Here is Bill's leg...

Last night my hubby took some photos of his leg to send to his family. Every one is in agreement that he needs his foot amputated and the sooner the better. He still needs some time to deal with his emotions, and that's good!

He took these photos himself and they don't really show just how misshaped the ankle really is. His leg is moving to the left and each time he takes a step you can see the bone shift to the left.
If you squeamish, please stop now and don't look. The rash is quite evident around his previous incision area and it weeps serous fluid. I'm so afraid that infection will set in again and then it will be emergency surgery. It's so hard to bite my tongue while he struggles with coming to acceptance. This is his decision and his alone...

This is a photo of the incision area over the interior aspect of his leg and ankle. You can see how swollen the ankle and foot are...


This is looking straight down at the foot. Can you see how the leg veers to the left just above the ankle. That part of his Fibula is dying and won't heal.


Lastly, this photo shoes him standing on his foot with just barely any pressure. You can really see the swelling in the right part of his ankle, but also just how far to the left his leg bones have moved. There is little attachment at that juncture.


So many of you are praying for us during this difficult time and I'm so very thankful for you all. Even though I don't have the time to answer each of you in return, please know that our gratitude is huge and we can feel the power of your prayers. Thank you so much...

Blessings,
Barb

Milestones.....

We're making progress! Today we went back to the Orthopedic surgeon and they removed the external fixative from my sweet mans leg! Oh the freedom! Oh the pain! You must remember that these screws were drilled directly through his heel and into this shin bone! It was excruciating for him. Especially the heel. I felt so helpless and he lay there sucking in his breath and sweat poured out of his body. But finally the rods and screws were out! Hip, hip, hooooooray! The bad news...he still can't bear weight until late November! He was so hoping that he Dr. would say that because the bones were healing so well, which they are, would mean he could start walking sooner. No dice! He still won't be able to put weight on it for another two months! Bummer :-(

But the boot will give him more freedom! He'll be able to sleep on his side for the first time in 7 weeks! That's awesome news! He can take the boot off when he sleeps, even more awesome, and he can now drive!!!! Oh woe is me! Watch out everyone!!!

So here is a picture of him in the boot! Now we have the tensor bandage to deal with for a few more days, but after that...here he comes...Now if they will just let him come back to work! The man is going stir crazy here at home with very little for him to do except watch TV (he doesn't read) and drive me crazy!



Everyone has been so supportive in the updates I've been posting. I can't tell you how much that means to me...to us!

Hugs,
Barb

I will be missing in Action for a while...

My dearest husband is such a handy man around the house. He has been working for months of several remodel jobs on our home. This past Tuesday, he was working on hammering more bricks out of the existing fire place wall when he accidently removed the anchoring brick and the entire wall, about 800 pounds, came crashing to to floor. He just couldn't get his foot out of the way in time and the wall hit the foot, dislocating the ankle from the bones and shattering the tips of the bones that fit into the ankle.



Plus there are three fractures to those bones. They tried to reduce the fracture in the ER but were unable to stabilize his foot to he was sent to the Orthopedic floor.

Wednesday night they did surgery to put in screws and rods to hold the bones in place. We will be seeing a Orthopedic Trauma specialist early next week to decide on the next course of action, which will be, of course, more surgery to repair the fractures. We're looking at many months of recovery, and I'm still trying to recover from my foot surgery just a month ago. Just wanted to give you an update on my situation here at home. I probably won't be getting much crafing done in the next wee while.

Hugs
Barb