8/30 Day 11 - Crutches & crackers

Fri 8/30/13 <<DAY11>>
Well, today...today was ok, got better & ended with a twist. So, I'm taking both antibiotics that doc said to take for the infection, which I don't know why I have, along with a strong pain killer. Woke up well enough to get cleaned up, dressed & hang out downstairs. Kind of a usual day as far as my progress goes but today was my son's first football game & unfortunately I have to miss it. Even if I was feeling 100% , it's been raining out there & my foot would've gotten wet. (not getting my cast until next Wednesday,  9/4...hopefully) My husbands over there now texting me updates every 5 minutes.
 In the morning after I came down, ....& shh, don't tell the doctor!...I asked Brian to uncovered my foot. We wanted to see if it looked better or worse than the other day I was in for a check up. Thankfully, some of the swelling had gone down & it was still a little reddish but not as much. (I'll post the pics from today below) Brian phoned the doctor just to be safe since we're coming up on a long weekend. Dr. Lee said as long as I don't present with a temperature, I should be ok.
Afternoon was nothing out of the ordinary, hung out on the couch (knocked out because the meds make me sleepy), had homemade chicken soup for lunch, meds..the norm, kind of boring day. For dinner had...yes! Chicken soup again. I figured it'd be better to stick with light foods since I got sick & threw up not too long ago. My husband left to the football game while I stayed on the couch & with in the hour I started feeling sick all of the sudden. I mean like I had to get to the bathroom & fast! I didn't know I could move that fast with crutches...& holding my phone, lol! Thank goodness I made it to the toilet 'cause I didn't want to leave a mess on the living floor that I was not going to be able to clean up. Anyways, so tomorrow we'll call the doc again & see what he says about that. I mean, I was feeling just fine & all of the sudden all my chicken soup was in the toilet :/ Ew!
Anyways, here's some pics...& I just had to add the ones with my lovey, hehehehehe ;)

The booster moms drove to all the football players homes & put up the helmet signs with out player's # :)  I LOVE IT!!

8/29 Day 10 - Vanilla custard wanted

Thurs 8/29/13 <<DAY 10>>
We had set an alarm for me to take the pain meds at 2am since I was in so much pain. When I woke up this morning I still felt some pain but I felt nauseous. Ugh. Didn't get any better till after lunch. I've been in bed all day. The pain med makes me drowsy so I've been doing sleeping through out the day as well. Not much to report today other than my pain has subsided due to being back on the hard stuff regularly & didn't eat much because I felt woozy. Had a bag next to me all day, just in case. Lucky for me I haven't though. For food today I had some crackers, small ham & cheese sandies & for dinner a baked potato. Water & 7up through out the day as well. I feel shaky as I write this evening so I'm going to call it a night...after a eat a little vanilla custard from Freddie's ;) MHM. MHM. MHM.
Tomorrow Brian & I want to sneak a peak at my foot to see if it's still red  &/or it got any better.

8/28 Day 9 - A set back

8/28/13 <<DAY 9>>
So not only was last night excruciating but this morning was just as bad. I slept pretty good through the night. The last pain med I took was the extra strength one. This morning I had the Dr appmnt & to get up to get ready was just as painful. I could tell last night when I was taking a bath something didn't feel right. Getting ready & in the car was a fiasco but all worth it when I was finally sitting in the room. I knew they'd take x-rays today too.
When the MA asked how I was I told her I was in a lot of pain. When she was half way taking the dressing off my foot it started feeling SO good! It's exactly what I wanted..to have my foot feel free! It looked, on the other hand, like a Frankenfoot. I figured it would be swollen but it was also red on the side, kind of in between both incisions. I was happy. :)  ...just in pain.

