4/30/2009

Well I better write something before the month is over. Carol officially got the ok for the doc's to restart rehab. On friday she will see her prosthetist to start the fabrication of her second set of legs/feet. It has been a bit of a difficult few weeks of recovery but Carol is super ready to get things going again. So we will post more tomorrow.

Scott

4/23/2009

Long time no post, and I will post more later. We have been very busy with things but I thought I would post some good news. This is the first day since 6/10/2008 that Carol has had no bandage of some sort on her body!!!!!! She is very excited!!

Scott

4/6/09

We had a very good weekend. It's been about 2.5 weeks since Carol's last surgeries, and she seems to be healing well, although a bit tired. I think I mentioned that on Carol's left arm, that during the surgery that had found that the bone was abit infected. So she had iv antibiotics which was supposed to be in place for 6 weeks post op. We changed out the antibiotics at home every couple days. Last week, she woke up I think on Tuesday with a rash all over. She had a bit of an allergic reaction to the antibiotic iv med. So she was switched to a different oral medication. She actually was happy to see the iv stuff go.

The actual incision sites appear to be healing well. Sutures are still in and will be removed next week I believe. Carol is starting to feel working out again at the house.

We had a really nice weekend, finally the sun showed up!!

Scott

3/23/2009

Carol came home from the hospital yesterday in the evening. We are adjusting to what now feels like a definite "1 step back". We are doing pretty well, all in all. Carol thanks everyone for all the well wishes!!

Scott

3/22/2009

First chance that I have a computer connection since the surgery to post. Surgery went very well. It was 3 hours on Thursday morning...from 7:45am to 10:45 am. She spent the remainder of the day in post op recovery. She didn't get into a room until about 5pm. Her post pain was pretty extreme. Many iv pain med's were used and none seemed to keep things calm. They eventually with our consent decided to give her an epidural to numb her lower half, where most of the pain was coming from. This worked for awhile. Enough to finally get her stable enough to move to her room. As far as what the surgery entailed....her left arm had bone protruding again and needed to be revised...shortened by about 1/2 inch and leave padding of tissue on the end was the plan and outcome. The bone protrusion was infected as we had much suspected, and she now will be on iv antibiotics for a couple weeks because of it. Her left leg had bone spurs approximating each other on both her fibia and tibia. We were asked before the surgery, if deemed appropriate, a procedure called "bone bridging" be performed with our permission. What they do is form a bone bridge or help a bridge of bone form between the two bones. Normally our fibia and tibia join at the knee and ankle. In Carol's case they don't at the bottom. If there is enough flex in the bones, they can touch each other when you walk, and this can be painful when walking with prosthetics. The down side is usually some loss of length of leg, which to Carol, and I am assuming other amputees, every bit of length you have is very important to you. So we were against it, if it meant shortening the leg was needed. They found a way to use the bone spurs to bridge the two bones together with the help of some steel pins. They also found that her major nerve in the leg was getting pinned between the fibia and tibia when the two bones squeezed together. The nerve was cut and placed higher up in some muscle. The same nerve thing was done in the arm.

Each day since the surgery it seems the pain is lessening, whether Carol realizes it or not. I think she will be home tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest...we will see. Thanks for all the help this weekend family and friends.

Scott

3/18/09

Well...to my mothers prodding I need to update everyone:) Work, and life has been really busy. Carol has been making lots of strides with her rehab. Her walking is unbelievable. She has been walking up stairs walking around the house by herself and really pushing herself in everyway she can. Last weekend was our 11 year anniversary, and we found some time to go out to dinner and leave the girls with some family. Safiya is officially mobile, so baby proofing has been stepped up at the house. Chloe was very cautious about everything and still is. Safiya isn't afraid of anything and will stick anything in her mouth, etc.

After a very busy week at work, we are off to Seattle for surgery tomorrow. Well Carol is having surgery, we are just there for support. We have it all arranged with care for the girl and house and everything. Carol will have her left arm and left leg revised tomorrow. She is supposed to be coming home on Monday. So every wish her well if you get the chance. She is nervous, but ready to get this thing done. It's def time. The limbs have really been bothering her, but she has been pushing through it. She will have a cast on her leg, and rehab without walls have adjusted her wheelchair to accomodate that. So rehab therapies are on a bit of hold for a few weeks. ok I need to pack. feel free to call Carol or stop by harborview if you want to visit!!

Scott