Day 2- We Learn Something New Every Day

Today was a good day in Skip's recovery except for two things. One, he was told he would have to have a one time radiation therapy to prevent H.O. What's H.O? I had the same question so I had to do some further research. Basically, heterotopic ossification is is a process by which the soft tissues around the hip harden into bone. We don't want this to happen or another surgery could be required. Obviously Skip's surgeon felt it extremely necessary after looking at his situation up close and personal. There is a slight chance for the development of a tumor (1 in a 1000) from the radiation, but we felt that another hip replacement is not a route we want to take in the next oh say, 100 years or NEVER.

The second rough patch was the radiation experience itself. Since I was across the street in Target searching for a blanket that didn't feel like industrial strength sandpaper when they came after Skip, I missed going with him for the treatment. He was gone about 3 and a half hours. I might or might not have alerted every staff member in the hospital of his long voyage and of my worry. I thought 30 minutes tops, but apparently they have this thing called a waiting room. Therefore, Skip waited 3 hours for his 20 minute procedure. They took him by wheelchair about two blocks away (it's a big hospital). In only his hospital gown. For all to see. He had an experience with his vacuum suction thingy falling off his wound in the radiation office, and he said a neat freak attendant was scrambling trying to clean up the mess. She couldn't get his bloody gown untied to change it, so she just cut it off with scissors. He said the site looked like something out of The Shining. I tell you what, with my man there is never a dull moment.

It looks like we will be making our escape tomorrow. I hesitate to put that in writing because of all the hoopla we went through two years ago. It was pretty crazy looking back at this post in July of 2006. Actually, all of July and August 2006 was pretty crazy. Things are going to look up! If you look closely in the picture of Skip at the top of this post, there are crutches in the background. Day 2 Skip is using crutches! Last surgery he used crutches on the 14th day. Ooh, I'm so excited. Skip is also excited because there is very few restrictions compared to the last surgery. More news tomorrow..........