I find it hard to believe we have come this far. This weekend we saw the baptism of Emily's first BFF, Kate and her family took part in their annual Easter Egg Hunt up in the Berkshires and I divided my time equally between basketball and trying to fight off this poison sumac/oak/ivy that seems to be taking over my right arm, Matrix-style. Just living the suburban dream, we are.
Oh...and we have an appointment with Dr. DeLuca tomorrow.
You may remember this gentleman. He's the local orthopedist we've been meeting with since Ems was two days old. He's kind, intelligent and well-respected.
He also said it would probably make the most sense to amputate.
This appointment was scheduled months ago. We were told to go home and enjoy our daughter. Come back in April and we'll see how she's progressed.
Then we met Dr. Paley. And our world changed.
We have been consumed with joy and confidence since that meeting six weeks ago. Something about a surgeon looking you dead in the eye and telling you what he can do...what he will do...to say it was a transcendant experience might only understate it a little bit.
And if I may wildly oversimplify four major surgeries and years of recovery for our little girl, all that was left to determine was where Paley would be setting up his new digs so that we could begin making arrangements. The latest rumor is that he will be heading to a different hospital in Baltimore or somewhere in Florida. So apparently not much has changed since this process began.
But let us deal with the immediate future. Tomorrow, Dr. DeLuca will look at Emily's legs and probably tell us how significant the discrepancy is going to be and how amputation continues to make the most sense. We will thank him for the information and talk about our meeting with Dr. Paley. We can only hope he will be supportive as it would be a great help to have him in our corner. Regardless, we are on the attack. Join the fight or get out of the way.
Just a short time ago, my stomach would have been in knots this close to an appointment. I would have been distracted and, at best, distant during work tomorrow. In the parking lot at the doctor's office, I would have done my best not to tear up as I prepared for the worst.
We're nowhere close to the end. But we have come so far.
1 comment:
Stay strong and with the path of the great one, Mr. Dror Paley. Remember that this is not this 1st time someone has recommended amputation, and not the last. You as a good father, parent, know the best for your child, and the best is to fix what is broken. Turn a blind eye to those who don't realize the joy of modern medicine. I, my friend, are in the same boat.
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