Here We Go Again – Déjà Vu?

Second Surgery, Same Foot

I started writing this post last night, as a way of getting my feelings out and on “paper.” But, the more I wrote, the worse I felt. I shut down my computer and used my “call a friend” coupon. When feeling blah, I usually hide in a shell, stick my head in the sand, curl up in a dark corner. This time, I chose to change things up a bit. “Hey Bethany, Got a few minutes?” After ranting on and on for a while, I was able to balance out my thoughts and get neutral; I may have even sensed a twinge of positiveness, a crack of light in a darkened room.

Here is what I wrote before speaking with Bethany:

In June of 2016, Yohan had reconstructive surgery on his left foot. From the get go, he had more than his share of issues.

The nerve block wore off quicker than expected, and his pain spiraled out of control.
The day after surgery, he waited for hours and hours, in unbearable pain, at the local ER. After a 6 hour wait, he was called back, examined and admitted. Joint, bone and nerve pain continued to be prevalent at least 6 – 8 weeks after the surgery.

Once he was put into a walking boot, pressure sores developed on the bottom of the foot.

We made numerous trips to San Francisco (45-minute drive….. one way) to have orthotics made, adjusted and readjusted, and readjusted again to take the weight off the ball of the foot where the sores thrived. No go. They hung around, uninvited, like ants at a picnic, and threatened to multiply should he decide to put any pressure at all on that foot.

Every time the sore healed, it reopened when he tried to walk. He’s been off that foot, on crutches/ knee scooter, for 9 months (That’s enough time to get pregnant and produce a little person).
For reasons unknown, the first surgery failed (except for the tendon transfer, which worked amazingly well).
After several trips back and forth to Los Angeles, where Dr. Pfeffer practices, it became obvious that a second surgery on the same foot was a necessity. There will be more bone cuts, tendons transferred and lengthened, heel realignment, toe fusion, and straightening.
Surgery is tomorrow, Wednesday, March 29. We are all anxious, want it to be over, but especially successful. He wants to simply walk, one step in front of the other. Is it too much to ask?

After my conversation with Bethany, where I released the pent-up negativity, I was able to open myself up to more positive energy and look on the bright side. During the past 9 months:

Yohan got to play A LOT of computer games.
.
He received tons of gift baskets (and money) from his grandmother.
He had the time and focus to apply and be accepted to graduate school in the fall.
He gained work experience as a CMTA intern.
Gilles and I were able to do a few short trips because he “volunteered” to take care of our high maintenance cat, Tortellini.

wawa

He rediscovered a childhood friend, and their friendship has taken hold and blossomed. (No Eva, he does not have CMT).

V and Y

Vincent and Yohan

He did not have to make his own meals or do his own laundry for the past 10 months.
We played games as a family and enjoyed each other’s company.
Yohan now embodies the word – patience.
We had time to devise schemes and play practical jokes on Gilles ( for example, we put no tear toilet paper in his bathroom-hahahahaha)

Dr. Pfeffer has spent the last several months investigating what went wrong. He solicited second, third and fourth opinions from the world’s best orthopedic surgeons. He’s admitted that things can go wrong the first time around, “…but there is no margin for error the second try”. He’s done his homework, knows what he’s going to do and is proceeding with confidence. We are in good hands. We just have to remember to remain patient, determined and positive. And when you can’t stand it anymore, pick up the phone and call a true and trusted friend. The results can be mood-altering!