I am finally home!!!!!

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T

tenndon

Hello everybody! WOW!! What a strange trip this has been.
What was anticipated as 5 days in hospital turned into 5 weeks. My Ross Procedure went well until my sternum decided not to cooperate. After being rewired things were loking better until staples from surgery 2 were removed. Immediately the incision opend up and it was obvious that the sternum was shot. This was a Friday evening.
Sat with a wound vac on the incision until Monday morning then was transferred to another hospital. My original hospital had no plastic surgeon on staff so I had to move.
On Monday, met with plaastic surgeon who said he could do a chest muscle flap or abdominal muscle flap to take the place of my sternum. Ended up being the abdominal flap.
I am finally home though and feeling better everyday. My energy level is very low. But my desire is high.
Sorry for all the delays in posting. There was no wireless in the hospital.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Peace of Christ,
Don
 
So good to hear from you, Don, but so sorry to hear of your travail! I don't think I have ever heard of this problem on VR.com before!! You certainly have had your share and deserve a complete and uneventful recovery now!
 
Don,

VERY good to see you posting again! Welcome back :).

Sorry about the issues you had after surgery, but glad that you seem to be in good spirits and are doing well.

Thoughts/prayers coming your way for a continued SUCCESSFUL recovery....



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Tell me what you see" ... Bob Carlisle ... 'Getting Stronger'
 
Don,
I am glad to hear you are home. I bet that feels great after being in the hospital so long. I hope you have a smooth recovery going forward.
 
So sorry to hear all you've been through. Good to hear from you now.

I sincerely hope your recovery now goes forward smoothly and fully.

Please let us know how you continue to recover.
 
Wow Don! Glad you're back to your home! What a thing to go through! Did they have to remove your entire sternum? Do you know how/why it all happened?

Post more when you can; no rush. Hoping the rest of your recovery is noneventful. Take care.
 
Wow Don.. sorry you had to take the long road home:(
so glad that you are on the mend!!
Tell me more about the muscle flap? do they take part of an abdominal muscle? and what do they replace that with?
Take care.. and keep improving!:)
 
Dear Don:

I have heard of that complication before, but never anyone on this site has had it, that I can recall. What a road you have been on! We wish you the best in your recovery, with no further complications. - Wayne and Marybeth
 
OMG! You went around the mountain instead of over! We should have mapquested it for you :) So, glad you are home and I'm sending up some prayers for a more speedy recovery!!!
 
Wow, Don.....you have really been through it, haven't you. Lynn just posted that you'd been around the mountain......personally, I think you went THROUGH it!!! We had a friend of ours on LI who had the same complications you did.....he was on iv antibiotics, vacuums, picc lines, and the entire mess for weeks, too. He is now fine and doing really well. Just be patient, your body has been through quite a trauma.

Take one day at a time.


Peace.

Evelyn
 
Don,
I had no idea you were going through this. My son went in for his surgery a couple of weeks after you and I assumed that I missed your homecoming post. What a trial you have been through. I love your upbeat spirit. It is really inspiring. Keep us all posted on how you are doing.
Thoughts and prayers to you.
 
AS I tell everybody: This is not the journey I would have chosen but I know there is a reason. I have had many chances to share with hospital staff why I have been able to stay upbeat. It is my faitth. God had this journey mapped out befor time even began and he knows the end and I will not worry because I know (more now than ever) that He loves me.
My wife stayed by my side the entire trip---day and night. Doing stuff I never wanted to ask her to. But between her being an RN and a great wife and my best friend she never flinched. I hope anyone going through trauma of any kind has support like her.
Aas I get stronger and can sit in this computer chair more I will post concerning the particulars of why this may have happened.

Again thank y'all, it is great to have you!

Peace of Christ,
Don
 
Don can you post a pic of the flap? I know you may not want too, but it would be interesting if you could. They used a abdominal muscle flap on my sons ankle after the thigh and wrist grafts failed. Ugly thing at first, but it's looking pretty good now a days. Still needs to have it shaved down a tiny bit to make it look more like part of his foot, but were getting there.

Did you plastic man joke with you about now only having a 3 pack of abs instead of 6?
 
You seem to have missed the mountain altogether and took a slow boat instead. I am so sorry to hear of all you had to go through to get home. I pray that all will settle down and go well with you from here on. Sounds like your Partner up There was riding shotgun. Blessins.............
 
Don,
You are a very courageous man with a fantastic attitude.
Have a speedy recovery
 
Hello Don:

Hello Don:

I am glad God has blessed you with such a wonderful wife. And watching her come through all of this with flying colors probably added a new dimension to that blessing. I know I will never forget how my wife cared for me after my surgery. There have been many chapters in the book of our 37 year marriage. The pages that she wrote for me, at my side, as she brought me through my surgery are especially sweet. Even now it feels so good to remember them.

I guess some will think it strange for me to write about my wife in your thread. But the few words you have written are more than enough to convince me that you know exactly what I am talking about, and what has motivated me to say these things. Please tell your wife that she has an admirer (for all the right reasons!) in New Mexico.
 
Goodness gracious, Don! This is a complication I'd never even heard of.

I'm very thankful that you're back home now, and hopefully over the worst.

I, and I'm sure others here, will anxiously anticipate hearing details about all this. But that's for later.

For now, get some well deserved rest.

Welcome home.
 
Sorry to hear about the complications but glad to hear you are in good spirits and finally home. I hope your recovery is smooth from here, you sure deserve it. All the best and take care.
 
Don
Welcome Home! Your blessings and joy shine right through the computer.
Kathleen
 
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