Reworking the footsteps
We talked to the orthopedic surgeon today. And, Jordan will need surgery. Two surgeries. They want to move tendons, sculpt muscle and chip bone–on each foot. It sounds dreadful. She wants to have the feet done at the same time, but the surgeon advised against it. He told her she would be in a cast for a month and not able to stand on her foot. She said that was okay. Jeanette made a deal with her. Try sitting for four hours. If she is fine just sitting, we can talk about doing both feet at the same time. Good God! I can hardly blame her. She wants one step in her journey to be expedient. But this one won’t be.
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My heart sincerely goes out to you guys. I hope Jordan’s feet get her up and dancing again in no time. I’m sure of it. Bless you, one and all. I know I’m just an invisible voice from the other side of the planet, but please be reassured my best wishes, hopes and thoughts are with you all.
Cyalayta
Mal
Comment by maljam — May 14, 2009 @ 2:20 am
Forgive me for asking, why are her feet needing surgery? Is that a reaction from the chemo she’s had? I’m have not read all the articles you’ve written Mr. Vincent, only the most recent ones when I stumbled upon this site.
Comment by Ramirez — May 14, 2009 @ 7:30 am
When Jordan started chemotherapy, she was on a protocol that included the drug Vincristine. Less than 5% of patients treated with vincristine experience neuropathy, damage to nerves in the extremities, usually the legs. For most patients, it manifests in a condition known as “drop foot”, where feet don’t clear so well in steps causing an occasional fall. It can usually be treated with physical therapy. In Jordan’s case, her doctor described it as the most severe incidence of neuropathy he had ever seen. A month after beginning treatment, she was confined to a wheel chair. She spent six weeks in the hospital the following year doing extensive physical therapy and was eventually able to walk again using leg splints. She no longer takes Vincristine and the doctors had hoped that going off the drug and rigorous physical therapy would return her to normal mobility. But, it hasn’t. In fact, she has over-compensated so much that the bones and muscles in her feet have changed shape. The surgery proposed would reshape her feet.
Comment by Larry — May 14, 2009 @ 7:45 am