Walking Along

Kyle has made great progress and is getting around pretty well these days.  He uses crutches if he needs to stand or walk around for a while, but he walks around the house without any assistance and often just uses a cane.  He is certainly nearing the end of his recovery and plans to move back to Valdosta and report to Moody AFB in January.  The details for how things will go when he returns still remain somewhat uncertain, but I know he is determined to get back in that cock pit. 

Kyle did get a chance to visit Valdosta over a weekend and attend his squadron Christmas party.  He saw his house for the first time since May, which I know felt really good.  He also reported back to Bethesda and saw his orthopedic surgeon for follow up after his last surgery.  The reports are good and his bone is healing very well.  He does not need to wear the compression boot at all anymore. 

Kyle continues physical therapy three days a week in Pittsburgh and is still improving his balance, walking and strength.  He is sure to enjoy his time through the holidays with his close friends and family in Pittsburgh, who have all supported him daily throughout his recovery.  It won't be long before we wrap up the blog, but I think we'll wait until we see Kyle back in uniform again! 

 Kyle going into his house in Valdosta for the first time since May. 

 Recent x-rays of Kyle's right leg without any external fixators.  There still is a lot of visible shrapnel in his leg and some shadows where the pins from the Taylor Spatial frame were located.  But Kyle's orthopedic surgeon is very pleased with his bone healing.

Taylor Spatial Frame Removed

Kyle and his parents drove down to Bethesda on Monday, November 15th.  It was time to get the Taylor Spatial Frame removed.  He was scheduled for pre-op appointments on Tuesday and then was set up for surgery on Thursday.  I arrived on Wednesday evening and had the opportunity to be with Kyle and his parents for this monumental surgery. 

It was a huge success!  We now see Kyle wearing normal pants, walking around like any other guy on crutches, and quite frankly, it feels good for everyone.  Seeing him without the frame has brought us all more relief and excitement than we expected.  Life is starting to take a turn back to what we used to know, and that is the most wonderful blessing. 

Kyle's leg in the Taylor Spatial Frame right before surgery.

Kyle sitting in the waiting area before going in for surgery to remove the frame.  

Kyle leaving the out-patient surgical ward at NNMC after the successful removal of the Taylor Spatial Frame.  He had many people helping him afterwards and he left with a large compression boot on his foot that he is supposed to wear when outside of home.  

Elsie and Bill's neighbors cooked dinner with enchiladas, complete with a chocolate cake dessert, and home-made welcome home signs from their children for Kyle after his final surgery in Bethesda.  The food and support has been amazing, and this sure was a special evening and it was very much appreciated, thank you.  

Kyle begins to unwrap the dressing of his leg late Saturday morning.  

Kyle cutting away the dressing while sitting in the living room.

Kyle looks over to his mom, Elsie, father Bill, and good friend and neighbor, Jess, with a huge smile on his face after undressing his leg for the first time after his surgery.  It is the first time any of us have seen his leg bare without any metal sticking out of it and without any bandages since before his deployment in May.  Needless to say, it was amazing.  

Kyle happily checks out his leg.  

Kyle's leg with the bloody pin holes showing, but the leg is looking great.  

Elsie and Kyle take a moment to look at his leg and feel some relief.  It has been a long road for all, and today was a remarkable day.  Congratulations Kyle for a wonderful battle that you have successfully conquered.  We are all so tremendously proud of you. 

New Moves at Therapy

Kyle has been to nearly 40 physical therapy sessions since July 28, 2010.  His right leg has come such a long way since those first appointments.  He wasn't able to even touch his foot to the ground without extreme pain.  He now walks around at the start of his therapy without using a cane to warm up.  He uses a stair master with ease, a leg press and other ankle and leg strengthening exercises.  Currently, Kyle is focusing on the specific mobility of his right ankle, working on flexibility with rotation in the ankle joint and stretching the tendons in his foot, toes and leg. 

Kyle stands on a board with a small ball underneath it and tries to balance on his right leg.  

Kyle stands on his right leg on a pillowcase with a gel-like material in it, which creates an uneven surface and a difficult place to balance; and Kris has his close his eyes to make it even more challenging as she stands by for support in case he loses his balance.  

Kris stretches Kyle's right leg to work out the tendons and tightness in his ankle.  

Kris stretching out Kyle's ankle.  

Leaving therapy using a cane, which is a huge step for Kyle since it's a very long distance to get to his therapy office and he needed to use a wheel chair for a long time. 

Graft Healing and Pill Counting

Kyle is healing very well!  He only has 13 more days until his surgery to have the spatial frame removed.  He is managing his pain well on most days and is getting around with a cane usually.  His grafts are healing well and he doesn't need to wear a bandage on the inside of his leg anymore.

 The outside of Kyle's right leg with graft site healing well. 

The inside of Kyle's right leg, with the wound healing up very nicely.  

Tracking the progression of the healing of the inside right leg graft site.  It's come a long way! 

Kyle's nearly empty pill counter for the week.  He uses this to track his pain meds, aspirin and vitamins, which helps a lot as he weens himself off the pain medication.  He is almost entirely off of it, and that's due to his strong will to get back to his normal life.   

Kyle counts out the pills at the start of every week and decreases his dosage of meds as part of a "step down" program recommended by his pain doctors in Bethesda.  Photo by Elsie Deem.  

Counting out the pills.  

Full case for the week. 

Big Steps

Kyle has had a great few weeks recovering.  His progress is very impressive, as are his recent doctor reports from Bethesda.  He has been walking around pretty regularly, using crutches and a cane and has been successfully weening himself off of much of his pain medication.  He looks great and more and more like his old self every day.  It's wonderful to see that full, happy face again.  