When the doctor came in he asked how I was. When I said I was hurting, he took a look at the x-rays & my foot & was a little taken back by how red it was. It should be swollen, that's normal but the fact that it was red, he said, meant I had an infection. I told him how sick & how much pain I was in the day prior & now knowing it was an infection made sense. So short story, he gave me another antibiotic to take in addition to the one I'm already taking. Told me to call him Saturday because if I don't feeling better by then I'm going to have to go in & get antibiotics through an IV. I'm hoping I feel better by tomorrow.
With the extra strength meds & both antibiotics the pain subsided late in the afternoon. It's been a long day & happy to see my foot & feel it be free but I am worried about this infection. I still don't get why or how I got an infection.
Anyways, I'll add some more pics, shower & get to bed. I can't wait to wake up pain free :)

8/27 Day 8 - Painful day

Tues 8/27/13 <<DAY 8>>
Woke up at 5something am with the worst pain on the incision on my heal. This is how the day started & didn't get any better. Second time now that I've felt pain on that one but today was the worst! To have to lower my foot to use the restroom or move around was unbearable. The worst was in the evening. I had tears in my eyes when I was coming up the stairs this evening. It felt as though it was tearing open or I was going through a surgery with no anesthesia. It was bad. I ended up literally crawling up the last flight of stairs.
My foot falls asleep from having it in the same position & today I couldn't get creative because it felt like that incision was rubbing against the gauze/cotton.
I slept in a little but instantly didn't feel good. Went through my usual routine & came downstairs. I was nauseous & felt weak. After lunch I got sick again. I felt it, I knew it was going to happen so earlier I asked my husband to leave some plastic bags by me. I'm glad I did because they came in handy later on in the day. I don't know about you but I eat a couple gummy bears to help get rid of that after taste. Gross, I know. But if you're going to do this, know that there is a possibility you may go through the same thing. So be ready. I still don't regret it. My husband asked me today if it was still worth it & I said yes without any hesitation.
So the whole day, I felt was a set back because I spent it on the couch not feeling good & throwing up.  What a bummer. I can not wait to go to see the Dr tomorrow & have him uncover my new foot. I know it'll be swollen & won't look like much but I just can't take the pressure of all this stuff wrapped around it. I swear I felt the incision on my ankle bleed when I bathed tonight.
That's it for today...candy crush, couch, plastic bags, crawling up the stairs. It wasn't funny at the time but if my husband would have taken a picture of me crawling up the stairs it would've been funny to look at. Tomorrow will be better.

8/26 Day 7 - Hot mess

Mon 8/26/13 <<DAY 7>>
Been edgy & want to move my foot/ankle SO bad. Sometimes it falls asleep being in the same position. Yes, I keep it elevated & yes I'm still utilizing the cold compression but my goodness!..I almost can't stand it being in the same position for so long. I try to bend my knee & sit on my left side as much as I can with stand it. I can't wait for Dr. Lee to take all this stuff off my leg tomorrow...at least he said he would. It's heavy & I just want to let my foot breathe for a minute.
My routine has been: I have breakfast in bed, get washed up & dressed & come sit/lay on the couch downstairs. Thrilling, isn't it! Gross alert: "went" again today. woohoo.
Really felt cabin fever today. Brian borrowed a wheel chair from the office. The plan was to take a little stroll down the block or walking/jogging path in the back of the house but there was a dust storm warning. Decided to go for just a few..I needed to get out. Man, was it dusty!  In just the 30 minutes or so we were out there, my phone had a film of dust on it. The pics almost don't do it justice.
We were also talking today with my boy about his first football game...IT'S THIS FRIDAY!!  Oh no! I can't miss his games!! My husband wants to ask the doctor if it's ok that I go...yea yea. :/  I'll be so sad if I can't go to his first game. I don't know if it's the meds but I've been more sensitive lately. My husband showed me a video today on a college coach playing a prank on his players. It reminded me of how my son is already a senior. My baby! Instantly my eyes filled with tears. Sigh. Got to be the meds, right!
(I mentioned in a previous blog how I decorated before my surgery for Halloween & Fall...I wasn't kidding) 

(the bruise is still visible from the last shot I received at the hospital)

Will Smith-The power of positive thinking

...I often turn to this video to give me inspiration or to remind me of the power of positive thinking.

