The new skin is growing! Our trip to Chicago went smooth and was pretty quick. The plastic surgeon took off the bandages and we were able to see the grafting for the first time. He took a small slice of very thin skin (yes, Laura - cheese slicer method!)from just under the incision area that was not closing. The grafting section is oval shaped and looks like a large oval piece of silly putty. It has a slight dip or indentation in the skin that will always be there, but it is closed. There are tiny clear stitches that are around the new section that will dissolve with time. I cannot see them, but the stitches are there.
There are now two wound sections that need to heal. It looks pretty rough and raw, but it has only been a week. I have cream ointment to put on the grafting once a day to keep it moist. No weight on the foot for another two weeks and it needs to remain elevated 99% of the time - harder than it sounds. It doesn't need to be above the heart, but just up. A strong blood supply needs to get the grafting at all times and this is critical for the next two weeks. I need to return to the plastic surgeon (in Chicago) in two weeks for what will be our final appointment with him, if all continues to go well. I am scheduled to begin physical therapy on Friday, June 22nd. Physical therapy will last for 4 weeks.
I have summer camp at work next week with 80 kids all day. Thankfully, a retired teacher that desires to work called me at 8:30am this morning and wanted to know if I had a use for her skills. Sure! I was concerned about being responsible for managing kids and leading activities all day next week, but now I just need to lead - whew! It will still be a long week, but I'll make it. After June 20th, I will be able to put weight on the foot - 12 days and counting down!
Thanks for your continued prayers. It was a ray of hope to see the skin grafting starting to be successful. I am very thankful that we were able to quickly get in to see the plastic surgeon and we will have fixed the wound in about four weeks. Hopefully, our career in plastic surgery will be over soon. We are looking forward to being home next week and not traveling.
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1 comment:
Glad to hear that you have some help from a retiree--go AARP!!! Did you know that since Mike hit 50, we've been getting like THREE things from the AARP in the mail every day! They even sent ME a membership card since I'm the spouse of a just-barely-approaching-being-over-the-hill-type-person! Don't they KNOW that I'm still in my 30's? Coasting downhill towards 40 pretty fast, yes, but still hanging in there by my teeth! And my teeth are still rooted in pretty well, thank you! Want to hear from Isaac? a;lskdjehoiruwo OK. There it is. You heard it here. Not sure I have a clue what it means. Best to ya! I'd say "keep it hangin'", but I think you're supposed to keep it ELEVATED! Laura Joback and Family
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