It’s funny, this life thing. Despite how challenging daily life is, we’ve been having an excellent time. Nick is definitely in pain, but our bad moments are so few lately. In fact, I can’t remember the last time either one of us cried. It’s been at least a week I think. This is huge! Maybe I’m keeping us too busy to be having bad moments. Or maybe we’re getting better at living. Either way, it’s all good.
Today we met with the wound doctor just before going into the chamber. He said he doesn’t think the huge increase in healing is due to the hyperbaric treatments. He said it’s from the compression dressings they’ve been putting on Nick’s stumps each day. We find this hilarious! The compression dressings that he was wearing for two weeks prior to initially seeing the wound doctor were “shrinker socks” prescribed by the prosthetist to shrink his stumps. Nick says they were significantly tighter fitting than these new compression stockings. Oh brother!
Nick and I attribute his rapid healing to a combination of hyperbaric treatments and using prescription strength anti-bacterial ointment to keep the wounds moist. And sure, compression. Compression relieves the stump of swelling, allowing more oxygen to get to the wounds. But really, who gives a fuck what the reason is?!? They nubs are looking good these days!
We had to pre-register for his surgery at the hospital today. This will now be the fourth hospital we’ve stayed at in three months. I could write a Lonely Planet book about So Cal hospitals by now. But this place seems great. Although I guess we will actually find out once he’s there.
Nick Fener 