 One of my favorite quotes

8/25 Day 6 - What to expect when you're expecting...a toe

Sunday 8/25/13 <<DAY 5>>
Today is the first day I could honestly say I was feeling better. Easier to get up, to get around..the stairs are always fun..easier to bathe. Getting the hang of it but I can't wait to have my foot back! I know it'll be a while still until I can "walk" on it, let alone wear flops & cute open toe shoes year round. I don't give a damn about the scars! I love scars. I could deal with scars. I have little to no dizziness today. All day I took mild/moderate pain meds. Felt a little cabin fever so I came downstairs & spent most of my day down here. Didn't go to bed until 11pm! I know..what a rebel, right! Finally slept through the night. Being sleep deprived on top of everything that goes with having surgery is a ticking time bomb. At least it is for me. :D
I had a visit from my mom, that was nice. I was bored  &there's never anything good to watch on tv so as I sat on the coach, I made my cat a toy. Still feel that heart burn, pressure feeling in my chest. I'm not quite sure how to describe it or what it is from but I think it may or could be from having the breathing tube they put down your throat while in surgery. By the end of the day, my arms & the palm of my hands felt sore again. I probably should not have done this but the marcaine baggy was getting on my nerves, getting caught on everything & it looked empty so I clipped it & unscrewed part of the tubing  bag & took it off. Now I have two small tubes hanging from inside the padding that's on my foot. Again, I don't know what these are connected to & I didn't think to ask the Dr when I saw him last because I wasn't doing do good.
Had an AH HU moment this evening when I was in bed...I think the reason I had to pee so much in the middle of the night was because I kept feeling the cold on my foot from the machine! LOL! Well, maybe not but I thought that was so funny ;) Here's a personal & gross moment..but all for the sake of sharing my experience...I finally went #2 today! lol! I celebrated with a piece of Boston cream pie ;) My foot/leg is wrapped up to just below my knee (I posted pics in previous blogs) & by the end of the day, it gets heavy & hard to move around. Second "personal" alert...I shaved my good leg when I took a bath today. heheheheh
BTW...Breaking Bad was crazy tonight...roller coaster every Sunday evening. I have no idea what's going on with Dexter...they are all over the map & it's making me mad.

This are pics of the toy I made for my love, Caoihme...my cat...

...with her paw she has to drag the piece of cat food or toy out. ;) I know..genius..lol

8/24 Day 5 - No sleep but I'll have cute toes!

Sat 8/24/13 <<DAY 5>>
Sometimes when the cold compression kicks on (the timer is set to 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off) & the water runs up the tubes & reaches my toes it feels like ants but feels cool & feels good. Ive been more itchy on that foot lately.

Last night my son helped me down the stairs, figured I'd try it again. Felt a little dizzy but no vomiting & nothing compared to the other day..that was horrible. Still taking the extra strength meds & they make me sleepy but still not sleeping through the night. Like clock work, I wake up around 2ish  & again around 4 or 5am to pee.

Back to today...it amazes me how much I have to pee in the middle of the night when I hardly don't have anything to drink before I have to go to bed. Brian brought me breakfast in bed again..home made waffle & banana. I need my coffee so I had a little too. He also suggested I start taking the mild/moderate pain killer as of today because I'm not in too much pain. Other than my arms/muscles feeling sore & weak I'm not in too much terrible pain. Towards the end of the day the palms of my hands are sore from the crutches. Ive been having weird dreams that all run together. Every now & then, my toe or toes will twitch in the middle of the night & it'll scare the heck out of me because I'll dream something/one is bumping into them or running over them. With the stent in place, I can't move my ankle/foot. So it feels weird not to have movement. I may never take walking for granted again! My right leg gets tired of being in the straight & elevated position day in & day out. I sleep facing up as long as I can but then automatically turn to my left since its the only way I can turn slightly. My shoulder still has a bruise from the shot the anesthesiologist gave me so it gets sore after lying on that side too.  

Brian brought me lunch from one of our favorite little places...Pittsburgh Willy's..

