytoddy.blogspot.com. These will not be the most cheerfully pleasant pictures. They’re rather gross, but hey – the skin is sticking.
The best news I heard was from my orthopedic surgeon, the main doctor that I’ve been with all along. He said that, as soon as my the plastic surgeon feels the wound is durable and stable enough to withstand some pressure, we can take off the fixator (aka tinkertoys, pins and rods) and put on a boot cast. And the pl. surgeon said it might be as early as Feb. 10, more or less. This is a shock! I’ve had the big fix on for so long now, I’m sure my foot will look naked to me without it. I’m sure that my ankle will be completely weak and atrophied beyond belief, since it will be 4 months or so of complete immobility, and there will be a huge need for therapy for a while. But I’m really excited about being able to take the next step. PROGRESS…
My surgeon warned me again, “this is a marathon journey you’re on.” He also really emphasizes the seriousness of the injury every time he sees me. He told me that this injury carries a 40% amputation rate right off the top, so to be at this point with a foot is already a big victory. I think this is his way of warning me that we’re not sure what will happen once the pins and rods are taken off. It will most likely require a subtalar fusion that will take away most side-to-side mobility but will still let me walk (even jog?), hopefully without a limp. But he said there is still a possibility of a major, “pan-talar” fusion. Pretty much everything fused. Obviously, not a good end result. I’m praying for complete recovery, and I’m so thankful for so many folks who have told me they are as well. This is probably the big item now, medically speaking. There’s a small possibility of no fusion at all – but the doc says we find out after the fixator comes off, and the freed ankle is able to tell us how damaged it is and what it needs. Wow… a talking ankle.
Really quickly – the insurance issue is an up and down one. There’s a lot of praises. My agent, who’s a great friend from my former church, came to my house last week and walked me through the process, which helped in a huge way. I can see where the deductible went, and I found that so far there aren’t too many fights brewing. But my main orthopedic provider called Thursday looking for more money than the insurance wants to pay… I’m trying to just keep pointing them toward the insurance co. and sticking to it. The insurance co. itself gave me mixed messages this week that were disturbing, but I thank God that they confirmed the biggest surgery bill has been settled.
In other news – my parents are getting the blessing of traveling to Israel this March! This is huge for them. Up till now, “big traveling” has meant Alaska and Hawaii. I’m super excited for them and hope that it’s an exhilarating experience for them, one that fills in Bible stories with color and helps to renew their faith. The good news for me is that I’ll be staying with my sister in Bartlett from around Mar. 5 to 18. I hope I’ll be mobile enough to see some of you during that time, and I’ll be making every effort possible to be in Church those Sundays. Yay!! See ya soon.
I’ve felt a little more myself lately. Mom says I’m a little funnier. I’ve been trying to play the piano – either with my leg propped on a chair or stuck out to the side. It feels good. And I have a new library card for the “prairie-Badlands” region out here. That feels really good to be a little connected there again. And I’m getting married to a Russian woman I met on VirtualChurch.com. Just kidding. The library card is real, though.
It felt great to listen to a sermon from church from the website last week. Thanks for providing that. It made me feel connected again in one more way. I look forward to seeing you all soon. I think I have a long road again, but thanks to so many of you for walking some of it with me.
Peace of Christ to you –
Todd
I hope this finds you all doing well. I’m cooped up here at the family farm, and although I haven’t written for over a week and a half, it hasn’t been from complete lack of good news. We think we just may be seeing PROGRESS!!!
The plastic surgeon said last Monday that things continue to look well (even though my untrained eyes think that things couldn’t look more disgusting). I know that I’m doing the world a grave disservice by not having posted my pictures on the web by now, so I’m going to do my darnedest to get them on my facebook page tonight, and hopefully also on the little blog I keep for a few folks who don’t get these LOV emails – www.toddytoddytoddy.blogspot.com. These will not be the most cheerfully pleasant pictures. They’re rather gross, but hey – the skin is sticking.
The best news I heard was from my orthopedic surgeon, the main doctor that I’ve been with all along. He said that, as soon as my the plastic surgeon feels the wound is durable and stable enough to withstand some pressure, we can take off the fixator (aka tinkertoys, pins and rods) and put on a boot cast. And the pl. surgeon said it might be as early as Feb. 10, more or less. This is a shock! I’ve had the big fix on for so long now, I’m sure my foot will look naked to me without it. I’m sure that my ankle will be completely weak and atrophied beyond belief, since it will be 4 months or so of complete immobility, and there will be a huge need for therapy for a while. But I’m really excited about being able to take the next step. PROGRESS…
My surgeon warned me again, “this is a marathon journey you’re on.” He also really emphasizes the seriousness of the injury every time he sees me. He told me that this injury carries a 40% amputation rate right off the top, so to be at this point with a foot is already a big victory. I think this is his way of warning me that we’re not sure what will happen once the pins and rods are taken off. It will most likely require a subtalar fusion that will take away most side-to-side mobility but will still let me walk (even jog?), hopefully without a limp. But he said there is still a possibility of a major, “pan-talar” fusion. Pretty much everything fused. Obviously, not a good end result. I’m praying for complete recovery, and I’m so thankful for so many folks who have told me they are as well. This is probably the big item now, medically speaking. There’s a small possibility of no fusion at all – but the doc says we find out after the fixator comes off, and the freed ankle is able to tell us how damaged it is and what it needs. Wow… a talking ankle.
Really quickly – the insurance issue is an up and down one. There’s a lot of praises. My agent, who’s a great friend from my former church, came to my house last week and walked me through the process, which helped in a huge way. I can see where the deductible went, and I found that so far there aren’t too many fights brewing. But my main orthopedic provider called Thursday looking for more money than the insurance wants to pay… I’m trying to just keep pointing them toward the insurance co. and sticking to it. The insurance co. itself gave me mixed messages this week that were disturbing, but I thank God that they confirmed the biggest surgery bill has been settled.
In other news – my parents are getting the blessing of traveling to Israel this March! This is huge for them. Up till now, “big traveling” has meant Alaska and Hawaii. I’m super excited for them and hope that it’s an exhilarating experience for them, one that fills in Bible stories with color and helps to renew their faith. The good news for me is that I’ll be staying with my sister in Bartlett from around Mar. 5 to 18. I hope I’ll be mobile enough to see some of you during that time, and I’ll be making every effort possible to be in Church those Sundays. Yay!! See ya soon.
I’ve felt a little more myself lately. Mom says I’m a little funnier. I’ve been trying to play the piano – either with my leg propped on a chair or stuck out to the side. It feels good. And I have a new library card for the “prairie-Badlands” region out here. That feels really good to be a little connected there again. And I’m getting married to a Russian woman I met on VirtualChurch.com. Just kidding. The library card is real, though.
It felt great to listen to a sermon from church from the website last week. Thanks for providing that. It made me feel connected again in one more way. I look forward to seeing you all soon. I think I have a long road again, but thanks to so many of you for walking some of it with me.
Peace of Christ to you –
Todd
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