The surgery is behind us

 

Here is Eliza getting warmed up before the surgery this morning.  4.5 hours after we left her in the operating room, we had the report that surgery was nearly done and everything went well.  Pictures were taken of her legs before and after surgery, and the difference is amazing.  It will be awhile until we see them in person, or in action, but it seems like it has to make a significant difference in Eliza's mobility and will reduce ongoing pain.

The surgeries today included the removal of the hardware in her left ankle from surgery 2 years ago, and a 'femoral de-rotation osteotomy' above both knees.  For the next first 2-3 days she will have an epidural in place for pain control.  Compared to the last surgery, this seems like a big improvement as she is mostly numb and won't be relying on such heavy doses of pain medication.  Hopefully she will be discharged in 5 or 6 days, but until mid-February she will not be able to bear weight on her legs.  We don't yet know exactly how that will all work once we have her in our temporary 'home' in Minnesota, but the staff here at Gillette will help us figure out all of the details before she leaves the hospital.

This is what held her tibia together after her tibial de-rotation in 2014.  

These bandages protect all the incisions, they go from her toes to her hips.

Right now Eliza is doing really well.  She just woke up from a nap and is now able to drink some water.  We know to expect ups and downs over the next days, but things are good this evening.  Thanks for all the concern and well wishes.  It does make a huge difference for all of us.