Thursday June 10, 2010 at 0941

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR GREAT COMMENTS. Catherine put her computer on David's chest yesterday and they read some of the comments from you. Believe it or not, he really enjoys the jabs. EOD comrades really know how to throw out the jabs - verbally as well as physically.

We arrived at David's room at about 0900 and David had already been taken to surgery. They told us it would be about 10:30 or 11:00, but that, obviously, was not the case.

We talked with the Ortho Surgeons and the Plastic Surgeons yesterday and received the following information concerning today's surgery:

This is the day they move the External Pelvic Fixator. Right now it is toward the outside of his hips and is quite high toward his belly button. They are going to move it in, I don't know how far, and down about 3 to 4 inches. It will also be a lower profile instead of extending about 6 - 8 inches in the air. They call it a Sport Fixator because he will be able to do about anything with it on. He will be able to sit up without it pushing against his abdomen. It is a great move in the right direction.

They will also be dealing with a very long gash on the back of his left leg. I believe I previously mentioned that the blast opened up the back of his left leg all the way up. Today they will be trying to do a scar revision to improve the healing process of that leg.

The Plastic Surgery team will be looking at everything and will be changing the wound vac on the right forearm. I asked them about the future skin grafts to his right leg and his forearm. I was told that it will not be for a few weeks. With further explanation, we learned that, when a skin graft is done, it is done without transplanting a blood supply with it, and it is vitally essential for David's health to be at it's optimum level so the skin will survive the move from his thigh to his arm and/or leg. Without transplanting a blood supply, David's body must do all that healing, so, they'll wait until the time is right.

I also talked to the hand surgeon and learned a little more about the nerve reconstruction of his right arm. That will not happen for several more weeks but they feel like it will be successful enough to provide sensation and some more mobility to his ring finger. We all know how critical that will be when playing "Call of Duty" online against his Buddies and/or his Brothers. There are certain things in life that just can NOT be lived without.

This morning I was trying to do anything I could to keep Lynnette smiling. It was working pretty darn good until we started talking about David's sister, Rachelle, and his nephew, Carter, coming tomorrow. She said exactly what she would normally say, "I can't wait to kiss his knees!", but the comment struck a sensitive cord and the floodgates opened. It's OK though, it's just one of those beautiful things we all love about moms.

At some time in the future we will be making this blog into a keepsake for David and, knowing that, please feel free to make plenty of comments. He loves them and so do we!

Here's to another good day toward a positive future.

Love,

Gordon