Week 706 - Ankle Rankle - 02-23-2020

Ankle Rankle

In July of 2018 Ellen had an operation to remove a bone spur from her left heel. For a year and a half after the surgery, she had more pain than before the procedure. In October 2019 Dr. Chatigny ordered an MRI and it illuminated a bone chip and tear in the Achilles.

So last Friday, we headed off to French Hospital to have Dr. Chatigny perform a minor surgery correction to relieve Ellen's pain.

When our children were teenagers we used to tell them "nothing good happens at night" when they would leave the house at 10pm to go out.

That saying may still be true as we leave the MotherShip at 5:00 am to head to San Luis Obispo.

Mandy came along to comfort her Momma.

Arriving at 5:30 as directed.

Ellen, sans Mandy, in the waiting room. "I hope I'm the next one called!"

All prepped, Pete is allowed to visit.

Ellen looks excited to finally get some pain relief. This minor procedure should allow her to skip the month's long cast and splint from the original surgery and just have a boot on to keep her from moving her ankle. In a few weeks she can start to put some weight on the foot.

Dr. Chatigny, the Pollyanna of doctors, is ready to go.

Out of surgery Ellen still enjoying some of the best sleep she has had in years. Now the rankle. The minor correction turned into a complete repeat of the original surgery. Remove the Achilles, cut out scar tissue, thin the swollen tendon, remove the four anchors that chipped and cracked the heel bone, remove the bone chip and re-pin the Achilles to the heel. This means back to the cast, splint, walking boot and three to 12 months of recovery. Good grief Charlie Brown!

Ellen, never one to complain, recovering on day one at Janice and Frank's house. The last time Ellen stayed in the MotherShip. And while Pete took good care of her, it was so difficult to get up and down the stairs. And the knee scooter left little room to negotiate through the motorhome. Thank you to Janice and Frank for your hospitality and care, you're the best. Meanwhile Pete and Mandy remain Captains of the MotherShip as we need to keep our AirBnB guests in clean sheets.

We would appreciate all prayers that this time the result will be as it should have been last time: good mobility and no pain.

We enclose this photo to lighten up the mood. We have seen Blue Herons all across the USA. They live near water until last month when this one adopted our property. The first day we kept Mandy indoors to keep her from chasing the bird. But nature called and Mandy had to go and then of course ran after Blue. But Blue kept coming back for a week and then most likely found some water.

We miss "our Momma".

With love, Pete and Mandy

Photos from Feb 2020