Faceless Blog

While there remains a lot of work to be done yet in out-patient PT, not to mention exercising at home and the gym, my time at in-patient PT has come to an end.  I’m home!

I apologize for not updating for the past few days, but my schedule, which was hectic to begin with, became even more jam-packed with things to do to get ready to go home.  When today rolled around, the actual process of going home was pretty anti-climactic.  I was given some paperwork that explained my medications, signed on the x, then I was pretty much free to go.  Of course, I took advantage of one more free meal from the hospital, but then I said my goodbyes and we headed out to the truck.

As expected, there were no problems getting in to the truck.  With a little grunting and groaning, I got my legs up in there as well.  After twenty minutes or so of riding with my legs bent, the end of my left leg was starting to get pretty sore.  I tried to ride it out, but it eventually occurred to me that I have an advantage in cases like this…and simply took off the left leg.  I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put it back on while still in the truck, but I wouldn’t have to, either.  When we finally arrived back home, I opened my door and, while Becca was unloading the wheelchair, put the left leg back on.

Since then, I’ve been getting settled back in downstairs, greatly enjoying the new hardwood floors.  (Man, I can build up quite a bit of speed on this floor!)  I’m going to be getting back into the swing of things over the next week or so.  I’ll be heading back to the gym soon and starting up out-patient PT, too!  This blog will continue throughout the process of me getting back up on my feet, and I can’t wait to move on to the next step of this process with you all!

The countdown to my discharge date is well and truly on the way!  

Things started off pretty routinely today, at first.  I performed a skin check along with Nate and Jen (my physical therapists), then I put my prosthetics on and got ready to walk.  Today; however, we started with the crutch canes rather than the walker.  I got in a couple nice walks, about double the distance that I’ve walked with the crutch canes before.  I even managed to get a pretty smooth gait going for a little bit, though it didn’t last.  (My main goals, when walking with the crutch canes, are 1) Don’t fall.  2) Don’t constantly repeat “Crutch, opposite foot; crutch, opposite foot” over and over.  3) Seriously, don’t fall down.  I’m pleased to say that each goal is advancing nicely!

After the morning PT, I went through the normal routine, which basically consists of taking the legs off then performing a skin check on both sides.  This is done to make sure that no blisters, pressure sores, etc are forming.  Of course, sometimes, you actually find something!  Today, a blister showed up on the bottom of my left leg.  It looks worse than it really is.  Bjorn stopped by later in the morning to make some more adjustments to the left leg.  While he was here, we had him look at the blister.  He agreed that it’s not too big a deal, just keep an eye on it.  Unfortunately, the adjustments that the leg needed exceeded the capabilities of the tools Bjorn had with him, so he had to take the leg with him.  He should be returning it tomorrow, hopefully a perfect fit and with all problems solved.

Oh, I almost forgot!  When I was practicing with the crutch canes, for the very first time…I stood unassisted!  I figured out that I need to space the ends of them further apart, and place the tips more behind me.  This allowed me to use them to push my center of gravity over my feet, then my legs do the rest.

All in all, this day went very well, and the week’k only going to improve from here!

There’s sort of an unwritten rule when going through physical therapy that meshes nicely with my own motto of “Progredi Semper.” (Always move forward)  Put simply, you’re not allowed to move backwards.  So, when I walked a combined total of 150 feet yesterday, I knew that there was no way I’d be allowed to do anything less today.  So, after beginning my morning PT by walking 25 feet out to a bed, sitting down, standing back up and then walking back to my wheelchair, (and after a brief rest) I walked, in one stretch, pretty much the distance of the room.  It ended up being 70 feet, from the starting line to the parallel bars, which were my goal line/target.  This was more than double the distance that I’d walked up until that point, and while I was completely exhausted by the time I got there, I made sure to purposefully stop and triumphantly slap one hand down on those bars, indicating that I, in fact, OWNED THEM.  

I had a second victory today that you may or may not appreciate as much as I did.  For three years now, my legs have either been so swollen that they couldn’t/wouldn’t touch, so heavy (with the Prafo boots) that I could barely move them, or just plain unable to be moved due to muscle inactivity.  That’s why I was so thrilled with myself and grandly amused when, while  waiting my turn for a machine in OT, I crossed my legs.  (demurely, at the ankle) This marks the first time since I went in for my surgery back in January of ‘08 that I’ve been able to do this.  I excitedly showed my therapists who were either as excited as I was or convincing enough actors that I thought they were.  Either way…great afternoon for me.

Unfortunately, I’m super tired and my legs are hurting tonight, so this marks the end of today’s update.  But I’ll be certain to bring you any further leg crossing news as it breaks!

Well, today was the big day, and it couldn’t have gone better!  We got there on time and were introduced to Harry, who would be doing the casting of my leg and building the actual prosthetic.  We spent what must have been close to two hours talking about care for the prosthetic, the kind of activities I’d be able to start up, the kinds I shouldn’t, etc.  The actual casting of Leeroy only took about a half hour or so.  They decided to go with a plaster cast, rather than use the laser, so I didn’t take a video.  (Somehow, watching plaster dry didn’t seem as interesting as a handheld laser would have.)  With all that out of the way, I can pass along some of the details of my new cyber-foot.

1)  The carbon fiber socket will be suction fit, meaning that it will slide on over the gel liner on my leg.  A one-way air valve near the bottom of the socket will allow air out, but not back in.  Combined with a second gel sleeve at the top of the socket which will prevent air from getting back in to the socket, this will hold the leg tightly in place without putting all the stress on the end of my leg.

2)  The foot will most likely also be carbon fiber and will probably have some sort of vertical shock absorption as well as allowing for some twisting, making every day activities a bit easier.