8/22-23 - DAY 4 - Feeling upside down

Fri 8/23/13 <<DAY 4>>
The days seem to be running all together. I'm writing feeling groggy & not very good at all. Once again I , we, didn't sleep through the night due to pain & having to get up to use the rest room. I know I skipped day 3 but it was not a good day for me. Everything seemed fine until Brian carried me downstairs. I wanted to hang out down here a bit before going to the Dr's (besides, I was sick of being in the room). Almost instantly I felt sick, dizzy, like I was going to vomit. I think my blood pressure went down & it was down hill from there. Well, I did end up getting sick here in the living but thanks to my husband's quickness he handed me a bag. I also did again when we got home from the Dr's office. By Friday I had an appetite back & doing better but not 100%. My toe kept twitching & it was FREAKING ME OUT!
(Thur 8/22) Dr. Lee had said I'd see my foot for the first time (on my Thur 8/22 appointment)  but he saw me looking so sick that I think he just wanted to get me out of there as quick as possible (I think he just didn't want me vomiting all over his office). So he didn't take out the dressing around my foot & I didn't get to see it. :(  Just a little peek because he opened it up around the toes area to insert the pad that receives the cold water (from the VascuTherm). He said that way I'd get the cold more directly onto my operated area for the swelling. While doing this he was telling us that it took him a little longer to finish the surgery because he debated whether to give it a tiny more length. He said he brought the x-ray machine into the OR 3 times. His debate was that if he left it a little longer, I'd have little to no movement after everything was healed because of the tendons & my age (yea, I think he called me "old" too). He also said that had he left it with a bit more length, 6 months later I would've had to have gone back in for another surgery to release the tendons. Right away I told him he made the right choice because I definitely would not have wanted to go in for another surgery!! 
This evening Brian made me a couple little (cute) cheese & ham sandwiches & I seemed to keep them down. By then I was back up in bed...where I was safe..lol! Even on my worst day, this is still so worth it! The cold compressions feel good!

8/21 DAY 2 - Bathing sitting down is GREAT!...said no one ever.

Wed 8/21/13 <<DAY 2>>
Little sleep through the night. Had to pee at 2am & again at 5am. This was no easy task as I not only had to make my way to the bathroom, in pain & half asleep, but my husband had to unhook me from the VascuTherm. Remember, I cannot put any kind of pressure on this foot & it's wrapped & wrapped with gauze & cotton...& heavy. The hardest part was actually the part of  "sitting". At this point I felt a lot of pain on my operated toe. My husband brought in a small square basket to rest my foot on. The "getting up" was not much easier. I knew I'd have to learn how to work around the crutches, the pain & pressure I felt on the foot while not putting any pressure on the foot.
Because I had the Marcaine pumping on my foot & on heavy meds the pain was bearable. Don't get me wrong, I was definitely in pain but it wasn't KILLING me. The operated toe felt like when you stub your toe really hard & how that pain takes a while to subside. My natural instinct was to hold it & rub it but I couldn't even see it wrapped in all this cotton, let alone rub it. 
By 530pm I had dinner, my husband made me :) , & kind of in & out of it all day due to the pain medication.  Through out the day I'd feel, really feel, the toe...the bone, the whole area. I imagined being in the operating room but as a surgical tech assisting not the patient on the table. I'm taking the heavy pain medication every 4 hours along with a green pill which is antibiotic. I decided to use the chair (the one he found for me is from Craigslist, I wasn't going to pay that much for something I'd only use for a few months & then never again) my husband got me & try & take a bath even though I was feeling groggy. With the chair in the tub & my leg resting partly on the edge of the tub (kind of hanging out of the tub) & a wicker bench outside the tub I rested my leg/foot on there & proceeded to bathe. I froze but at least I felt a lot cleaner (doesn't help that I'm OCD) By 835pm I was in bed, meds kicked in but I was excited to go to my first Dr's appointment the next day. He had said this would be the day I could see my foot for the first time :) Yay! Lovey, my little nurse always by my side :)

New meaning to "never give up"

Never, ever give up: Arthur's inspirational transformation.

...Wow! Good for him! That is so amazing..& he looks so happy there at the end of the video :) 

8/20 DAY 1 - THE BIG DAY

Tue 8/20/13 THE BIG DAY
Surgery took about 4 hours. My husband told me they were really good about giving him updates throughout the procedure, he really appreciated that. Once it was done, Dr. Lee came out & told him everything went well & that it was a fairly easy procedure. He said they were going to hold me for about an hour then I'd be able to go home. Back in the little pre-op area where my husband last saw me is where we met up again. I do not remember much. Its like they show in the movies..memories & images are foggy. I don't remember waking up, I don't remember getting to the car, I vaguely remember sitting in the car, I definitely don't remember getting home. What I do remember is sitting up trying to get some one's attention because I felt like I was going to vomit, which I did. They were too late. My husband told me the anesthesiologist had given me a shot for nausea on my shoulder...I guess it didn't work. Gross alert:..I remember telling a nurse I felt like I had to pee. She said it was only the sensation because I still had a catheter. Ah...no. I really had to go! I also remember getting in our vehicle & feeling like I was going to be sick again. Which, I did. I remember getting home & coming up the stairs sitting on one step at a time & after that I don't remember anything else until I woke up a few hours later. I slept for most of the day & obviously didn't feel any kind of pain. Late afternoon, early evening I was up & felt hungry so I snacked on few things but didn't want to over do it...didn't want to vomit again..ew! Doc had wrapped my foot...really wrapped it good.

