It's amazing to see how the Lord's hands work in our daily lives. This day was a day filled with blessings!
Jake was able to sleep a bit better last night, which was really good. First blessing! He was able to sleep-in a bit longer as well because he has a new Sergeant who doesn't require him to check-in early each morning. :)
We headed over to see the orthopedic surgeon this morning to have the stitches removed from Jake's left leg and to talk to the surgeon about other things. We arrived there and was informed that the doctor wanted Jake to have x-rays first before meeting with him. I was so glad to see that they had their own radiology room within the huge office wing so that we didn't have to walk all over the hospital to find radiology! The doctor was happy to hear and see that Jake can bend his legs 90 degrees. He encouraged Jake to keep working hard with PT to get the range of motion even better in his legs.
He told us there was a lot of soft tissue damage with the compound fracture in this right leg. The ACL in his right leg is NOT torn as we were told. It is his LCL and his PCL that are torn, among other ligaments, tendons, muscle, etc. Even though bone fractures in his left leg are far worse than the right, it is his right leg that is the most problematic due to the soft tissue damage. This is evidence by the fact that Jake can bend his left leg further than he can his right leg.
We asked the doctor about the heel fractures. He was just as surprised as were we when we mentioned this to him. He said that it is quite possible that the surgeons in Bagram wrote that in his medical file and that's where the primary care physician read it. So, it seems that Jake did have broken heels.
He also told us that Jake has a total of three metal plates--one in the right and two in the left--but lots and lots of screws. Jake does not have to wear the leg brace on his left leg anymore! :) However, because of the tissue damage, he still has to wear the brace on his right leg. The doctor also told Jake that by the beginning of October he can start to weight bear on his right leg and that by the end of October he can start to weight bear on his left leg. This is all good news. We thought it wouldn't be until sometime in November.
The best news of all?? :) The doctor has no problem letting Jake return to Vermont to continue his care at home! Now, don't get too excited, because there is still other people that have to give their "stamp of approval" for him to return home. It can take some time to accomplish this--weeks/months?? This is just the first step of many that we have to take to bring him home. We are just so excited that we climbed over this first hurdle! Another blessing!
The surgeon is completing the paperwork for Jake to take convalescent leave at the same time as he is completing the paperwork paper work for Jake to return home. "Con" leave is where Jake obtains permission to go home for a visit of up to 30 days. Jake will then have to return back to Walter Reed to continue his recuperation. Again, there is a lot of paperwork for either before we are allowed to head for home. :( His sergeant has already talked to Jake about getting the paperwork going--hopefully in the next day or so. So, finger's crossed, one of these will happen soon. :)
After the visit with the doctor was over, and as we were heading out to the waiting room to leave, we saw a dear friend and his companion. It was the major who was in the room next door to Jake in the hospital, and, his dog SCOOTER!! :) We were just thrilled that we got to see them both again and had a wonderful visit. It really brightened up our day! Another miracle!
Jake and I separated after this appointment for a bit. He visited with some other people who he has met at the Mologne House while I went to take care of some more paper work that the government requires. :( It took much longer than I anticipated. I can't believe how much paper work there is with almost every aspect of the "goings on" here at the hospital and with the military.
Jake wanted Burger King for lunch---so off we went. We were looking for a place to sit to eat that would work with his wheelchair. There were a few double (two together) tables available but no one seemed to want to move over to one of them so that Jake's wheelchair could fit in on the outside of the table. So, we went back to the rear of the eating area where all those tables (which were small) were also taken. A very kind Captain motioned us over to share his table. We have never met this man before and here he was being so kind towards us. He was a very friendly man and as we talked, we found out that formerly he worked with the department of the TSGLI (traumatic servicemen ?? life insurance). Now he is working with the department that helps decide whether a soldier is able to remain in the military or not. He asked Jake if he had filled out all the paperwork for the TSGLI. Jake replied that he did but has not heard anything more about it or his status with it. This man took Jake's name and number and told him that he will check into it and will call him later this afternoon. We were very appreciative of his help and with his kindness and friendliness. He was true to his word and called Jake this afternoon with results! Another blessing! Who would guess that out all the people in the dining area, we were sitting with the one person that could get immediate results with Jake's TSGLI.
The wife of the medic who was in Jake's vehicle came to visit later in the afternoon. :) We always look forward to her visits! She brought great news about her husband that cheered us up quite a bit. Her husband is being blessed! After chatting for a bit, we all went over to the hospital to visit other members of Jake's platoon and witnessed other blessings of healing taking place. It was a wonderful afternoon for Jake to be with his buddies again. He really cares about these people.
This truly has been a day of many blessings--we are so grateful to the Lord for his help, guidance, and blessings.
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