The final chapter

August 22, 2016

I think I can write the final chapter of my “leg” experience.  It has taken me awhile to get to this point.  Each time I took 2 steps forward, I often found that I had to step at least one step back.  However, after this past weekend, I think I have moved into the safety zone.

I had necessary plastic surgery just 4 weeks ago on the hole in my leg.  When I was so sick last May, the doctors had to remove the infection in my leg in order to heal me.  The hole that remained was at least the size of an American quarter.  It healed for several months before it looked like another surgery would be necessary.  It had healed enough that I was praying that the surgeon would look at it and cancel the surgery – let it continue to heal on its own.  That was wishful hoping.

During the first plastic surgery they found that the destruction of the cells went clear to the bone and so that surgery increased the “hole” by 2 ½ times.  Later that week they placed the skin graft taken from the other side of my leg.

I came home in a wheel chair which is difficult in a 3 story house with varying levels on each floor.  I crawled up our spiraling staircases too many times and the dozen cement stairs that lead into the house were even more challenging.  My daughter Laura came to give me help.  From wheelchair I moved to a cane.  And now the cane is resting against the wall.

However, even just 10 days ago, the healing was not going well.  Last Saturday I finally turned a corner and that corner brought new hope.  This will heal after all.

Emotionally at times I hung onto the knot at the end of my rope.  I pleaded with my Heavenly Father and I cried too many times into my pillow.  I now know that I have been blessed and soon this will just be a difficult memory.  The prayers of many others have helped immensely.  Very soon the exercise bicycle will not sit quietly in the corner!