Million Dollar Hardware

Well Mike's surgery got moved up a week and yesterday morning (10/09/07) Mike underwent a 3 hour surgery and the surgeons successfully removed all of the hardware in Mike's arm. In all there were 19 screws, two metal plates, a washer and a wire. (See photo below of hardware) The surgery was a success. They even had time to look and reset the Ulna nerve back to it's location. The surgeon feels this will help the nerve heal quicker and Mike can regain more feeling and strength back to his hand and arm.

A week prior we took the family to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We had a lot of fun with the kids looking at all of the sea life and spending time with each other. We are slowly beginning to feel like our family is getting back to what some would term "normal". Mike's facial nerve is allowing him show more expressions and gives him more confidence. (No improvement in the eye yet) The kids are starting to get relaxed and emotions and fears are slowly dieing down (although we had a few very nervous about dad going back into surgery).

Mike's doing really good post surgery. He, of course has pain in his arm (they had to reopen the entire prior incision, about 8-10 inches over his elbow) and we won't be able to count the staples until Friday when we can take off the bandages. We are all anxious to get his arm healed and get his strength back. I can't believe that it's been four and half months since the accident. We are continually counting our blessings and thanking our Father in Heaven for all he has given to us.