“Half off pedicure!” Part 2 of the accident series

September 20, 2020

When I woke up from my first surgery and looked down I couldn’t believe what had happened.  The amount of metal surrounding my lower leg was crazy.  I knew I had hurt my leg, but I did not know how bad. 

I was laying there crying from the pain when the nurse came in to check on me.  She asked me how I was feeling…. And that is when the first joke came… “I feel like I was hit by a truck!”  She just looked at me, shook her head, and laughed.  I asked what all happened, but fell asleep before I got the answer. Oh, blessed pain meds, you were my best friend!

The next morning waking up in pain again I got to meet my new nurse.  She explained to me everything that happened, and what was up next.  I had a compound fracture on my right leg, my foot had been degloved, and my Achilles tendon was cut in half.  She was there to prep me for another surgery.  I was scared and wanted Woody.  No one could tell me where he was, and if he was ok.  I fell back to sleep, and when I woke up Woody was there, and of course, I cried again.  Some details are sketchy because I had a lot of pain pills in my system.  

Sidebar time:  Woody went through hell trying to get to me!  The hospital would not let him go up to my room.  We were in the middle of covid and no one was allowed to see anyone in the hospital.  Me being in the Orthopedic hospital on the critical floor made it worse.  He stated he was not leaving, and he was going up!  The director of nursing came down and talked with him. The agreement was, once he went up if he left, he could not go back up.  Woody was by my side for the next 15 days.  He slept on a tiny futon couch.  Thankfully our daughter was able to bring him the items we needed, and we were very thankful.  I asked Woody several times if he was ok. He swore he was.  He lied!  Every bit of cartilage was broken in his chest.  So, imagine sleeping on a tiny futon with that sort of chest injury.

I was taken down for the 2nd surgery of the 9ish I had while in the hospital. This surgery was to put the interior rods and nails in.  While waiting for surgery, I heard a voice that I knew too well.  I looked over at my surgical nurse and shouted...  I KNOW THAT VOICE!  I obviously startled her.  I said I was sorry!  I was just excited because I know that voice!!  It was one of my associates from where I worked.  I begged the nurse to go next door and tell him hi from assistant manager Bo!  She promised she would after I went in for surgery.  (When I got back to work months later I asked the associate if he was told Hi!  He said he was told and he prayed for me to have an easy surgery)

When we got the news after a few surgeries, I would have a few of my toes removed.  The skin was dying from my foot being degloved.  Ok, I can deal with this!  What are a few missing toes!? Well, my big toe and the toe next to it were removed.  A day went by and went down for debriding.  It was decided at that point that all the toes would be amputated.  I was taken back to my room.  I remember feeling numb about it.  It wasn’t like I could stop it.  There were a few jokes made, and I fell asleep…again.  

Half off pedicure!!! That was the first thing I said to Woody and the nurses when I was brought back after the trans metatarsal amputation.  If I didn’t laugh, I cried.  

So many things transpired while I was in the hospital, and I slept through most of them.  I had to have a plastic surgeon do a skin graft to replace the skin that died on my foot.  I now have a permanent white square patch on my right thigh.   I tried talking with my best friends through face time.  5 minutes in and I’m falling asleep!  Almost 3 years later, it is still funny! 

I had the most amazing care while I was there.  I only had trouble with one nurse.  When one nurse promises me I can take a shower the next day after not having a shower in 10 days, and the next day’s nurse is an absolute “B” word. She told me I was not getting in the shower. She didn’t last long in my room.  I would say Woody was pleasant with her, but that would be a lie. Haha!

Day 15:  My favorite nurse gave me the best news!  You get to go home tomorrow!!! She said she would be sad seeing me go.  I had been one of their favorite patients.  Always smiling and laughing when I was awake.

Woody and I had been waiting to hear those words. Woody had things packed up and ready in record time!

Day 16: The best sight is seeing my daughter outside waiting for us!

Let’s go home!!

Check out next Monday for the finale!