9/24 Doctor Appointment

Todays doctor visit went well. He said everything looks great. I can now start to dangle my foot starting with just a few minutes a couple of times a day and slowly increasing the amount of time each day. Hopefully after my appointment next Monday I can keep it down as long as I want. I still can't bear weight on it, but I can put enough on it to lightly pivot on it to allow me to get in and out of the car.

I pressed the doctor for answers to when we can say this is definitely going to heal it. His answer was whenever he tells me not to come back. I explained to him that I needed more than that so I can figure out when I can start working from home. He said what he is watching for is the infection I've been fighting. He said in 3 to 4 weeks he should know if the infection is gone. Keep praying the infection is gone and the healing continues!

9/19 Doctor Appointment

Janay and I made the trip to Wishard today to see the doctor. Overall the visit went well....once he finally graced us with his presence after waiting for almost 2 hours. The doctor said everything looked very good. He wasn't overly concerned about the drainage. He wants us to keep and eye on it and try a new dressing where it is draining. He basically ignored the cultures they took on Monday because once the drainage reaches the outside of the body it will test positive for staph because we all have that on our skin. He said the flap looks good, but we are not out of the woods yet. He still doesn't want me to dangle my foot until I see him again next Monday.

So I will take all of this as good news. Continue to pray against infection and for it to continue to heal well.

Sprockett reminds me everyday that he's glad I'm home :)

Update

Janay and I went to Wishard today because they wanted to see my leg since it is draining. Except for the drainage, they thought everything looked great, which is what we have been telling them. They did culture the drainage and should have the results back for my Wednesday appointment with the doctor.

Transportation is a challenge with the limitations they have placed on me. I still can't dangle my foot or put weight on it. My left leg (the injured one) is my strong leg and I didn't realize how much I depend on it until it was taken away. I can't get into the back seat of our car without using my left leg. We tried and quickly gave up. Fortunately Janay's sister and brother-in-law loaned us their minivan (much to the dismay of their 6 year old daughter Carly) and solved the transportation problem. What a blessing it has been! They removed the rear seat and one of the middle seats allowing me to slide into the back and lay down. This allows me to concentrate on praying for Janay's driving :) Just kidding sweetie! :)

Since I can't dangle my foot, we had to come up with a different wheelchair. Imagine that....a guy already in a wheelchair having to borrow a wheelchair....just doesn't seem right. Fortunately my boss (and good friend) at work, Don, had a wheelchair for me to use. It's a little small for me, but it's only temporary and is good enough to haul my big carcass around. The wheelchair did a nice body slam on me in the back of the van today when Janay turned a corner. She got quite a laugh out of it. I wasn't laughing, but I was glad to hear her laugh. Laughter helps get us through :)

The above are just a couple examples of the help we have received from our friends and family. Ultimately, God will see us through this. He has surrounded us with people to be His hands and feet. Thanks to all of our friends, family and even strangers for praying for us and supporting us. May the Lord bless you all ten fold!

Prayer Request

I've had a new area on my leg start draining recently that's caused us to be a little concerned. Please join us in praying against any possible infection. Also pray for physical and mental strength for both Janay and myself.

“With Faith, all things are possible”- Matthew 17:20

Daily Reminder

My circumstances will not determine my attitude.

Photo Link to Updated Burn Photos

The link below will take you to the entire gallery of photos from my burn journey. As always, these are somewhat graphic, so proceed with caution. If you do find these interesting, the newest photos are at the bottom of the page and start after the photo of Janay modeling the hospital gowns. Click on the picture to enlarge it and get a description of what you are looking at. I did my best to describe them, but this is my first time looking at what they did to my leg, so I could have made some mistakes in describing them. I can look at the pictures fine, but it's still too fresh for me to look at in person. Give me two or three weeks and I will be fine :)

Burn Photos

Home Sweet Home

I got home this afternoon at 2. Saying that it is nice to be home is an understatement. Five days in the hospital seemed like an enternity. Janay was able to stay with me the entire time and that helped my mental well-being soooo much.

The doctors are pleased with the progress of the flap. I can not dangle my foot at all until I see my doctor again on September 19th. That makes things a little difficult, but if that is what it takes for proper healing I will do it.

