Dr. Frome and Craig Keller assess and redress! Then Mike heads for the swing!

Hi everyone!  It's been a rainy drizzle of a day here in Portlandia! I arrived bright and early again - YES!!! - just in time for both Doctors to come in together to take a look at Mike's foot and back.  It's nice when you can hear them telling each other what they are looking at and not just us in Doc / Patient speak.  But actually they both know what things look like and they didn't say too much to each other.  All in all it sounded positive.  Nothing negative.  

Mike Kind of lays in bed with his loincloth on - so pretty much naked due to the fact that the room is so warm.  Cook Doppler in the foreground and the pulse is doing very well. The Doctors are attacking the old dressing while we watch intently. 

Both leg drains / tubes were removed and all the old wet dressing was taken away.  Everything looked as expected and apparently very good.

The Flap is still swollen, but not like it was the first day.  The color under the dark donor skin is pink and very pretty according to Craig.  I told him if that is "pretty" than I wonder what his wife looks like.  He just laughed and said his wife is very pretty too. These Doctors obviously have their own idea of pretty - but we are glad he thinks so.  This is good! 

We had a wonderful nurse today.  Her name is Ember and she was a gift to us.  Mike said she was definitely one of the best!  That says a lot because  we've had close to 100 nurses / CNA's  to date.  

After the dressing change came the new half cast.  It's like a toboggan under Mikes foot. Dr. Frome held it in place pushing the ankle up and stretching the achilles tendon.  Mike really liked how that felt.  It's been ages (6 weeks and 5 days) since he felt that stretch. 

(see the Portland day we have - typical for us Oregonians) 

Here's the conversation and assessment about what's next.  The skin graft surgery will most likely be on the Monday after tomorrow. (23rd)  We hope to be off all BP support meds so that Mike can leave the ICU and go to the TRACU (Trauma Acute Care Unit) .   They will check in on the foot again tomorrow.  It will be at least another week before we know if the flap will live, no bacteria and so on.  Mike is doing everything he can to be a perfect patient. They took bacteria tests today and up the Antibiotics just in case there was something there.  Tomorrow we meet with Dr. Chang who specializes in Infectious Disease.  

Here is our first look at MC's back.  The incision starts way into the armpit and goes about 18 inches.  The back that so lovingly gave up it's muscle to become his foot!  This is truly amazing.  He has two tubes that drain into bulbs.  They are numbered #1 & #2.  I call them Thing 1 and Thing 2.  :-)  You will see them in photos from time to time.  They tend to go everywhere with Mike at the moment - doing their job like all the other wires that are attached to him.  I counted them the other day and came up with 16 devices that were hosed or wired to him.  

LATER IN THE DAY: 

Mike got up into a chair for a bit.  Had very little appetite and barely enough energy to talk to a family member or two.  This has been very rough on him.  It feels like 10 steps backwards.  Dr. Frome said "this surgery is ONLY for the toughest of the toughest.  It's limb salvage and there is nothing easy or comfortable about it.  Mike is a great patient and doing very well in attitude and spirit"  That was good to hear from her, but Mike's little spirit is worn thin and he /we really try hard not to remember the past 6 1/2 weeks (nothing happy about them) but try to focus on better times to come.  "We will dance again" and "We will appreciate just being able to hold each other again"  Pretty simple but that's what we dream about. 

The Swing

(don't get too excited, it's not what you think) 

Only adults read this, right? 

Mike's wonderful Nurse Ember and an assistant helped Mike get into the recliner via a hoist type swing.  MC looks a little unsure - but this is where he is saying "you told me to trust you so I will" 

The sling is under him and the straps are hooked

Up - Up and away!  This was so slick!  

Landing in the easy chair and getting unhooked.  This took a total of 5 minutes. 

These great ladies did a great job and Mike stayed there for about 30 minutes.  Tried to eat some salad, but hated the dressing.   ( I see Thing 1 and Thing 2)  :-) 

Need to keep the humor in the day - it's the only thing that keeps us going besides all the good incredible wishes and prayers that are sent our way.  We are so blessed.  I read all of your messages to Mike as I get them.  MC posted on his FB page today some thoughts of his own.  I think he really wishes he could be there for you - I told him you are all there for him.  Just please know he appreciates everything and feels it.  

More tomorrow and we hope to be out of ICU, however we will still be in the tropics once we hit TRACU.   SB and MC (sleeping) out for tonight.  

PS  I am going to try and post a couple of videos from the doctor on my FB page.  

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