Friday, May 23, 2014

Family / Friends... this will be the LAST post on this blog site under "MC's Healthy Progress".  My new blog is:  www.mikecolligan1958.blogspot.com and the title is now: "Mike's Healing Journey" with yours truly doing the post... I hope I got the name of my blog right... gees!  Anyway, this is the latest report:

First I'd like to again thank those of you who've already reached out and offered help and for those that came over from Bend to spend the weekend with me those first few days. I truly appreciate what you did, perhaps next time we won't have quite so much Makers Mark but it was damn tasty... : )  But with all my heart, thank you!

This surgery was the "de-bulking" surgery to remove a lot of the surplus transplanted muscle tissue (from my back) that was wrapped around my ankle.  The surgeon removed quite a bit from both sides of my ankle and was even able to remove a big part that was higher up and was able to close that opening w/o having to use skin graphs.  That really got my lower leg to tapper down to my ankle much like it should look.  They then did another skin graph from the same site as before, which isn't uncommon as they only remove the top two layers so the graph site heals fairly quickly... although I'd argue that it doesn't feel very good... like one major road rash!  The good part is that they didn't have to graph as much which worked out great for the de-bulked area and my thy where they took the graphs.

After a few days on crutches and a few wound care treatments (bandage change) which happen daily I was able to start to put some weight on my foot, mainly the front. I can use my Primary Care's office for the bandage changes which is very close to where I live so at least I don't have to drive to Legacy everyday.  But now I'm up and walking using my cane (the Hurycane... the one you see on TV... LOL) for a little added stability and can put pretty much my full weight on the foot.  Pain wise, things have really gotten better and I'm off everything I started again and now back down to my baseline meds which I'll maintain for a while.  Hopefully, later this week I'll be able to return to my workout routine, at the minimum work on the upper body, I've had a good start and although sometimes it's hard to go, I'm so glad I do.  I've been going to 24 Hour 6 times a week... don't have any "guns" yet but there's some muscle starting to reappear!  Next up?  Surgery No.16, the one to straighten out the 8 degree bow in my leg.  With any luck we'll be able to schedule that one, which should be my last, thank GOD, sometime in early July but it will take some pushing on my part to make that happen.

Finally, on a personal note, some of you know that Sherry and I have separated and she's decided to move on and start a new chapter in her life.  I'll be forever grateful for everything she's done, I called her my Angle, yet I can never fully repay her for all she did.  I know I would not have gotten this far without her help and support.  Please wish her all the best and success as she starts this new journey.

Thank you,

Mike