Posted by Jodie on May 7, 2009, 1:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Gibbons update: Jayson's third surgery on May 6th"
66.215.57.194
Hello to all, and our greatest thanks to everyone for all your cards, thoughts and prayers. Also, thank you so much for all the food, cookies (my favorite), and flowers on the door step.
Today (May 6, 2009) was the 3rd surgery that Jason has had and things went well. This and subsequent surgeries are aimed at grafting his own skin onto areas that have proven there is viable tissue and will take his skin and finalize the healing process. There are still some areas of his feet, specifically the heals, where they are waiting and watching to see how well the body is able to heal his deep tissue successfully. Since this may take weeks they are simply watching this area and looking for signs of healing. As long as there is no infection and the tissue appears to be healing, under a layer of dead tissue, they will continue to wait and watch.
This is the difficult part for Jason and the family because he/we are anxious for all of these wounds to heal so he can start the rehab process. They have warned us about this wait and watch approach and we know it is necessary, but it still is frustrating. He had his own skin grafted to the tops of his feet and they created a new donor spot on his left hip. Now both hips are painful as well as his feet.
His left hand is doing well and they are watching it closely with the expectation and it will be highly functional without major surgery. He is starting some prelimiinary physical therapy on this left hand and wrist. His right arm is healing from the amputation and within one to two weeks they will begin the process of determining the prosthesis requirements and customizing and fitting one for this arm.
At this point it appears that this whole process will last well into the summer and possibly early fall. At some point the rehab process will begin on an out patient basis and we are all looking forward to that day. Hopefully this will occur in approximately one to one and one half months from now.
Getting through all these surgical procedures is still the biggest and most immediate requirement. Jason remains upbeat and positive and is very, very anxious to get to the rehab phase.
We are all doing well and wish to thank you for all the wonderful notes, e-mails and simply the out pouring of LOVE that we have experienced from all of you.
Our Love to you all, the joes
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