3 weeks after surgery

Yesterday marked three weeks since I had the operation on my left foot. Things have progressed considerably, better than I initially anticipated. I am walking now, using a cane only for long distances and stairs but soon I will not need it any longer. I have continued to wear the ankle brace and will do so until I see the doctor in a couple weeks and he gives me the go ahead to walk without it. 

After prolonged periods of walking or standing, my foot starts to ache but 1) as time passes it’s getting easier and 2) this short-term pain is for long-term gain making the present situation easier to bear. Additionally, I get a bit of soreness in my leg as my body is getting used to walking differently with my foot in its corrected position. At this point the swelling has come down substantially and I can already see a difference in the overall shape of my foot. There is a more pronounced arch although I have not walked barefoot yet (the ultimate test) but I am believing for good things. 

It’s kind of crazy because at this point I have no idea what to expect but the situation has never looked more hopeful. I have a lot on my to-do list once I’m fully recovered. I haven’t jogged in two years or jumped in four years (crazy) but circumstances are changing as I type this out. The closest thing I can relate it to is pent-up demand whereby people have been deprived of something for so long that they go crazy when they get their hands on it. I am feeling a lot of gratitude for everything that has transpired over the past few weeks and am excited to keep moving forward.

Verse of the day: "Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:30-31

Day 10 - Healing Is Taking Place!!

The first step is always the hardest. That phrase took on a whole new meaning for me recently.  To backtrack a little bit I went to the doctor two days ago for the first time since the operation. I am happy to report that everything went well! He took an x-ray of my foot and I could already see the improvement. The doctor told me that the stent was exactly where it needed to be. I would never know it from looking at the exterior of my foot as it is still extremely swollen. It just goes to show that no matter what things looks like on the outside, it is not necessarily reflective of what is happening or of the things to come. The doc gave me an ankle brace to wear since he did not have a boot my size (I guess he does not see size 15 feet very often) and told me to wear it with good, supportive sneakers. 
 

Up until that point my foot had not touched the ground for eight days. It does not seem like a long period of time but it felt like an eternity. To be honest, I was apprehensive about putting pressure on my foot, even with the support of crutches. The other day I saw my cousin who is about to turn a year old and she is just starting to walk. She stands on her two feet, takes one quick step and then either immediately sits down or grabs hold of the closest object to avoid falling. Two days ago I could identify with that as I was reluctant to put weight on my foot, but that feeling has quickly faded.

Today I made a conscious decision not to use crutches at all. I took the train to work and even though my walk from the station to my office took probably three times longer than normal, it was incredibly satisfying. There was a little bit of pain but it was that good pain, like pain from going to the gym. I might have overdone it because now my foot hurts a little bit but I plan on icing it tonight and seeing how it feels tomorrow. I am just happy not to be using the crutches, and my shoulders are rejoicing.

I am looking forward to continued progress. This week has not been the easiest, but rather than dwelling on my current state I find comfort in the fact that this is just a season in life and I will be better for it. In every adversity there is the seed of an equal or greater benefit. God is still good and I am blessed to be where I am right now.

Verse of the day: "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37

Day 6

Things are looking up! I have not had any pain for the last few days, but still have not put any pressure on my foot. I am going back to work tomorrow after having last week off. Even though I will be crutching my way through the streets of New York, I am looking forward to it after spending most of my time on the couch for the past week. I will post an update tomorrow about my first full day out the house.

Verse of the day: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

Day 4

There is much to be thankful for; my left foot is continuing to strengthen and improve. The numbness that I had following the surgery has pretty much disappeared and my foot is starting to feel natural. I had the chance to speak with the doctor earlier for the first time since the surgery. Apparently he spoke to me right after the operation on Monday but I must have still been knocked out because I have no recollection of that encounter. He told me that everything went well with the insertion of the stent but to be careful moving my foot because the only thing holding it in place is the tissues which are not fully healed yet. He then hit me with a couple technical terms about the structure of my foot and why he did things a certain way during the operation. I have no idea what he said (there was definitely some Latin in there) or what he meant but I trust it all went well. I am supposed to see him in a couple of days to remove the bandages and get my walking boot. I am still shocked at how little pain I have had since the procedure; the doctor said that was an encouraging sign!

Today my uncle picked me up and took me to see my grandma. It was nice getting out of my apartment and breathing fresh air. There is a lot of clutter in her house, making it difficult to move around with crutches. Every time I got up she was worried I was about to either trip or break something, she started praying when I got up to use the bathroom. Although I caused her a bit of stress she was happy to see me, the feeling was mutual. I am planning on being a bit more active now that it's been a few days and the weekend is here, but am trying not to overdo it. Progress is being made though, there is no doubt about that. Bon Dieu Bon!