Continue to pray for good blood flow. Pray against infection and blood clots. Pray for good rest for Janay and I both. You prayers are appreciated!

Rule Breaker

So I was bad today. Doctor's orders are made to be broken, right? Plus, I have them on a minor technicality....no one ever told me I couldn't put any weight on my leg this time. I suppose the nursing and physcial therapy staff assume after seven surgeries and showing me x-rays where they took a chunk of bone out down to the marrow I should know what to do. But I HAD to take a shower this morning. Washing at the sink just doesn't cut it. That works fine for a few days, but there is just nothing like a good soaking.

Fortunately I still have a shower chair that I acquired in 1995 when I had my spinal cord injury. Janay pulled it out of the attic last summer after I was first injured. The shower chair allowed me to hang the leg with the wound vac attached out of the shower while I soaked and scrubbed the rest of my body. All I can say is......Aaahhhhhh! Plus, I gotta smell good for surgery tomorrow :)

More Surgery.......

Janay and I went to the doctor today and I am having more surgery this Thursday (9/6). The doctor is performing the the simpler flap surgery that will only take 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I can come home after 2 or 3 days.

The doctor initially wasn't convinced to go this route, but after discussing it with us he was. He was hesitant because the tests came back positive for staph infection on the bone. The orthopedic doctor spoke with us last Thursday and said in his opinion the staph was nothing to worry about because it appeared to only be on the surface of the bone. He wasn't surprised by this because my wound was open all the way down to the bone and since we all have staph on our skin, he would expect to see it on the bone as well. As far as the ortho doctor was concerned, whatever surgery Dr. Sood (my burn doctor) decided to do, ortho did not need to be involved in. Dr. Sood would clean up the exposed bone area during surgery and cover it. The oral antibiotics I am on will take care of the infection.

Please pray that the flap takes and that all signs of infection are gone. God has been with us through all of this and He will see this to the end! I am healed....I'm claiming it!

Update for August 30th

This is another one of those "where do I start?" type of messages. I will try to keep it simple. I went in Tuesday to have the free flap surgery. The doctor started and thought the wound looked much better since he saw it last (it had not changed and you all know I have pictures to prove it) and decides the free flap surgery isn't needed. He thinks it can be healed with a much simpler procedure (pedicle flap surgery). He goes out to the waiting area and tells my family that he is going to do this other surgery. He returns to the operating room and starts but soon runs into a pocket of puss which indicates the presence of infection. All the doctor can do at this point is clean up the wound, take tissue and bone samples to determine where the infection is. The doc then heads back out to the waiting area to break the latest news to my family.

As I'm waking from surgery, I can see the clock says 9:45. This confused me because I knew that I went into surgery at 7:30 for a six hour procedure. I then overheard some of the staff saying they didn't perform the free flap but I couldn't hear why. Still groggy from the anesthesia, I didn't feel like asking questions and waited for Janay to fill me in.

As it stands now, I am home with a wound vac on my leg. So far, all of the tests show that the infection is in the tissue and not in the bone, which is very good. I will see the doctor next Tuesday and he will decide the next step. If all test show there is no bone infection, the doctor most likely will perform the pedicle flap surgery the following week. The pedicle flap will only require a hospital stay of a couple days and a much quicker return to work. I've added a couple photos that shows the new whole the doctor punched in my tibia. Click here to view the pictures.

Though it has been a frustrating three days, God's hand was in it the whole time. He opened doors when we needed Him to and the end result is going to be a simpler surgery. Janay stayed with me every night and I can't tell you how comforting that was. We even managed a few laughs during our stay. Laughter is wonderful medicine.

Twas the Night Before Surgery........

I miss home already....and I haven't left yet. Two weeks in the hospital sounds like an eternity. Tomorrow morning will be the last shower for a couple months. I already miss my shower....and I haven't taken that last one yet. In the midst of what many people would see as a difficult time, I see it as a positive step towards completion.

Today someone noted that my surgery date of 8/28 reminded them of their favorite verse in the bible, Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." God's timing is perfect and He will see this to completion.

