The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. -Ernest Hemingway

I really hope that quote is true after this whole ordeal is finished. I didn't get very good news at the doctor today, so I'm trying to stay upbeat and see the silver lining...that maybe this is all going to make me stronger in the long run. Today marks exactly 6 weeks from my surgery, so I went to the doctor hoping to get my cast off, set a date to get my screw out, and hopefully start putting some weight on my leg. I got my x-rays first, and the 2 bones have healed well. You could hardly see where they had been broken, so that was a good sign. The problem was that the ligament I tore, which is a major ligament, is not letting my ankle go back into the right place. There's about a 4mm gap, which sounds tiny, but it's actually the difference between walking comfortably or uncomfortably for the rest of my life. After months, or maybe even a few years, the cartilage in that gap will wear down, causing joint pain and arthritis.

All of that to say, I have to have a second surgery to move my ankle about a 1/2 inch. They are going to take my temporary screw out and replace it with two permanent screws that will put my ankle in the exact right place for it to heal. I already have 2 screws on the inside of my ankle and a plate on the outside bone. These new screws will go from my fibula to my tibia, for you medically-brained people out there. My doctor wants to do the surgery within the next 2-3 weeks, so hopefully I'll get the date soon and at least be prepared for it. He wants to have another orthopedist in the surgery to "hold things in place" during the procedure, so he's waiting to consult with his partner on it. The best news of all is that it will most likely be outpatient, which would be AMAZING considering how horribly I handle staying in the hospital...See previous posts! :-)

Anyway, that catches you up on the status of my stupid leg. What a mess! I still can't believe I've done this to myself!! I think today marked the maddest I've been about it. It's just such an inconvenience and such a long healing process, so I'm really trying to practice patience through it all. I have never valued WALKING so much in my life, and I will definitely never take it for granted again. Thanks for all the prayers and for everyone who has called or emailed to check on me these past few weeks. I love & appreciate you all so much!!