This Boot’s NOT For Walkin’!

Basic Black, Peek-a-Boo Toe Model

The Good News:  Cast came off.  Stitches (some) came out. A removable boot replaced the cast.

The Not-So-Good News:  Back to Vancouver in a week for removal of remaining stitches.

The boot, of course, is for comfort (as opposed to the cast.) It is to be taken off several times a day so the patient can flex his toes and foot and, also, at night so he can sleep more comfortably.  His leg, deceptive though the boot may be, is still NON-WEIGHT-BEARING all caps.  Everyone said he’d be much happier without the cast but… I’m thinking the jury is still out on that.  Nyel certainly isn’t jumping up and down for joy.  On the other hand, he has made no complaints.  He really is a SUPER PATIENT all caps.

Oh My!

Since it’s his left leg and, since we have an automatic transmission, Nyel asked the doctor if he could drive.  I thought the answer would be the old “do you have a valid driver’s license?” response, but this is a very serious doctor.  Instead, he responded, “As long as you are not taking narcotics.”  No problem.  Nyel finished up the four days of pain meds they gave him on his release from the hospital after surgery and, since then, has not taken as much as a Tylenol or Aleve.  He says nothing hurts.

The Casting Room

He, of course, offered to drive home, but I demurred.  It was still light out and the fog (which was awful on our tip in to Rebound in the morning) had mostly lifted.  I thought it might be better for Nyel to do his initial driving-run on the Peninsula before he tackled the highway.  Probably silly, but he didn’t argue, so I’m thinking it was the right call.

We arrived home without incident and our fabulous EMTs, Mike and Lani Karvia, were waiting to transport Nyel from car to house.  (Those two pesky steps are a bummer, wheelchair-wise!)  Oh… and the other good news: the doctor also okayed skooter usage.  Today Nyel will be putting together (“some assembly required”) his Knee Rover.  Every day a new adventure with Patient Nyel!

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