Furry Frustration

My sweet, loveable cat.....where does he go when the clippers and scissors come out? The tension starts as soon as he sees the tools and it doesn't stop until we finally give in and let him go. Blood is typically spilled, but it's never been his. Grooming time at our house is always a fun occasion.

Surgery.....Postponed.....Maybe

The doctors office called Wednesday morning and said they need to postpone the surgery one week. The burn unit receive a new patient that is burned over 65% of her body and they need my surgery date for her. They then told me that the patient may not survive and if that's the case, my surgery will go on as scheduled on the 21st. Of course I'm ready to have this surgery to get past this season in my life, but I'll gladly postpone it so this lady can get help.

In the past 16 months I've seen many people who have suffered horrific, disfiguring burns. Some seem to have adapted to the challenge, some have not. Though my injuries have been a serious bump in the road of my life's journey, they look like a scratch compared to what others have delt with. I don't know this new burn patient.....I don't even know her name. I do know that burns over 65% of your body will be a major challenge. God knows this woman's heart and He knows what she can handle. All I can do is pray for God's perfect will to be upon her life and know that He is in control. He will take care of her, just as He will me, in His perfect time.

Football......with Pads!

That's right.....Corbin's graduated to full contact football for 2007. No more flag stuff.....that's for little kids! Saturday was the first game and it was soooo hot, but the kids hardly noticed. Corbin (#88) did a great job and had three tackles on defense in spite of being blocked by a kid who looked bigger than me (#77 in the picture below).
Despite the heat it was fun and the team won.I'm not sure who had more fun.....the kids playing or the parents cheering. The photo below is of a proud dad and an excellent coach. Good job Corbin and James! I'm sure you'll see many more victories in 2007 and beyond!

Janay - Happy Anniversary!

It all started on August 19, 1991.....my 20th birthday. I would have never guessed that the 17 year old hostess at the Waverly Inn would be the greatest birthday gift of my life. Though our versions of who was making eyes at the other the most may vary, the instant attraction was obvious. Being the suave, smooth talking charmer I was, I sauntered up to her and confidently introduced myself and told her she was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. Ok...ok....so that's what I envisioned in my head. Truth be told, I asked her if she was having a good evening while on my way to the bathroom. I didn't have the nerve to say much else to her the rest of the evening.

Fast forward to August 10, 2007....our 11 year wedding anniversary. You continue to get more beautiful by the day. What makes you special is that you are more beautiful inside than you are on the outside. I never imagined being married to my best friend, but that's exactly what you are. Life has had it's ups and downs for us and our marriage is stronger because of it. Thank you for 11 wonderful years of marriage and 16 years of happiness. I look forward to growing old with you. Happy Anniversary!

Hometown Hero

I've never met him, but he gave his life so I could continue to live free. Ryan Fritsche was killed in Afghanistan when his squad was ambushed during a night patrol. The link below is to a well written tribute published in the local paper.

Tribute

William Ryan Fritsche, you are a hero in my eyes. To Ryan's family and to those currently serving in the military, thank you and know that you are in my prayers.

August 5th Update: The photos added were taken as Ryan made his final trip home to Martinsville.

Finally.......a Surgery Date!

I don't know why I put an exclaimation point because I'm sure not excited. I guess it's because it has been a long, somewhat unexpected two month wait to get it scheduled and I'm happy to have a date. The surgery is scheduled for August 21st. It actually works out well because I get to celebrate our anniversary (10th) and my birthday (19th) before the surgery.

Reality starts to set in now that the plan is actually in motion. I'm not fearful, I just don't want to go through all of the hassle that comes along with it. I am still praying that God will allow it to heal before that surgery date arrives. But I also know that sometimes God works miracles through the hands of surgeons. God's in control. His plan is perfect. He will see this to the end.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Furry Friend

Sprockett......where does one begin trying to describe a cat like him? Some friends and family have even questioned his existence since he hides when most people come over. That meow.....how sweet it was when he was a kitten......how utterly annoying it can be on mornings you just want to sleep past 6:00 am and he demands to be fed so he can be back to sleep by 6:30 am. His favorite call in the middle of the night......urp, urp, Urp, Urp, URP, URP...YACK! The sweet sound signaling another gift of Sprockett's famous fur ball graciously left on the carpet. I know Janay hears it, but she usually does a wonderful job of pretending to be sound asleep. He's a pig. I think he would eat until he popped. If he and his sister Sara Lee are fed at the same time, he gulps his down and proceeds to sit with his face so close to her bowl that she eventually gets so annoyed she leaves. Since she is the boss, he doesn't dare try to take it from her. Instead he has figured out that being the annoying "little bother" will earn him at least four or five bites of her food. And finally, that breath. His nickname isn't carcass mouth for nothing....phew!

