Wednesday October 17

Just a quick update here.
After running through the Doctors appointments of the last week and weighing multiple opinions, it is clear now that Donna will have surgery on her right leg to facilitate a normal walk.  The surgery (a short procedure with more pre and post activity than surgery) is set for Tuesday am.  Her surgeon really impressed us and has a great reputation.   The doctor has done this procedure over a thousand times so we feel very good.  I know there are questions about what this is all about so let me explain.  Donna's Achilles tendon is too tight to allow her to bend it to at least 90 degrees and beyond which is really desired for a normal walk.  This is not the direct result of the accident, it is the result of limited motion for a period.  The surgery involves some cuts in her tendon that will allow it to stretch and lengthen.  It will be casted in the stretched position and 4 weeks later the cast will come off.  The beautiful thing is the tendon heals itself and the other good news is that Donna will be able to walk on it with the cast the very next day so she can fully continue her therapy.

As a result of the feedback from her doctors, Donna is up and walking more aggressively (with assistance) in her therapy sessions already.  It is hard with her leg as it is but she is so determined and willing.  She listens to her therapists guidance and she has endeared them all to her (no surprise right).  It is making it all a harder day for Donna but it allows her to justify those desserts that she so enjoys.  The doctors appointments has caused us to miss a bit of therapy and that interruption will continue Monday and Tuesday of next week but should end there for now.

So lets talk about food because you can't really talk about Donna and avoid that subject.  She is a full fledged lefty eater now.  It started really ugly several weeks back.  A lot of work, not a lot of consumption and a lot of spillage. It truly is amazing that it has become a very neat and precise process with almost no spillage.  Just goes to show how motivated she is to get the food in her mouth and what a great learner she is.  Despite the good Lefty news, work on her right arm continues and is helping. She still wants to be a righty.  Slow but definite improvement is good to see.

Keep the prayers going for her please.  It was really special to hear her tell people in Galveston just how much she enjoyed going home last weekend finally and we so look forward to keeping it going.

Thanks to all,
Bob