September 20, 2011 - A turn

Jason went to the O.R. today to get checked out and treated and then to receive skin grafts. That's not what happen. The doctor, who is probably one of the best in the world when it comes to "plastics", said Jason's wounds were not ready for the grafting to be done, and needed to wait until next week; and then probably towards the end of the week. He came in and talked to us and told us why he made the decision that he did, and it was simply that if he had gone ahead with the skin grafts there was a very high probability that the grafts would not have taken, and then we would have had to start all over again. He wants to be sure that the area is ready and will provide the highest probability of success. Starting over again would be an unacceptable "delay" for Jason, as that would mean a much longer time than just another week.

This isn't really a set back, so much as a turn in the road to recovery. It looks like it may be adding another week to Jason's continued healing, while on the other hand, the wounds are looking better today than they did last week, so that is still a positive. Jason and I were talking about what they had done in the O.R., when I first saw him this afternoon (I showed up a little after he got back). He said that they had not done the graft, and he was still very positive about how things were going. As far as he is concerned it is simply another step in the overall process and I can easily support him in that.

When they brought him back to his room they had put wrap and bandage on only half of his wound area, and left a big portion uncovered. The doctor said that they didn't feel there was a need to bandage and wrap everything, even though it did make the bandaging difficult by doing it the way the did. They also put Jason on 5 "chuck" pads, when typically he comes back with two, or sometimes three. That was a little odd, but Jason and I just changed them out, and he was much more comfortable when it was back down to two. Though one aspect of the dressings is that we are going to be extra careful when Jason goes to his PT. With the way he will be moving from bed to chair, or cart, could make it difficult for those bandages to stay in place.

He had a few visitors today, guys who began their own journeys almost a year ago, and didn't even know Jason. They were simply going around to the different rooms and visiting with the wounded warriors who were here now. I was impressed with their positive attitudes and the way they just wanted to give back some of the love and care that they received, so many months ago. All these guys are so strong and positive, and they all seem to accept what has happened to them as a natural part of the job they all signed up to do. I have yet to come across an angry Marine, or anyone from any of the other branches; it helps to keep me going.

God has given Jason a very heavy burden to move through life with, and I believe he is able to do it better than anyone else. Even so, I continue to ask of all to please pray for strength for Jason, and help him with the healing.