In the first few days there was some confusion about how many zaps I would get exactly. Initially the plan was for thirty, then on day 1 the tech said it would be forty. On Wednesdays I meet with Dr. N2 and he confirmed that there will be 36. He didn't mind taking a moment to look at my countdown board. At that point he confirmed the 36 and had an appreciation for all of my grilling questions.
Here's a little visual for you
Beginning:
and as of Friday:
If you are curious, this is what the machine looks like that administers the daily zaps.
The table raises and slides so that my body is more centered over the big white circle on the floor. The big square panels rotate around the body and the circle on top has its own rotation schedule too. The blue pad is shaped to my body so that I lay in the same spot each time.
So far so good. My energy level is still good despite my WBC's still being down at 3.1 (they checked them again today).
My hair is starting to come back.
Here is a picture that Dan took at a work meeting on September 23rd.
Dan is a great photographer, and I really want another picture when I have a full head of hair again,
and then a selfie I took last week when Terry asked how my hair was coming along. I think it is even better and longer since I took this on Thursday. However, I am down to only eight eyelashes on my lower left eyelid. I'm saving a ton on mascara right now.
Remember that little motorcycle accident back during the summer when the ER docs said that no one had broken anything? Well turns out they were not exactly right. It seems that Larry's right thumb that continues to ache was actually broken in two places. He's been going to physical therapy the last couple of weeks and the therapist finally referred him to a hand specialist.
A sonogram/ultraound and fluoroscope showed a tear of the ligament late last week. The MRI today confirmed it and showed that two bones (now healed) had been broken. All of this information gave the surgeon a plan of action. The surgery will be this Thursday at 6am. The doctor thinks that the surgery will take about two hours. He has three different plans for repair, and it will depend on what he finds when he gets started as to how he will proceed. He will not be re-breaking the bones to 'fix' them.
There is also a tear on the volar plate on his index finger, but he will not be repairing that. According to the doctor, "If it is a bad problem, I can make it better, but I cant guarantee any improvement on a minor issue." The volar plate is considered a minor issue.
Recovery will require a hard cast for six weeks, but the cast will be changed fairly regularly and each replacement will be smaller than the one before.
The idea is to get as much of this completed before the end of the year so we potentially avoid paying another deductible in 2015.
J is not worried at all about the surgery because he gets another mid-week sleepover with his buddy J. Oh and there is a chance that cadaver ligaments could be used; which for a boy (or man) is a cool thing.
Prayer Requests:
- Successful surgery for Larry
- Continued good energy level
- Growth of white blood cells
- That we are good witnesses of the hope and goodness of God as we go about all of our medical appointments
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