With all of these "faults" one might wonder how he's managed to stay in our household for ten years. Plain and simple.....love. The crazy cat captured our hearts the first time we saw him at Petsmart in Greenwood. He was there from the Southside Animal Shelter......and he had poop all over his rear end! Janay still wanted him in spite of his "faults". I wasn't so sure. After a few days under our bed, he started to get comfortable in his new surroundings and that wonderful personality emerged. He acts more like a dog than a cat. He watches me leave in the morning from the front window. He greets me at the door with his loud meow when I get home. His favorite place is on my lap, whether that be relaxing in the recliner or rolling around the house with me in my wheelchair. If I'm home, he's typically close by.
What is it about pets that allow us to become so attached to them? We haven't been able to have children because of my spinal cord injury, so maybe our cats somewhat fill that role. But I don't think that is the only reason. I just love animals. I can't watch "Emergency Vets" on the Animal Planet channel without getting choked up. I guess I'm just a sucker for animals. Sprockett's my pal and always makes me smile.

Still No Date

No surgery date yet. I'm not sure how long I can continue to be "nice" when I call them. I have learned in life that not being "nice" typically doesn't help, so I will probably just continue waiting.

Photography has kept me very busy lately. People that Janay works with have had my phone ringing often. She told me a while back that if I do good work, the word will spread quickly among her co-workers. I'll assume the ringing phone means I've done good work and people are happy. Truthfully, I get as much satisfaction out of someone telling me how much they love their pictures as I do making a little money. A mom recently e-mailed me and said that a slideshow I made from the photos of her one year old daughter made her and her husband cry. I'm sure I had a huge smile on my face as I read that. Heck, my eyes even watered a little when I watched the slideshow (I told Janay my contact lenses were bothering me).

As much as I enjoy taking pictures of people, I still enjoy just going into the backyard and taking pictures of whatever pops up. The other day I chased this butterfly back and forth while it inspected each purple coneflower next to our house. The butterfly would make its way down the entire row and then turn around and go back over the flowers it had just visited. After doing this several times, I decided I had bothered enough and let the butterfly eat in peace.

It's a Big World

This past weekend we finished up Phase II of the wood floor project at our house (more on that later). Janay's family was doing the work while I supervised.....ok......I checked in on occasion to see if anyone needed anything and then got out of the way.

Corbin and Carly were over so I got to play with them and have fun while everyone else worked. Isn't that what a good supervisor does? It's fun to watch them explore the backyard. They like to roam around, check out the flowers and see what else they can find. When I saw them standing below the enormous blue spruces, I was awed by just how large they are. I couldn't fit half the tree in my camera viewfinder when I took the picture. To the kids, they are just another stand of trees. To me, they are just another one of God's miracles that we overlook day after day. What does it take for us to truly open our eyes and see the small miracles that surround us everyday?

Enough with the serious stuff. Corbin and Carly had fun. I had fun. I know eveyone else had fun too.......even though I worked them all like a dog!

I thought I had heard it all..........

After 12 years in a wheelchair, I am use to people curiously staring. Some occasionally work up enough nerve to ask what happened. People have posed some crazy questions and made silly comments before, but someone topped them all the other day.

A man in line behind me at Lowe's comments on my lightweight wheelchair and how he's spent his share of time in one and blah, blah, blah. He the asks why I was in one. I tell him it was a motocross accident and how I'm blessed to be able to walk some. That's when he comes back with, "Well I noticed you hadn't lost much meat on them legs." Janay didn't hear him, but we rolled with laughter in the parking lot.

