Doing well

Dad is a much happier camper at home now. He cooked his first meal in over 3 months and it was delicious! Things are going smoothly and the leg is healing like it is suppose to! We got his first bill from the first stay at the hospital and it was a large amount. But we are just glad he is home and on the road to recovery! Yay!!!! This weekend is his 65th birthday! We are very blessed that he is celebrating his birthday at home and out of the hospital!!!

Finally home and let's hope for good!

Dad gave me the A-OK to put up all the pics of his leg amputated because I finally got one of it all closed up.
Here is a pic of his leg still open a few weeks ago. The gray looking thing is a sponge that connected to the wound vac. The yellow color thing was a plastic wrap around the leg.

 Here was the leg yesterday, all closed up.

Then today, dad finally got to come home. He seems a bit down but Conley's made him dinner and it was delicious! I am hoping he gets more motivated soon. He is moving around on his own and starting to get his strength back! There was a nurse there tonight that taught mom how to do all of his IV antibiotics and he has an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Cannada at 8:30 am.

Going home soon!

Dad was told that he should be able to go home on Wednesday of next week! I feel bad because I haven't been up to see him much this week since school started but it sounds like rehab is going great and he is happy that he is rebuilding his strength. I will post if his release date changes!

Getting stronger

Dad went to rehab yesterday. Today was his first day of PT and OT. He told us he "worked really hard". This made me laugh because it sounded like a kid on his first day of school telling his parents he did a good job. He finally has normal clothes on because we made his shorts fit on over his knee brace. Right now he has a "sock" over the stump, a tie die brace on (which is really funny looking) and then a knee brace to keep his knee straight so that way his leg doesn't get stuck in a bent position. Doctor said he should be there for about 10 days and then home! Once the stitches come out and his leg starts to form a more solid stump, he will be fitted for his prosthesis. This is all great news! We just keep crossing fingers and praying that the infection stays away and that his tissue stays healthy to insure that he can keep the leg below the knee. Dad seems much happier to be at St. John's rehab because they have a lot more equipment to help him gain his strength back. He has lost about 40lbs over the last 3 months and knows he has a lot of work to do in terms of muscle strength.

Back to rehab

Just talked to dad and they said he is going to rehab today! Dr. Cannada came back in town and said the leg looks good! So we feel like we are on the right path!

He is one tough man

Dad seems like a whole new person now that his leg is closed. His spirits are much higher and he seems happier. He said he slept a lot today and didn't go to physical therapy so he plans on going tomorrow. He still has a temp but his pain in his chest is a little less than yesterday. Baby steps! Thank you so much for the prayers and always being there for him! You guys have helped us all through this and we hope he comes home soon!!!! The weekend is almost here! Enjoy it!

Stretch Armstrong.....

Dad is out of surgery and they were able to close his wound. They had to stretch the skin as much as they could and try not to have the previous skin graph on the stump. The skin graph is actually on the side of the stump but they are hoping that will form and heal. So for now, we are in a wait and see mode to see if it starts to heal and if the tissue stays healthy. If that works, then dad will go home or to rehab. Problems we could face: His infection could come back and cause him to get amputated above the knee. Or, the stump wouldn't hold the pressure and then break open and cause dad to have to get amputated above the knee. But that one sounds like that wouldn't happen for another few months once dad has his prosthesis. We are just happy that the wound is closed and hopefully dad's pain in his chest and anxiety will subside.