NEW BOOTS AT LAST

Sophie did such a great job reporting on the trip to see the surgeon who did the surgery on the hip that visiting the foot surgeon is almost a replay.  A few more of these trips will give us new friends among the EMT's.  This time we got to see the new OHSU building on the riverbank.  Joe and Kathi saw the parking garage and a beautiful lobby.  Howard and I were with the ambulance and entered via the loading dock and mail room.  They had a gurney waiting in the doctor's office so that transfer was easy.  Craig, one of the crew gave us his card so we could call him directly when ready for a pickup. 

Then it was time to get down to business and watch the removal of the casts so they could take xrays.  The little battery operated saw doesn't cut, it just vibrates and breaks a smooth cut the length of the cast on each side.  We saw the 8 inch incisions and the smaller incisions on each foot.  There are metal plates to hold it together in both feet and one reinforcing the ankle and lower leg in one of the feet.  So often Howard (when he was still on serious drugs)would ask each of us to measure his feet so he could get a new pair of boots.  Now he has new boots, the big black padded ones and he tells me they are a lot of trouble as he must keep them on 24 hours a day.  Dr. Veri said the boots can be removed for a shower occasionally but never put any weight on them.  After we saw the xrays we understood why.

Howard wanted to celebrate by eating outside at the center so Kathi trekked to Arbys and picked up sandwiches and milkshakes that we consumed out in a parklike area behind the rehab center.  By then he was more than ready to be put back on the bed for a nap and dismissed all of us.  We are encouraged by the healing in his body and his mind even if he orders us around.  His sense of humor is better than ever.

We are so grateful for what God is doing !!!