Sis being wheeled into surgery right now--she needs your best, DU

[MissMillie]

This is the sister who fell off the ladder back in May... 7 months today to be exact. She has not walked since.

They put her leg and ankle back together on the day of the accident, but a massive bone infection prevented any healing in the leg (and doctor refused to acknowledge that there was indeed any infection). For a while there, her options sucked. There was talk of her keeping the limb below the knee but not having anything work down there, or amputating below the knee and having a prosthetic that offered more mobility. (I called those two options "sucks" and "sucks more" and you can pick which one is which depending on what you think the worse scenario is.)

8 weeks ago they found a doctor who is pretty sure he can put everything back together in working order. The VA (she is retired Coast Guard) doesn't want to pay for it, but the hospital has decided that they will value retired servicemen more than our government does. She need not worry about the cost.

6 weeks ago they removed all hardware and started treating the infection.

Today they are putting hardware back in to put all the bones and joints in the proper place. She will wear an external fixator for a while. The next surgery will add bone grafts and artificial materials to create working joints for her.

Whatever good thoughts, vibes, prayers, karma (let me tell you, this sis deserves all the good karma there is) you have to offer will be greatly appreciated.

I'd light a candle, but they frown on that here at work.

[lizziegrace]

1. You've got all mine

:hug:


Please keep us updated.

[miss_american_pie]

2. Ouch

She's got my prayers. :hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

3. Best of luck to your sister

she deserves it

:hug:

[Pool Hall Ace]

4. Hugs and good thoughts for your sister, Miss Millie.

:hug:

[buddhamama]

5. Sending good thoughts to your sister.

I will light some incense and wish her healing and wellness.

My thoughts are with you all. :hug:

[xchrom]

6. all good healing vibes heading your way!

[merh]

7. healing wishes and prayers for your sister

and all good energies for the surgeon and staff. :grouphug:

[war on errorism]

8. positive vibes heading her way...

[flamingyouth]

9. Sending her good thoughts

I've been following her story through this whole ordeal. Wishing her all the best. And you too. :hug:

[BarenakedLady]

10. She's in my thoughts

of course :hug:

[auntAgonist]

11. prayers and best wishes ...

Prayers for the Dr's too .. I hope for a great outcome.

aA

[NewWaveChick1981]

12. My best vibes and thoughts for your sister, MissMille...

:hug: :pals: I sure hope this works! :D

[redqueen]

13. Sending prayers and good vibes...

:hug:

[LaraMN]

14. Good vibes forthcoming!

To you and your sis!

:hug:

[cwydro]

15. Sending good thoughts your way...

:hug:

[crim son]

16. MissMillie, I will light a candle for you.

It sounds like your sister has been through so much. Poor thing.

Lighting it now.

[zingaro]

17. She has mine.

Along with wishes for a speedy recovery.

You're a good sister to worry so.

[u4ic]

18. Sending her lots of good vibes, MissMillie

I wish her success in her surgery, and a speedy recovery. :grouphug:

[Broken_Hero]

19. I hope things go well...:)

Nothing but positive waves from me :hug:

[tigereye]

20. hope things go well for her, MissM

[SPKrazy]

21. Good Thoughts!

coming your sister's way!


:hug:

[onecent]

22. My prayers and best wishes for your sister's speedy recovery.

This is such a scarey time.

Hang in there!

[BlueIris]

23. I shall send my best!

Good luck to your sister.

[InternalDialogue]

24. All my best thoughts to your sister, MissMillie.

:hug:

[uppityperson]

25. eyow and best of luck toher

[BikeWriter]

26. Lighting a candle for a Sister Vet.

[Brewman_Jax]

27. Good thoughts to you

from me and the cat.

[applegrove]

28. Vibes.

[Shakespeare]

29. Positive thoughts for your sister, and one recommendation:

After she's recovered from her current ordeal, please have her watch VERY closely for any signs of arthritis or related joint problems. My sister developed severe rheumatoid arthritis about six months after having a bone infection; nobody knows what causes RA, but we do know it's an auto-immune disorder, and appears to be triggered by something (such as a bone infection).

Don't want to scare you, and hopefully nothing like that will happen, but it's best caught early if she does develop symptoms.

[jobycom]

30. Sounds traumatic, but much more positive than your first post on it

I remember when you first described the choice. Glad to see something more hopeful was offered. Hope it all goes well for both of you.

[MissMillie]

31. Update: doctor gives a thumbs-up

Things did not go exactly as the surgeon had planned but what changes he had to make are irrelevant to the prognosis.

He was hoping that one of her ankle bones would be a stabilizer for what work needed to be done in the ankle, but it was just too small. This means that her ankle will be in a fixator as well as her leg.

Again, this doesn't affect her prognosis. Doctor still thinks he can put this all back together and that it will all work at or close to 100% when she heals.

Sis made a smart choice in having spinal anesthesia before being put under. She will awake from surgery numb from the waist down. She will have her morphine pump as the spinal wears off.

Thank you all for all your support. You guys are the best!

[seemunkee]

37. Good news

Hope she mends well and doesn't have any complications

[Gormy Cuss]

39. Glad to hear that it went reasonably well.

Here's to a good recovery.:toast:

[QMPMom]

40. I'll keep your sister in my thoughts as she recovers.

[graywarrior]

32. {{{VIBES}}}

Wishing all the best to your sister.

[Kajsa]

33. Best wishes and prayers

for a speedy recovery.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

:hug:

[Haole Girl]

34. Good vibes coming right up...

and hugs... :hug: :hug: :hug:

[MissMillie]

35. KICK for the update

and to thank everyone again!

:kick:

[NC_Nurse]

36. Ouch!

I'm sending good thoughts her way!

[Left Is Write]

38. Best healing wishes and prayers for her.