Where to start?  It’s been an emotional two and half weeks since the last surgery.  We have been up/down/ and all between.  We arrived home on Thursday, November 29 and on Monday, December 3rd we had to put Jinx, our basenji of 14 years, to sleep.  Having to make that decision pretty much just pushed us both over the edge.  She had been part of the family since 2004 and losing her was tough.  We loved her dearly but will be forever grateful that our boys were much better behaved than she ever dreamed of being.  We are still catching ourselves expecting her to meet us at the door.

Kelly has been a model patient since the surgery.  He spends the majority of his time in the recliner with his leg raised per the dr’s orders.  We have set up a nice work area for him so everything is within arms reach.  Luckily he has only missed five days of work since the first surgery.  Being able to work from home has kept his mind busy and helped pass “recliner time”…plus… Hallmark movies can only occupy so much of your time.  🙂

Now, about that foot and what is going on with it.  We’ll start with the post op appointment this morning (friday the 14th).   Any second guessing about having such a radical surgery was put to rest.  All the pathology reports confirmed the right decision had been made.  The cancer had invaded even more than originally believed.  The good news is that all the margins are clean by .6 centimeters.  Apparently that is very good!  Our Dr. also believes there is a very good chance that radiation will not be needed because of these margins.   We’ll consult with a medical oncologist to make that decision in a few weeks.  He still needs to keep his leg up as much as possible for the next week or so.  He will also be on crutches/scooter for another 4 weeks.

A major lifestyle change and a challenge…

While he has been luxuriating in Mr. Bubble bubble baths for the past few weeks, he is now allowed to get his foot wet.  I imagine it will feel extremely good to stand under a hot shower.  He’ll even get to wash his own hair again…simple pleasures.  One of the struggles/challenges Kelly has faced is looking at the remaining part of his foot.  Since it stays covered that has not been too hard.  However, when the bandage is being changed he’ll pull his ballcap down over his eyes.  Dr. A encouraged him to not only look at it but to touch and feel it.  The benefit is that it will help “rewire” his brain to know where the foot actually ends.  Phantom pain has been an issue and this “rewiring” could help relieve some of that discomfort.  These pains are random, (can be) intense and tend to manifest themselves in two different ways.  First is the random ice pick stab.  I usually can guess that one because it gets a very loud “oochiiee wa wa”.  Kelly describes the second one as a “deep tickle”, like when someone tickles you and it’s funny until it starts to hurt.  Prayers would be appreciated for this mental hurdle to be crossed with minimal amount of stress.

Good News!  We got the ok to fly to Chicago for Christmas.  We will be spending the holidays with Jared and his family.  It will be great to get away for a bit and see a different view.  January 4th, Kelly will go back to Dr. Abbaschian to have his stitches removed.  Immediately following that appointment, we will be headed to Greenwood, Arkansas because………

Sometimes the world is really really small.  My brother, Rick (the football coach) has an acquaintance that just happens to be a world class prosthetic designer, who lives in…”drum roll please”….yes, Greenwood, Arkansas.   He does work for the paralympic athletes and also made the blades which were used by Oscar Pistorius, an Olympic sprinter.  I spoke to him this morning and he has agreed to consult with Kelly.  Because of the type of amputation Kelly had (chopart), he says it will be a challenge to design something that will give him the function he desires.  But, as he said, “I am always up for a challenge”.  It will be interesting to see what can be done in this new world we’ve become a part of.  Although, according to the surgeon, socks stuffed in your shoe will work perfectly well.  He is a great surgeon, but my spartans aspirations will likely outpace a sock stuffed shoe.

Last but not least, Mr. and Mrs. Santa paid an early visit to our house.  I’m not sure who enjoyed the moment more, Kelly or his parents.  Personally, it was just so sweet to step back and watch parents loving on their son.  This gift will allow him to do so much more in the coming months that otherwise would have been impossible.  It was generous, thoughtful, loving…and much appreciated.

I can’t help but close with a note of thanksgiving for all the many ways each of you have been there for us.  We have been blessed beyond measure by each thought and each prayer given on our behalf.  I have watched Kelly as calls, texts, notes, emails and gifts have come in.  His eyes twinkle a bit more, his smile is a bit brighter and his spirits are lifted a bit higher with each message.  Over and over God has shown us what His family is about.  We will be forever grateful for this gift of love that has been poured down upon us.

Listen to His Voice,

Lee Ann

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