The VascuTherm is very helpful & so much better than having to use & remember the ice pack. Compression for the left leg for blood flow & cold compression for the back of the right knee (since the gauze is packed sky high) Every time I have to get up I have to unhook myself, I feel like the Matrix, lol! Which by the way, I'm supposed to get up only for 5 minutes every hour. I also have a baggy which I have to carry around, which is attached to my leg. Not sure if it's in my incision(s). It's full of Marcaine & the doctor said it dispenses a few drops every couple hours to numb the area & help with the pain.This was smart on the doctor's part!!

This evening was harsh..not getting sleep, not able to find a position to get comfortable.

8/19-20 - No looking back...

Mon 8/19/13
Two weeks before the surg I went & cut my hair really short. Last thing I want to worry about in recovery is my frizzy hair! We had gotten all my meds. Dr. Lee had mentioned I will need to wear loose clothes such as dresses. I found a few cute, light, long cotton t-shirt/tank top like dresses. I found inexpensive crutches at Goodwill (yes, I have no shame in admitting, I love that store) that I cleaned & disinfected (OCD & germs are one of my worst nightmares). Also found one of those medical chairs to sit on in the tub. (oh joy!) I was going through a mental check list the night before. At 850pm I was smoking my last cigarette. At 9pm I was cleaning our shower. Laid out my clothes & it was off to bed. I was very excited, I think it goes with out saying, & still in disbelief. 4am would come soon. 11pm & I'm in denial about the surgery. The more I thought about it, I should've gone in the pool. I may not have another chance because I'll have the cast on for a while. 
THE DAY OF!!!!!!!!....
Tue 8/20/13 <<DAY 1>>
We had an hour drive & couldn't stop looking at the moon all the way to the hospital..it was beautiful. This pic doesn't do it justice. It was big & low & yellow but then it turned bigger & orange..also called the Corn moon. It was like a tiny zen moment right before going under the knife :)  .....
Woke up at 4am. Out the door by 430am. Got to the hospital, smooth check in with Larry, he was great. Got my gown, my bed, my IV, & ready to do the damn thing. I got a wrist band with my picture on it! Everyone was friendly. I had asked if I could be awake when they wheeled me in the OR. (Have my assoc in Surgical Tech & never got a job in it & love the OR) The anesthesiologist said no...but asked for my phone & took pics of it! I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

 

Everyone made sure to mark the foot I was doing the procedure on (couldn't miss it if you asked me!) I got a little emotional when it was time to go. I hugged my husband & teared up. Anesthesiologist asked why I was crying, told me not to worry, that everything would be ok. What ever she slipped me in that moment knocked me out..in seconds! I don't even remember leaving the area, let alone entering the OR. Now Brian was left to wait for 4 hours...to be continued!

Will never have a short toe..ever again.

Monday 8/19/13
By the time the week end before the surgery rolled around, I already had all my Halloween & Fall decorations up in the house. Yes. It is Fall in my household. Some people eat, I clean & decorate. Besides, I figured that by the time it's the season to put decorations up, I'd have a cast & wouldn't be able to do it.

Monday before the surgery, I received a phone call from a gentleman that needed to drop off a machine to use in lieu of ice packs. I'm pretty impressed with this machine..the VascuTherm. It's full of 80% water & 20% alcohol. (if you click on the word, I added  a video I found on it with better details than I can provide) It's easy to use. The non operated leg, you wrap the compression pad on & the cool compression goes  in the back of the knee of the operated leg. Came complete with everything you will need in that little black bag.

I was an emotional, crying because of commercials mess & not able to sleep. Monday morning I woke up at 530am in a panic...sigh. It seemed surreal that I would be waking up the next morning to correct my toe that I had been so ashamed of for so many years. I'm expecting a lot of pain & just because I know this will be the last few days of my life that I or anyone else will ever witness the hideousness of my toe, I've been wearing more flops :) Ha!
For me to openly post the following pics is a HUGE big deal! Keep in mind that only a handful of people in my life have ever seen my feet. I have a scar on the same foot due to a bunionectomy about 10 yrs prior.

This is REALLY going to happen!