No News to Report

Still no surgery date as of today (7/10). I spoke with the nurse last week and she said they are working on it. My doctor wants another specialist from I.U. Med Center to assist him so the 7 to 8 hour surgery will be cut down to around 5 hours. Coordinating the two doctors schedules has been difficult from what I've been told. The nurse promised me at least a weeks notice.....we'll see.

I have been busy with the photography business recently. I haven't actively pursued work not knowing when my surgery is going to be, but work is finding me. Tonight I have an appointment with five children between the ages 2 and 5. Hopefully the weather will cooperate so I can take them outside and let them run wild. It should be interesting. Below are a couple photos from recent shoots.




11:00 pm Update - The shoot with the five children went well tonight. We had a fun time chasing them around the yard. I think all of the adults involved will sleep well tonight :) Below are a couple from the shoot.

Mission Accomplished

In a previous entry I mentioned having Green Herons nesting in our spruce trees and my unsuccessful attempts at photographing them. I arrived home from work the other night and noticed two of the babies sitting on a branch in plain view. Of course my camera is in the house, so I go in and get the camera only to return and see the last baby walking back into the tree out of sight. Now they are messing with me! Bring it on, birds!

After several hours of stalking (if it's even possible to "stalk" in a wheelchair) I finally spotted one of the adults walking inside a nearby pine tree towards an outer branch. Finally it moved into an area where I could get a picture just before it flew off to look for a snack. This is my first experience watching Green Herons and they are fascinating. The spruce tree they are nesting in is very large and full, making the birds very difficult to spot. Stare at the tree long enough and you will spot one walking on the inner branches. They don't hop like a typical bird, they walk slowly. It's a little odd to see something slowly creeping around in the inner shadows of the tree.

Reviewing the pictures on the camera I feel satisfied that I fnally got a decent picture. Feeling one with nature, I realize that nature is calling. I set the camera down in the grass and seek privacy behind one of the spruce trees. While enjoying the freedom only a man can enjoy, the heron returns and lands directly above me. Once again, he's messing with me! The bird quietly sits on the branch swaying in the evening breeze as I retrieve the camera. Fully expecting the nervous bird to take flight any moment and ruin opportunity number 2, I raise the camera and shoot away. The heron finally spreads its wings and retreats to the security of the massive spruce tree. Another simple backyard moment.

Of course, Sara Lee was right there to supervise and offer suggestions on stalking technique.

June 27th Update

Today's update is......I still don't have a surgery date. Three weeks ago today was when I saw the doctor and agreed to the free flap surgery. I'm a little frustrated at not knowing when the surgery will be. I spoke with the nurse on Monday and she said they have some new patients that are currently requiring alot of surgery time. New admits will most likely start coming in this weekend with the Fourth of July close. Patient census always goes up around the fourth, so that could push me back a little further. My best guess is the surgery will be sometime the week of July 8th.....we'll see. In the meantime, I just keep praying that it will heal up before I have surgery. One thing I do know......God is still in control.

Think Your Day Is Bad?

This poor dog tangled with a porcupine. You can read more about the story here. Talk about a bad day!

June 18, 1995

Twelve years ago.....how does the time pass so quickly? Yet I remember the day like it was yesterday. That was the day of my spinal cord injury. We all have dates in our life that stand out. Defining moments, turning points, epiphanies. My life has never been the same since.

Sunday's motocross race was in Uniontown, a small town Southeast of Seymour. I recall sitting on my Honda CR250 in the staging area before practice feeling confident. My Honda was running great and I always enjoyed the track layout at Uniontown. As the flagman waved us onto the track for practice, I quickly noticed the track had been watered heavily due to the extremely hot and dry condtions we were experiencing. The water quickly pooled in various areas of the track due to the high clay content.

One section of the track had a high speed jump followed by a quick right turn. After the turn was a downhill straight. Water had collected at the bottom of the hill creating quite a mudhole that slowed many riders. I saw the hazard as a possible opportunity to pass riders come race time. There was a bump just before the bottom of the hill that I thought if I carried enough speed down the hill, I could use the bump to jump over the mudhole.

