A Well-Healed Soul

WARNING: 

GORY photos of Bob's injury below!
If you don't want to see blood, don't look!

 Today was Bob's LAST appointment with his doctor.

It was the final inspection of the INCREDIBLE repairs this 

AMAZING orthopaedic surgeon performed

on the leg injury Bob sustained late last August.

To recap:

Bob VS Sawzall Reciprocating Saw: 

Saw = 1 ; Bob = 7 severed ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

(damage was deep in the wound... it's actually worse on the INSIDE)

Surgery was a quick 90 minute procedure, 

because Dr. Jefferson Cartwright 

of the Advanced Orthopaedic Institute in Arlington 

is one helluva' surgeon. 

He repaired every last torn, severed & snapped tendon, ligament, and muscle.

He saved Bob's leg and gave him the chance to walk again.

(Because it was kinda' touch & go there at the beginning...

amputation WAS mentioned. Total loss of use WAS a possibility.

Until a month after surgery, we just didn't know how it would end up.) 

He told Bob this in recovery:

"I have done my job, and I have done it VERY WELL.

It's up to YOU to not screw it up!"

(You can see why Bob and this Doc got along pretty well, huh?!)

After surgery, Bob developed an infection 

and had to go back into the hospital.

THAT was scary. (The docs called it 'Angry')

And the antibiotics he was on for a MONTH were scary, too. 

But STAPH is waaaaay scarier, so he is lucky he escaped it.

 He spent a lot more time in a boot cast

and sitting down than he ever wanted to.

WEEKS and MONTHS.

But he did it, and the healing progressed.

 

ANYWAY,

today he was given the release from his Doc.

No more appointments. He's done.

He was also told - emphatically - that he needs to remember that he is 

'NOT YET COMPLETELY HEALED - SO TAKE IT EASY!'

But gee, it sure LOOKS healed...

When Bob told the doctor about our trip to California in October,

our move off the farm last month, and that we'd be

moving INTO another place in a week or so (?),

Doc nearly passed out. Seriously.

Then he said 'I have had NIGHTMARES about THAT 

{and he pointed to Bob's scar} falling APART! Don't PUSH IT!'

We just can't say enough GOOD THINGS about 

Dr. Jefferson Cartwright and his staff in Arlington and 

Skagit Valley Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Washington

and the excellent treatment Bob (and I) have received from them 

throughout this entire ordeal. Bob's body has healed, and so have our souls.

We also cannot say enough good things about the many, many

friends, family members, neighbors, readers, customers, and 'fans' 

who have prayed for this healing.

Who have given of themselves, their time, energy, muscles, and trucks

to help us when we needed it.

To our daughter Jeni who sent physical therapy instructions

and talked Dad through just what he needed to work on to heal.

To our daughter Beth who came every day off for two months 

to help us keep our business going and move us.

And to God, for delivering a miracle that could only be by His hand. 

(Using, of course, the skilled hands of a surgeon, nurses, 

P.A. Mr. Bill, and an entire hospital staff...)

Bob smiles and walks on the beach and plays Kinect with our grandson

and can still chase dreams with me

and still has his sexy legs that I adore 

because of this INCREDIBLE team effort.

Because of YOU.

I will never be able to express my gratitude enough...

Thank you!

{Oh.... and no thanks at all

to the owner of the Arrowhead Farm and her real estate agent

who accused Bob to his face of FAKING THIS INJURY....

how's that theory looking NOW???}

PS: I sort of stole the title of this blog post from our daughter, Jeni,

whose Ashiatsu & Ashi-Thai massage business is called 'Heeling Sole'. 

If you are in Texas, go get the best massage of your LIFE from her!