Can't Keep A Good Man Down

God is good. All the time. Thomas's follow-up appointment was this morning at Scottish Rite and after an in cast x-ray, we heard those long anticipated words, "His cast is coming off today."

After one more x-ray out of the cast, we were able to meet with the doctor who seemed genuinely happy for us all. We were able to see on the x-ray what Thomas's legs/hips now look like. I'm guessing he has enough metal to set off the detectors at the airport. There are three pins running down the femur bone on the outside holding in part of the plate. The plate then angles where they cut and reset his bone at an angle to better set the bone into the hip socket. What I didn't know was that a part of his bone was chiseled out so that a piece of metal could be inserted near the top and a pin placed at the top to hold the whole thing in. Yes, I said part of his bone was chiseled out. Chiseled. Out. The doctor said this will give Thomas full range of motion in the hip.

Thomas did great when they actually cut off the cast, just laid there and played with an ipad. He didn't complain at all when they did the new x-ray which involved holding his legs down in a position they had not been in in almost two months. What he did take issue with was the removal of the dressings around his incisions. For seven and a half weeks tape had been on his bare skin leaving it very tender and raw underneath. He was not happy when that was removed. Once it was off, though, he was fine. Do not get in a contest with this kid over who has the best scars, he will win every time. They are a bit more severe than I had imagined, about 5 inches long each.

After the last x-ray, we headed to physical therapy where they got him up on some parallel bars and he did bear weight and try to take some steps but was very shaky and uncomfortable. We were given a walker to take home and left the hospital to take our little man and his new hips home.

At home, he had little interest to stand or do anything that involved bearing weight. However, once his sisters were home, that was all the motivation he needed to be up and cruising around the coffee table.

Now begins the rehab as Thomas works to get back to complete independence again. I see lots of swimming in our future. The doctor did warn that he will probably have a limp for about 6 months.

I am amazed by the example God has given to me in my son. Thomas's perseverance never ceases to amaze me. His joy, patience and strength are overwhelming to me. I do hope that in the months to come, as we increase therapy and work to relearn skills I too can be a Christ-like example of joy, patience, strength and perseverance.

We have made it to this point only through the grace of God. There is no way we could have done this in our own strength. He has used so many of you to carry us through your prayers, words of encouragement, meals, childcare, shopping trips, date nights and more. Thomas is the one who will carry the permanent scars as a reminder of these past few months. My prayer is that we all carry the lessons we have learned of love.

God is good. All the time.

P.S. I tried to publish more pictures but I don't even want to talk about it. My.Computer.Slow.Delete.Accident.Grrr.Not.Working.Need.Sleep.