Surgery

So here I am waiting outside the operating room. They took Clare in just after 10:00 this morning. Since then I have spent an hour or so with Kris. He did get his tube out this morning and I think he is trying to outdo his therapists when they do laps round his floor. He reminds me of a 90 year old man trying to run. Just a little hunched over because of pain but very determined to get somewhere. He is trying so hard to get well. I hope he paces himself and doesn't wear himself out. It is not set on when he will get out of the hospital, but it might be by the end of the week. That is just amazing as I think back on where we were a week ago.

The doctor spent time with me this morning reviewing just what he was going to repair on Clare and how. I don't think she is going to like the 2 new studs that will stick out of her pelvis that will be connected together in order to keep the front of her pelvis stable (they call them external fixators). They will stay in place 4 to 6 weeks until the bones are set.

Last week we met a family that came in about the same time as we did. Their daughter also had a serious pelvis injury. Her pelvis was fractured in 16 places. The initial word for her was that she would never walk again. We saw their grief and pain. Today I talked with the mom and learned that the daughter was walking with her pieced together pelvis and external fixators. They do work miracles here.

The doctor came out at 12:15 pm and gave me pictures. The screws they used are longer than any I own. One of them must be 9 inches long. From the picture I should call them bolts. The orthopedic surgeon said that surgery went well.

The Doctor doing her Tracheotomy came out and said it went well and Clare is resting. I will now go and spend time with her. Thank you for all of your prayers and love. I know both Clare and Kris appreciate it more than they will ever be able to express. I know we do.

3:45 pm update. Clare is resting well. Anesthetic takes longer to wear off in people with head injuries and I have a feeling she will sleep comfortably the rest of the day. They are going to take the brain drain out this afternoon. They feel they don't need it any more and it has been in as long as they like to leave them in.