8/24/13
So as I mentioned, I will be starting from the beginning & work my way up to the present day. (I'm 5 days into the surgery) I first must say that I have never done anything like this before so I hope it all makes sense. If anybody ever reads this & is curious or has comments on anything, I'm sure there will be a way to contact me. I'd love to hear from other folks & comment/answer any questions. I always imagined starting up a "toe fan club" for all my toe sistas (& brothas) out there! ;)  If nothing else, I hope it helps someone who is thinking about it. This process of writing about it has been therapeutic for me because I have never spoken of it nor did I ever have the desire to bring attention to it. 

Most of what I have found out there has been on the fixator surgery. (looks way too painful for me) Which is another reason why I wanted to put my experience out there, because I did the one stage procedure.
After that initial consult in June (they had taken x-rays of my feet), my husband & I went home, discussed it & I couldn't have been more excited. I had no doubt in my mind this was definitely going to happen but first, I wanted to contact my insurance. I didn't want this to appear as a "cosmetic" surgery because for me, it was life or death. I have to admit, I was VERY self-conscience about it & because it prevented me from wearing cute flops or open toe shoes, I felt less feminine. We cleared it with the insurance & contacted the office medical assistant, Hector, for the go ahead & request the first date he had open, & the sooner the better. (again, I couldn't get this done quick enough) My pre-op consultation was July 24,13 (had to be at least 30 days before surgery). Dr. Lee went over all the information again to make sure this is what I wanted to do, pro's con's, etc. Once again, gave me the info & instructions I needed to know for pre, during & post-op. He explained a piece of bone in my ankle would be removed to put in place of the metatarsal that didn't grow. No more do they use cadaver bones because they found patients weren't healing or had complications in the healing process. In place of the piece they remove in the heal, he'll put some form of cement that the bone will naturally regenerate & heal around it. (pretty cool right!)

It felt like 30 days was going to take FOREVER. How the heck was I going to make it to 8/20/13 without going crazy!? However, life never seems to disappoint & plenty happened in those 30 days...
I got laid off from work (so sad & had mixed emotions about that) BUT I had the opportunity to travel with my husband to a few of his business trips before my "big day". They say things happen for a reason, right! I also had the chance to celebrate my grand daughter's 1st birthday, my daughter & husband's birthdays, have all my kids & grand kids at my house for a whole week, I had a chance to enjoy the cool Prescott, AZ weather one long week end & the beautiful Laguna beach (had the best coffee & almond croissant EVER!) & Venice beach, CA (saw the guys from that show The Freak Show on the Venice Boardwalk) weather the next. I also got to see my son's first scrimmage football game (GO TIGERS!!) & enjoy one last bath :) Yea, I'm happy with the last few weeks before surg & feel blessed. :)

Where's the rest of my toe?

8/24/13
In June of 2013 my husband showed me a website for a local surgeon who actually repairs this "condition"...blew my mind!! Here I am, a few months later & I'm 5 days in after the surgery. Up until then, I thought it was only I who suffered from this condition with this dang toe. I wondered if it was because I'm Hispanic. Again, I give credit to my husband because before he found it online after having a "bad toe day" I didn't even know this had a name. Brachymetatarsia, as it turns out, was what I had. I thought I was going to live the rest of my life hiding my foot & not ever really be able to enjoy anything that requires being bare foot. Including not ever having a pedicure..first thing I'm going to do to as soon as I can. 

My mother always told me my paternal great grandmother had it & so naturally I was the one to be blessed with this hideous toe. With this condition it usually will stop growing between the ages of 6-8, I think. (I will continue to keep a close look out for my grand kids toes!) Anyways, what it is is a shortening or stunted growth of the metatarsals/toe. It may be due to a congenital defect. In my case, it is the fourth toe on the right foot. After reading & reviewing the doctors website, it was an instant "YES...where do I sign up!?" Dr. Lee's info is here. It was even more mind blowing that he was only one hour away from me! With in a few weeks we went in for a consultation. His staff & himself made me feel so at ease..as one with this condition, you know how hard it is to reveal THE TOE. He was very helpful & gave me the backround & history of this surgery. Went over a lot of info & made me feel very secure. There are two ways of doing this surgery: the one stage & the external fixator. I opted for the one stage procudure. 
So in order to start from the beginning, I will have to go back & work my way to the present day.