Progress made today ....

My appointment yesterday with the STL orthopod was okay. He explained the my open foot wound is in the shape of a "V" and it is deep (involving bone). Therefore, a normal skin graft cannot happen because there is nothing to fill in the "V" shaped hole. Finally glad to hear an explanation on this! He agreed that we are not making the necessary progress locally and he recommended that I see a plastic/orthopedic surgeon located in San Antonio, Texas. Clearly, I need a doctor referral on this, as it is not working to walk in on my own & get action beyond what we have already tried. This doctor is someone that he has worked with in the past (military medical experience) and he said that he would go to Texas, if he had a foot with my situation. His referral to the Chicago orthopod was good and I would have never found her on my own, so I am thinking this may be the same deal. It is fairly unuseal for a surgeon to have plastic and orthopedic experience.

The STL orthopod e-mailed the San Antonio surgeon yesterday and he responded today saying that he would be willing to see me and close it. I have a lot of details to learn yet, but the procedure is fairly complex and involves a hospital stay (not sure for how long). We are in the process of working through scheduling details, need to look at flights, insurance paperwork, etc. I e-mailed the Chicago orthopod today and am seeking her advice.

The positioning of my foot also looks questionable now as well, so we need to get this fixed ASAP. The STL orthopod thought it looked worse yesterday, compared to my last visit with him in December. Not worrying about this at the moment, but clearly we need to get back to wearing a tennis shoe and exercising as soon as possible. I am doing what I can w/exercising and moving the foot at home.

Thankful for the following ....
- Possible doctor to close the wound and that he responded quickly.
- That the STL orthopod appreciated that we need "closure" on all of this.
- For his willingness to facilitate scheduling details. Hopefully we can work through follow-up care details, too. Traveling to San Antonio is a hike!

- Snow day today .... chance to rest, do home "stuff," be off the foot, etc.
- Slept well last night.
- Progress yesterday & today, when it looked bleak earlier this week.
- Friends and family that have prayed during a rough week.

Continue to pray for peace, wisdom, details to happen in a timely manner and that we'll be able to schedule with the San Antonio surgeon fairly quickly.

Love & hugs,
je