On the next practice lap I attempted to make the jump. It was timed almost perfectly, but I didn't have quite enough speed to clear the mudhole. More speed.....that's the answer. On the next approach I twisted the throttle a little further to gain the extra speed. What I didn't anticipate was the extra rebound from the rear suspension the speed would cause. The upward force of the suspension rebounding kicked the seat into my butt, my feet off the pegs and all of my weight over the front wheel. The front wheel planted firmly into the clay mudhole stopping the motorcycle's forward momentum. My body's momentum carried on. I knew I was crashing. Survival mode kicked in.....protect myself. Realizing I was going over the handlebars I ducked my head, putting my chin to my chest, in an attempt to roll once I hit the ground. I don't remember much about the actual moment of impact. I remember it hurt and knocked the wind out of me. It didn't take long until I was able to get my breath back. Phewwww.....I survived.

Crashing is not something foreign to a motocross racer. After a hard crash, you slowly assess the damage on your body. Right hand, right arm.....check. Left hand, left arm.....check. Right leg, left leg.....right leg, left leg.....RIGHT LEG, LEFT LEG.....nothing.....strange. Still lying flat on my back, I reached down with my right hand to feel my leg.....strange.....I thought I felt someone elses leg.....then realized it was my leg. I could feel my leg with my hand, but couldn't feel my hand with my leg. I began to cry.....

This race was a sanctioned American Motorcycle Association (AMA) event. The AMA has strict guidelines for their events. One rule requires all events to have an ambulance with paramedics present. Another requires flagmen to be positioned at various locations around the track. The job of a flagman is to watch for downed riders, notify other riders that someone is down ahead and to notify officials if medical assistance is required.

My wreck was right in front of a flagman. Still lying flat on my back, he came over to me and asked if I was ok. Because the wind was knocked out of me, I couldn't speak very loudly. I told him I was not ok. He asked what was wrong and through my tears I told him I couldn't feel my legs. I clearly remember him squinting his eyes, bending over to get closer and saying, "What? I didn't hear you." I repeated that I could not feel or move my legs. A shocked look came over his face. I'm sure it was only a few seconds, but it seemed like he stared at me for several minutes. He then got on the radio saying he needed the paramedics.....quick. I have no idea who that flagman was, but I wonder if he remembers that day as vividly as I do.

Lying there waiting for help, I started praying. I don't remember exactly what I prayed, but I remember being filled with peace. I can't honestly say I heard a clear, audible voice of the Lord, but I do remember being filled with this indescribeable peace and knowing that everything was going to be ok.

I could go on and on with the details from that day. This blog could turn into a book. I was rushed by ambulance to a hospital in Seymour. X-rays revealed a fractured back. Lifeline was called to fly me to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. I spent a month at Methodist. Then I spent two months at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana as an inpatient and the next six months as an outpatient.

Of all the details I remember, it's strange that I don't really remember the first time I saw Janay. I know it was at Methodist because I didn't see any family until I got there. The single most important person in my life and I don't remember. By the time I reached Methodist I had been given pain medication, so maybe the memories are blurred because of that. What I do remember is still having that peaceful feeling that only God could give during a difficult time such as this.

People have often asked if I wished I could go back and change that day. First of all, it's a pretty stupid question because that's not possible. I'm sure every one of us has something we wish we could go back and do over again.....but we can't. My answer to that question is, I would only go back and change things if I could retain the life lessons I've learned from the experience. Probably an equally stupid statement as the original question because it's not possible either, but it's how I truly feel.

Obviously this story goes much deeper than June 18, 1995. This is the date my new journey in life began. I never want people to look at me and just see someone who is disabled. I want people to see an overcomer in Christ Jesus.

Update with a Little Extra

Hello all! There's nothing really too new to report on my leg. I'm still hoping and praying that it will heal up before surgery. I think it has healed a little, but it still has a ways to go before the doc will cancel surgery. No set date for the surgery yet either.

Thinking about having surgery has me appreciating the little things I take for granted everyday. Waking up in my own bed....being able to reach over and touch my sleeping wife....showering. The free flap surgery will require a two week hospital stay. Ugh :(

This "appreciative" state of mind first came over me after my spinal cord injury. My busy life suddenly became painfully slow. Instead of life speeding by, I started seeing things I never noticed before. Photography became a way for me to share these everyday life treasures. The past week I've found myself appreciating my back yard. Knowing that in a few weeks I'll only be able to admire it from the recliner has most likely fueled these feelings.

