DB’s Ankle Surgery

DB’s right ankle was crushed in a motor vehicle accident when he was in the Air Force. The doctors at Mayo Clinic put it together with screws and nuts. After so many years, his ankle is giving him problems. X-rays showed there were bone fragments and calcium deposits surrounding his ankle. No wonder that poor guy was limping a little.

The orthopedic suggested the junk should be removed and he would insert a scope to check out the other side of the ankle X-rays are not showing. So, appointment made and I had to pretty much change my schedule around to get things done which were normally done by DB.

Wednesday came DB went for his long awaited ankle surgery. His daughter and her BF dropped him off at the clinic in the morning and I picked him in the afternoon. It was a day surgery. When I got there he was already awake and the removable cast was on. The nurses showed my how to put the cast on since DB is still not that “awake” to grasp whatever the nurses were telling him. The nurses gave me a bunch of instructions on what to do: Vicodine and Ibuprofen dosage, when I should remove the dressing, shower, appointments, blah blah blah.

Once we got home, I played nurse right away. I forgot to get ready the pillows to elevate his leg the night before. I was pretty scrambling around to things done – make dinner, get him comfortable, feed the boys, eat dinner, get his meds and try to get my reading in.
Poor guy was in pain. He was hobbling around with the crutches. The scary part was when he was in the bathroom and the crutches fell.

Friday came and time to remove the bandage and this is what it looks like. Came to find out the doc had to fix his tendons, too since he was in there.

Today, he upgraded to the walking stick, the walking stick I bought for him when he got out from the hospital three years ago. I wanted to give that stick away, but I didn’t. It came in good use now. He said it’s better with the walking stick together with the cast.

Hopefully he will be able to go to work on Monday. So, right now, I better get back to my extra weekend chores.