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.