Between 11/2 and 12/1 Steve was doing great. He had gotten his pain under control, was healing, going to his follow-ups every week and being told all was well. On Tues, 11/29 Steve had his staples and sutures removed which left holes and was sent home like that. On Thurs, 12/1 Steve’s prosthetist came to see him because Steve sent him pictures saying that he was concerned. He’d woken up Wed, 11/30 with a fever and had pain pain in his bone just below his knee. His prosthetist took pictures and sent a write-up to the hospital. That evening the vascular nurse called Steve to come in the next morning, Fri, 12/2 to have a look at it.
On Fri, 12/2 Steve was admitted back to Anchutz for another surgery – this time they opened him back up and did a washout, concerned with infection. In his checkup they discovered some clotting and decided that since he'd lost his leg due to a blood clot, they didn't want to take any chances. So this time around they decided the best way for him to heal would be to have a vacuum assisted closure. Because this was done on a Friday night he ended up having to spend the entire weekend in the hospital and due to lack of planning he wasn’t released until the evening of Tues, 12/6.
I've gotta be honest, the hospital is getting a little old at this point. Steve and I made the most of it and had a "date night" at the hospital though. We both love Popeye's Chicken and we don't live close to one, but the hospital is situated between two of them - like 1 mile in either direction. Hahaha!
Here's my actual texts from that time:
Date: Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 10:12 AM I just got off the phone with Steve. He’s being admitted back into the hospital right now. He has to have another surgery (hopefully today) to clean out an infection. We’re concerned that it’s spread to his bone – if so they’ll have to cut more off…VERY bad news for the prosthetic, not to mention this means starting over again in the healing department. Prayers are needed please!
Date: Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 5:17 PM Steve just got out of surgery. No visible infection, they’ll send cultures to the lab. He had lots of clotting (old & new blood), so his wound wouldn’t have healed in that state. They go him cleaned out & a wound vacuum put on. It will have to be changed our every 2 days. He won’t go home until Mon/Tues & they’ll set up home care to come change the dressing.