We are blessed with a beautiful, park-like back yard. The previous owners put lots of work into planting perennial flowers that we now get to enjoy.

There are several Blue Spruce trees that are close to 40' tall. Birds flock to these trees for a safe nesting haven. This summer we have green herons nesting in the spruce trees. I have yet to get a picture of them, but I'll keep trying. I did capture this hummingbird while waiting for the herons to show. I never would have guessed the hummer would try to feed on the last few blossoms of the flower. Maybe he appreciates the small things too.

One evening during my green heron photo quest, I was kept company by one of our cats, Sara Lee. Sara loves to share her back yard with us. If she comes inside, she usually wants nothing to do with us. Outside she turns into a different cat. She craves attention and affection. She follows me (or anyone else) around the yard. She loves to pose for the camera, so when the herons rufuse to show their beaks, Sara gets the attention. I'm amazed at how animals have such individual personalities. Sara is definitely unique. Our other cat, Sprockett, is scared of his shadow outside. That explains why there are no pictures of him. I'll save him for a future blog entry.








My world is spinning a little slower these days. I'm seeing those little things that tend to go unnoticed. I'm appreciating my "normal-abnormal" life. I'm going to go appreciate my bed now and tell my wife how special she is.

Today was a good day......even with one broken spoke.

Timeline

This entry is mainly for myself, but others might find it interesting as well. As I said before, I wish I had started this blog when I was first injured to have a journal of what happened when and what might have been going through my head at that time. I have a Post-it note on my desk at work that I have kept a few dates on. Knowing how my desk is, that note will be lost one of these days. I'm surprised is has lasted this long. The following is a timeline of events.

• April 23rd - Date of burn. Visit the E.R. at Community South.


• April 24th - First visit with Dr. Troiano.


• April 26th - Surgery no. 1.


• May 5th - Homografts from surgery no. 1 not taking. Dr. Troiano determines the burn on the left leg is much deeper than initially thought. He cuts away dead tissue until he reaches the bone. I consider this surgery no. 2.


• May 10th - Referred out to Wishard Burn unit to Dr. Sood. I'm admitted to Wishard with surgery planned for he next day.


• May 11th - Surgery no. 3. Burns are debrided and I stay at Wishard while the doctor decides the best course of treatment.


• May 16th - Surgery no. 4. Dr. Sood decides to go with the least invasive treatment route, surgically apply Integra and attach a wound vac.


• May 17th - Disharged from Wishard with portable wound vac treatment. Because of the wound vac, I have to travel to Wishard three times a week for dressing changes.


• June 19th - Surgery no. 5. Admitted to Wishard for skin graft surgery.


• June 20th - Discharged from Wishard. Wound vac therapy continued.


• July 18th - Return to work.


• July 31st - Wound vac finally removed.


• August 12th - Regranex gel added to wound to promote healing.


• September 6th - Wound heals over but opens back up again due to drainage.


• January 16th - Bone scans are ran and detect a mild infection in the bone.


• February 6th - Surgery no. 6. Bone biopsy surgery at Wishard to test for infection. Results are positive for sensitive staph.


• February 12th - PICC line inserted (does this count as another surgery?) to administer IV antibiotics for 6 weeks.


• March 25th - PICC line removed.

That brings us up to the present. As of today I still don't know the surgery date. Surgery no. 7 coming up. Seven is the number of completion in the bible, so it's quite fitting that the seventh surgery will be the last.

August 28th - Surgery no. 7. Went in to have the free flap surgery, but the doctor found a pocket of infection and couldn't do the free flap. Instead he cleaned up the wound bed, took a bone biopsy to check for infection.

September 6th - Surgery no. 8. The doctor performed a pedical flap surgery instead of the free flap. It's less invasive and shorter recovery.

Update for June 6th

Hello everyone! Well, we didn't hear the news we wanted from the doctor today. The doctor believes more surgery is needed to get my leg to heal. The news wasn't a shock to us because at my last appointment he told us if it wasn't healed the next time he saw it then we needed to discuss the next step.

