A Shadow of a Bone

Here is the latest update on P's foot. Last Tuesday, we went back to see the Doc and he removed the pin that runs the length of her toe. P was really worried about how much pain she would be in and D was worried about having to watch the pin being removed and wanted to sit in the hallway. Doc G was so quick about the removal that D didn't have time to close her eyes or turn her head and P was still trying to brace herself for the pain after it was removed!

Doc wanted her to start putting weight on the foot last week. This week she is to work up to half her total body weight on the foot, then next week he wants her to have full weight on the foot while still using the crutches. She has been so anxious to walk these past two months that she had been anticipating how great this moment would be; however, she didn't plan that her foot would hurt so much when she put the weight on it. Another set back for the emotional component of this whole procedure.

Below is the most recent x-ray. You can see the old bone, separated by what looks like nothing. Well the nothing is her new bone. Currently the composition is completely cartilage which doesn't show up on x-rays. If you look real closely you can see a shadow of a bone right at the point of the purple arrow. She has a LONG way to go to have bone replace all that cartilage. Soooooo, Doc thinks this whole procedure will be drawn out perhaps another two months longer than originally planned - another emotional setback.





But here is the emotion component that spurs her on each day - the look of the foot! Below is a before and after shot of P's foot. P has approved this photo and wanted to share it with you! P really isn't embarrassed anymore with the before shot, since the after shot looks so AWESOME! I still am in awe with the amazing medical advances that have been made.