January 8, 2018
An update on LaVerne.
LaVerne went through surgery the first thing this morning and had a lengthy time in the recovery room, first due to needing to getting her blood pressure down and then to their not being a room for her on the orthopedic floor. By 6:30 pm she was in her room, and in the next hour she was alert and ready to eat. Tiffany was visiting her, which must brighten her moments.
The surgeon did as planned. The plate that had secured the tibia and ankle (taler?) bone together to enable the joint to fuse had done its work and was no longer needed. It was best to remove it to make way for a rod – I suppose some of the seven screws would have been in the way! They drove a titanium nail (rod) down the intramedullary canal and across the fracture site the length of the tibia.
LaVerne will not have the long series of limitations that lasted months when she had the ankle fusion – a wheelchair, then a walker and a walking boot, then on her own. She will be able to put weight on the leg just as soon as she feels up to it, if not sooner.
She will need a special shoe to help make up for the fused ankle’s inflexibility that might help her with a more natural walk. The shoe has a rocker so that its ends are higher and substitute for the usual heel-toe movement.
To avoid avoidable damage to her leg over time, she needs to wear the proper shoes to minimize stress. Her right leg is ½ inch shorter than the left leg and this throws off her other below the waist joints – unless she wears the shoes that have that much elevation added to them. So, she has the fused ankle and the short leg on the same side and needs to take these factors into consideration, even for just walking around the house. (She loves flip flops!)
Maybe after this surgery, some therapy and good practices, and proper footwear, LaVerne will be without pain when she walks and feel encouraged to walk more. She will still need her meloxicam for the arthritis in her foot and can expect some foot pain from time to time. But the leg pain should be gone after a period of healing.
Praise the Lord for what doctors can do for so many people!
On a sad note, I have just learned today of two people that I have known through our supporting church, River Run, Brevard, who have passed away. One had fought pancreatic cancer for a year. She had always been a real spark plug for missions for many years. Another died of a brain aneurysm. He was active in the church, a fun guy, an eager servant, and only 57. I saw him recently as he directed me where to park at the church. Now their families are bereft.
I am not enjoying my required beverage of the day, Suprep, but I shall not complain. And if tomorrow’s five-year results are negative (a positive thing for me), I will rejoice.
Count your Blessings,
Georges