The next step is a free flap surgery. The reason my leg won't heal is because the tissue can't heal over the exposed bone. The exposed area is very small, but it's enough to keep the wound open. Muscle will be removed from my abdomen and implanted over the bone. Then a skin graft will be placed over the free flap. The doctor said the success rate of the surgery is approximately 98%.

Vascular surgery is involved, so that complicates the surgery. Blood flow must be restored to the implanted muscle. Because of this, I will have to stay at Wishard Hospital for 10 to 14 days so the free flap can be monitored. During this time my foot will be elevated 24/7 so the veins and arteries can heal. If too much blood flow is introduced too fast it can damage the delicate circulatory system to the implanted muscle.

It's looking like another summer in the recliner. Do I want to have the surgery......no. Do I need to have the surgery......yes. Could God heal it between now and the surgery date......of course, and that is what we will continue to pray for. Janay and I are at peace with the doctor's decision. We came away from the appointment with positive attitudes. I don't have a surgery date yet, but it will probably be the first week in July.

On a lighter note, when the doctor was giving us details about the free flap surgery, he said a rectus muscle would be used for the implant. Red flags immediately went off in my head, but I kept my mouth shut. As he continued my fears were put to rest when he grabbed his lower abdomen showing where the muscle would be removed. When he finished, I spoke up and admitted that he made me very nervous when he said a rectus muscle would be used. As you have probably already figured out, the abdomen is not where I thought the rectus was located.

No broken spokes today..........just one nervous rectus.

I Think I'm Weird.......

I've always had my suspicions, but today while mowing the yard I realized how much I enjoy mowing. This is supposed to be work, a chore, a task. Not for me. Once I get into the "mow zone" I often find myself in deep thought about whatever may be going on in my life. Today's "mow zone" thoughts centered on why I like to mow.



At first it seemed obvious. Much of the yard work falls into Janay's hands because I physically can't do it. Mowing is one thing I can do, so maybe I like it for that reason. But as I made another sweeping pass across the back yard I thought back to my childhood and remembered how I enjoyed it as a kid. I recall firing up the old rear engine Snapper riding mower and heading out to do laps on my imaginary race track in the back yard. Typically I was leading the pack around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but sometimes I was blazing though the desert in the Baja 1000. Needless to say, sometimes the back yard had some interesting patterns when I was finished.

Hmmm......as I finish up the back yard and head through the gate to the front yard, I'm realizing this "mow zone" thing goes back further than I thought. Once the front yard is reached it's decision time.......will it be straight or angled stripes on the yard today......straight. Back to the "mow zone".

Maybe that's the answer.........mowing stripes onto the yard is another outlet for my artistic side. The lines catch the eye of the unsuspecting passerby and draw them in like leading lines in a photograph. Nah......this can't be it. The only stripes I thought about while mowing as a kid were the racing stripes I pictured on the side of that old Snapper. Plus, I had no artsy side growing up. I first picked up a guitar when I was 25 and didn't get into photography until I was 31.

Could it be that age old "Man and Machine" thing? Have I always been pulled into this mowing thing just because I'm drawn to the tools needed to get the job done? Extensive research was performed before making my lawn mower purchase. I wanted to make sure I had just the right tool for the job before I wrote that check. Push mower? I don't need no stinking push mower! Not to mention I couldn't operate it if I did have one (disability does have its advantages).

As the last stripe is laid on the front yard, I've concluded I might just be weird. My neighbor on one side lets his grass get so high he needs to bale it when he's finished. The other neighbor's doesn't know how to level his mower deck so the blades on one side cut at a different height than the other side. This makes for a real interesting looking yard. He's also the one who likes to cross the property boundary into my side yard. I think he does this on purpose in an attempt to break me out of my "mow zone". Sometimes it works.

The yard is finished. The mower is put to rest in the shed. Another hour of deep thinking while mowing has passed. Am I alone on this? If I am, go ahead and call me weird. I guarantee the next time my rear hits that seat and the blades are engaged, "mow zone" will once again kick in.

ps - Today was a good day......no broken spokes.