Das Boot!

Jun 18, 2024

Hello all! Frank here! Wanted to share some great news! During my weekly check in with Dr. Pan, I was able to ditch my splint and get into a walking boot! This is huge for my recovery and comfort. The splint and bandages were getting a bit uncomfortable and were not great to sleep in. The boot can be worn during the day and taken off at night. I am very excited to celebrate this milestone. I still have about 4 weeks until I can actually start putting weight on my foot, but when the time comes, I will be ready!

Dr. Pan also did some maintenance on my wounds. The incisions from surgery and the external fixator were getting pretty thick and a little green so she peeled off the top layers which exposed some very healthy, pink skin underneath. The wounds are healing well and are closed up. Since I don't need big gauze pads any more, we are able to apply Betadine and new bandaids daily now, which will hopefully expedite the healing.

Dr. Pan was able to bend and flex my foot today with no pain. This was the best news of all, even though I was a little nervous (I haven't moved my foot in over a month). But it encouraged me that the bones are healing well and affirmed that God is indeed at work with his healing power.

There is one "area of concern" on the inside of my ankle. It is where there was a massive amount of soft tissue damage from the fall. It is a pretty big lump that appears to be filled with fluid. Dr. Pan mentioned possibly getting a CT scan on it down the road and maybe even surgery. Right now, aside from looking a little crazy, it is not painful and does not seem to be limiting my mobility so we are going to cross that bridge when we get there. In any case, I trust that it will be resolved however God sees fit.

Thank you for the prayers for recovery and healing. God's love and providence has been at work through this entire process. And I know he has been holding me in his arms and carrying me through this temporary suffering. He has been at work through everyone that has prayed or mowed lawns or visited or helped with repairs or operated or drawn blood or cleaned the house or brought food or brought desserts for the kids or bought ice cream or given rides or helped Becca or trimmed bushes or administered medicine or called or texted or encouraged or messaged or contacted after many years and reconnected or donated or accommodated or filed a paper or picked up my slack or been a good sport about dad/Frank being bed-ridden. It has been the most humbling experience of my life and I will be forever grateful for my community of family and friends.

‭As Becca and I were reading Ecclesiastes this morning, I was reminded that my body, while it may be broken and need healing, is just a temporary vessel. What happens to us in this life is inevitable, it is how we react to it and the perspective we take that matters. So while I look forward to getting back to "toiling away" day in and day out, I am enjoying this time sitting and being quiet and connecting with God and the people in my life.

Everyone to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil - this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

Thank you and I love you all!

Frank

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