3)  I will be going back next Wednesday to be fitted for a brace on my left leg, then it’s off to PT.

So, in summary…I AM COMPLETELY EXCITED.  For two years now, I have been struggling and fighting to get back to “normal,” and I have never been closer than I am right now.  I’ll definitely be keeping you all updated as we go through this.  Talk to you later!

So, for those of you who are just tuning in, I’m going to be getting fitted/measured for my prosthetic this coming week.  I also greatly enjoy raising money for Child’s Play when possible.  Since I won’t be able to make it out to PAX Prime, I’ve been thinking of ways to contribute without being there.  I have an idea…but I’m looking for input on it.

You have, no doubt, seen those fund raiser sites before where you donate X amount of money and get 50x50 pixels of ad space, or something like that.  Similarly, there are many examples of selling ad space on vehicles, and even more…unusual stuff like selling sponsorship of private events and selling ad space in the form of a tattoo, for example.  Well, my idea is a sort of mash-up of several of those ideas.

CONCEPT #1

Bidding would be opened up on a certain date and run for a predetermined amount of time.  Throughout the process, the top X bidders would be listed on a web site that would be updated as new bids are submitted.  At the end of the bidding phase, the twitter names of the top X bidders would be printed out on vinyl lettering and attached to my prosthetic socket.  They would stay there until that socket needs replacing, which could be anywhere from six months to a year.  During that time, it’s a rare and unique form of advertising and/or publicity.

CONCEPT #2

This is similar to the first concept, except instead of bidding, space would simply be purchased on a per character basis.  (with some sort of upper limit, most likely)  In this method, the purchaser would not be limited to their twitter username, but could place whatever message they want, within the specified constraints.

Constraints:  No profanity, hate speech, etc.  I have to walk around with this 24/7, so I don’t want to be embarrassed to go outside or risk arrest.  :)

All proceeds, from whichever concept is chosen, would go to Child’s Play.  So, any ideas out there?  How can I do this in the best way?  Does anyone know a business that would donate some vinyl lettering for the end result?  When the time comes, I’ll also be asking everyone for a lot of retweets to spread the word, too…but we’re not quite ready for that just yet.  Send your ideas to @Facelesscog or facelesscog@gmail.com

I met with the plastic surgeon that did the skin graft on my left foot yesterday, and he said that, with the inclusion of a brace for that leg, I’m now cleared to get fitted for my prosthetic foot and begin physical therapy!  

The process will start with me going in to Hanger (the prosthetic company that I’m working with), where they will make a plaster cast of Leeroy.  They also have a handheld laser scanner that they’ll be using to make a 3D computer model of him.  This information will be used to create a clear plastic “test socket.”  (The socket is the plastic shell that goes over the end of my leg.)  This clear socket will let the prosthetics guys determine whether or not it’s a good fit.  If everything is fitting correctly, they’ll make the final mold and give me my real socket within a week or two.  During this time, I’ll also be going through some intense in-patient physical therapy to get me back up on my feet and teach me how to use my new foot.

From what I was initially told, this in-patient PT usually only lasts around three weeks.  However, since it’s been such a long time since I’ve been on my feet, I wouldn’t be surprised if it took a week or two longer.  Even so, the next step in this long process is now underway.  I cannot wait to pick out my new foot.  I plan on keeping a video journal during my PT, which will go up here.  I also hope to record the measuring process and/or anything else related to this.  I find it interesting and I’m sure there are at least a couple people out there who might think the same.  

Later people! 

The other day, as I lay in my hospital bed, recovering from the amputation of my right foot (and about half of my calf), I was visited by the Prosthetics Guy(tm).  He was dropping by to give me a brace for my leg that would make sure my knee didn’t get drawn up, which generally (apparently) only happens to older patients.  He was also kind enough to explain what was going to happen in the coming months as it pertains to me and prosthetics.  We talked about the exercises and conditioning I’d have to do on my leg to get it ready to handle a prosthetic.  It makes sense really, that part of the leg is not used to carrying your weight, so it needs to be toughened up a bit.  The end of your leg also needs to be coaxed into the right shape for your shiny new prosthetic.  He answered several important questions of mine.  No, I would not be getting what I’d been calling a “mannequin foot.”  (one of those carved rubber feet that looks like you stole it off of a mannequin)  No, your foot won’t be one of those crazy J feet you see on professional disabled track and field runners.  Those feet, not surprisingly, are designed specifically for track and field, you can’t really walk around in them.  He went on to explain all of the options in covering your leg, camouflaging it so that people wouldn’t be able to tell you were wearing a prosthetic at all.  This is where I stopped him.  “This is going to sound a bit odd,” I said to him, “but I’m from a community of people who, shall we say, is less impressed by a ‘normal’ leg, and wants to see my prosthetic.”  He laughed, and said that he’s been surprised that more and more people have been saying that same thing.  He then went on to explain options of carbon fiber feet, brushed aluminum support rods, etc.  I’ll have no problem, it would seem, making this foot a part of me.  That’s when it struck me, only part of this was the desire to make a cool, cybernetic foot.  The rest of it was similar to my desire to decorate and customize my wheelchair.  You have to own it.  When you’re handed a condition like this, you can fold up into self-pity and depression, or you can turn around and make it a part of you, like it really is.  The truth is, I don’t want to hide my prosthetic.  My prosthetic will be a badge of honor that I won in a war against cancer that lasted over two years.  I want people to know that having a fake foot is nothing to be ashamed of, any more than being in a wheelchair is…or was (shortly).  Personally, I guarantee that my foot is going to rock.