Kyle and his parents returned to Bethesda this week to meet with his orthopedic surgeons to evaluate the healing of the bones in his right leg.  Dr. Fleming and Dr. Waterman were very pleased with his progression and they have given an approximate time frame for Kyle's final healing phase with the Taylor Spatial Frame.  They told him his bone was strong enough now to bear the weight of his body and they "unlocked" the six struts in the spatial frame.  This allows Kyle's leg to carry the weight, and not so much the frame.  They require the frame to be unlocked for 30 days prior to surgically removing it.  If Kyle is comfortable and continues to heal, they will plan to remove the Taylor Spatial Frame on November 18th.  The countdown is on!  

Kyle and his Dad, Bill, waiting in the exam room in Bethesda.  Photo by Elsie Deem.  

Kyle waiting peacefully in the exam room.  Photo by Elsie Deem.  

Kyle talking with the orthopedic surgeon's assistant.  Photo by Elsie Deem. 

An updated x-ray of Kyle's leg, showing his bones very well healed.  The doctors are confident Kyle can continue to heal and recover with the frame unlocked and are hopeful he will have a successful removal of the Taylor Spatial Frame on November 18th.  

The inside wound on Kyle's right leg has really diminished.  The treatment he has been giving it is really working and he hardly needs to wear a Bandaid anymore.  (Taken a few days before returning to Bethesda). 

Kyle's leg, an overview.  Also taken a few days before returning to Bethesda.  

The outside of Kyle's leg showing great progress on the large outer graft before the frame was unlocked.

The lower outside graft on Kyle's right leg - it is really looking like skin now.  

Kyle's leg with the frame after it has been unlocked - notice the colored numbers on the struts are no longer there.  Photo by Elsie Deem.  

Kyle walking around by the lake at Northemoreland Park - when he feels good he is able to get around short distances with his cane.  

9.11 Ceremony and PT

September has been a great month for Kyle and his recovery.  The month has been filled with hard work, lots of company and visual signs of improvement.  He mostly gets around with crutches now, and as he says, "Isn't it great to see me vertical?"  Yes it is.  All of Kyle's doctors, his physical therapist and family and friends have been extremely impressed with his fast pace of healing.  He has come so far in just three months.  He is very determined and focused on taking care of his leg and making a full recovery. 

Kyle returned to Bethesda this month to meet with a pain management doctor and his plastic surgeon, Dr. Basile.  All reports were good!  The wound on the inside of his leg is really closing up and new skin is growing.  He will return to Bethesda in four weeks to see Dr. Basile again and also meet with his orthopedic surgeon to see how his bones are healing. 

Kyle attended a 9/11 Ceremony recognizing those who perished in the terrorist attacks and our fallen heroes on that day.  Brian Barbieri sent in some photos for the blog so I have included those here.

 Kyle shakes hands with Brian Barbieri during the 9/11 Ceremony held at the Lower Burrell American Legion.  It was the terrorist attacks on September 11th that motivated Kyle to pursue a military pilot career and defend our country's freedom.  

Kyle talks with U.S. Congressman Mark Critz, of Pennsylvania, during the 9/11 Ceremony.  Critz had gone to Bethesda to visit with Kyle when he was an inpatient at the Naval Medical Center.  

Kyle walks down to the gym at physical therapy using his crutches.  He used to have to use his wheel chair to get there because it's a fairly long walk.  But now he is much stronger and can walk down with his crutches.  (Kyle's mom, Elsie, was able to take him to this physical therapy session and she sent in all of these photos - these are from the week of September 20th)

Kyle uses the leg press to strengthen his quads.  

Kyle walks on the stair master working his muscles and gaining strength in his legs.  

He rotates his ankle with weights in all four directions so it works his ankle and helps the mobility in his foot.  

Kyle stretches his calf and right leg.  

Kyle cleans out the wound on the inside of his right leg.  He does this once a day now after his morning shower and then covers it with a bandage for 24 hours.  

The open wound on the inside of his right leg has drastically decreased in size and is looking very good.  Dr. Basile even exclaimed, "Wow!", when he first saw it.  

A view of his entire leg with the spatial frame. 

The inside of Kyle's leg with new skin and a very small wound.  It's so exciting to see how much it is healing!  He has been using an ointment that helps remove dead skin tissue and promote skin growth. 

 

The outside of Kyle's leg, with the other skin graft, that seems to get forgotten about sometimes because the inside has been the "problem area".  The outside graft, which is rather large, is looking really good.  Dr. Basile said it was coming along well and he was very pleased with it.

Moving Around on Two Feet

Kyle has made significant progress over the last few weeks and is really getting around so much better using both of his legs.  Over Labor Day Weekend he was just starting to walk a few strides at home, and more at therapy, without his crutches or a cane.  He relies mostly on his crutches still to get around, but it's wonderful to see him standing upright every day.  This has also helped Kyle get out of the house more and have some time to visit with friends and family beyond the boundaries of Hillview Drive.  Although he's always ready to get back home and enjoy some home cooking and time with his parents. 

Kyle walking through the front yard on his crutches.  

Taking some steps without using crutches!

Standing up in the kitchen, using a cane, and getting his own water and everything.  

The inside of Kyle's right leg, the "problem area", that is visibly getting smaller and healing with some ointment treatment the plastic surgeons gave Kyle in August.  He will return to Bethesda on Sept. 22 to meet with them again and have his grafts examined.  

Looking down Kyle's leg where some of the drills enter his skin.  

Kyle applies other ointment to the outside graft on his right leg which really looks to be healing very well.  

Out visiting with some friends on his neighbor's property, Tree's Hill.  

Enjoying the fire on Tree's Hill before heading home to rest for the evening.  It was a beautiful night and nice for Kyle to spend some time with some of his close friends.