Verse of the day: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4

Day 2 - Rice-ing

Today was all about RICE (rest, ice, compress, elevate). I am a bit surprised because I have had absolutely no pain today..was definitely tempted to peel back the bandages and make sure an incision had actually been made, but instead I think I will count my blessings. In any case, I will continue to keep the pain medication close. Ironically, my back actually hurts more than my foot from all this sitting down I have been doing, tomorrow I think I will venture outside on the crutches. I am supposed to go see the doctor in a couple days to get the boot I will be using so am pumped for that. I had the chance to catch up on some TV today but starting tomorrow I think I will try to be a little more productive with the rest of my week at home.

Verse of the day: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed within us." Romans 8:18

Day 1 - Left Foot Operation

Last night I could not fall asleep because I was too excited. I have been looking forward to this day for a longgggg time. I headed to Queens this morning to have the operation done by Dr. Kass, a physician who has done a number of these procedures. My parents and sister are still up here from Thanksgiving weekend so they came with me to the hospital and my godmother joined us. We arrived pretty late to the hospital (my fam moves slower when its cold) but thankfully there were no issues. I spoke to a number of nurses who asked a few basic questions before I was sent up to the operating room. Outside the OR I met the anesthesiologist and told him not to hold back a.k.a. make sure that I did not feel a thing. I have heard too many stories, fiction or not, about people waking up during surgery and I was not trying to have that experience. 

When I got into the OR it was freezing, I looked around the room and saw all the doctors/nurses had Underarmour or something similar on under their scrubs. Meanwhile I was given a thin sheet to wear that let in the breeze from the blasting A/C. When I get my other foot done I may have to use IcyHot to stay warm. Hopefully the hotness comes before the cold...

Within a couple minutes I was knocked out, the last thing I remember is looking up at super bright lights. I woke up three hours later (I had been out of the operating room for over two hours); I think I was given too much anesthesia but I'm not complaining. My foot is wrapped in a few bandages and is a little tingly as if it's slightly asleep. I'm thinking of it as goodness flowing through my foot. I was checked out from the hospital and my godmother drove me home (shoutout to her, still always there for me). 

Now I am home with my foot icing and elevated. I am confined to my couch for the next five days unable to put any pressure on my foot. That means no going to work, immense difficulty showering and some other struggles. My doctor prescribed me some Vicodin to take, but it was unavailable at all the nearby pharmacies. My mom walked around my neighborhood for a couple of hours looking for the medication and none of them had it. After asking a couple random people, she heard about a pharmacy connected to a hospital that would have the medication. I can only imagine how crazy she looked asking random people where she could find Vicodin. She spent a couple hours on an empty stomach looking for it for me. If that's not love I don't know what is, I am immensely grateful for her. Now...to watch some TV and rest. My sister made cookies so I'm going to be all over those in a second. God is good! Looking forward to getting better quickly.

Verse of the day: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)

Day Before Surgery

Greetings! Tomorrow morning I am going to the hospital to have the Hyprocure procedure performed on my left foot. This is a new form of surgery and there is not much information available about it so I wanted to blog about my experience. As I sit here typing I feel nothing but joy and a sense of gratitude for what's about to transpire tomorrow. I have had foot pain for most of my life and because my feet are structured incorrectly, it has also more recently led to knee and hip pain (see the pic below). My ankle and heel bones are misaligned, causing my body to put strain on areas where it shouldn't. I previously had surgery to get both of my achilles tendons lengthened awhile back and have been using custom orthotics since then to keep my feet stabilized.

This structural imbalance has made basic activities such as walking/standing extremely uncomfortable and painful with the pain getting progressively worse as time has passed. I have seen multiple doctors over the years and every trip has ended in disappointment with each of them saying there's nothing that can be done. The foot is such a delicate area leaving most doctors reluctant to operate on it because if done improperly serious complications could arise. That all changed last month when I heard about the Hyprocure. The procedure was invented a few years ago and involves the insertion of an implant into the foot which improves the balance and alignment of the foot. The surgery lasts about twenty minutes and if there are any complications they can just take the implant out and everything goes back to the way it was previously. I never thought I would get an implant in my body but hey - I am willing to do whatever it takes.

I am so grateful to God because this is something I have been praying and believing for since I was thirteen years old and to see it come to fruition is beyond anything I could ever ask for. He has been faithful to me even though I haven't always been. I was talking to my dad yesterday telling him how it was a miracle that I found a doctor that knew and could do the surgery and he turned and said "when the student is ready, the teacher will come." It was real deep.

The recovery period is expected to be a couple months and then I need to get my other foot done. It's going to be a bit of a journey but I know it will all be worth it in the end. In less than a year I will be walking, running and jumping pain-free; sometimes you have to speak things into existence. Send up a prayer on my behalf tonight. Bón nwit (good night). Note: I will be dropping bits of Kréyol on this blog.

Verse of the day: I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV)