Total Ankle Replacement Surgery Next Week

In 1980, the summer after my first semester at GCC, I dislocated my ankle. How you ask? Some of you may know.. I was training to be a server at 'The Iron Bridge'. I was in the small kitchen area picking up 2 mugs of coffee for my table. While I was doing this, a beer delivery guy had entered and opened the trap door in the floor to take his products to the basement. As I turned to exit the kitchen, my first step was into the basement. I remember landing on a stair about half way down. I remember the hot coffee burning my leg. I remember the owner coming down and picking me up and sitting me down on the basement floor. I remember that instead of calling an ambulance the owner decided to put me in his car and drive me to the ER in Grove City. I remember holding my leg and staring in horror at my foot, which instead of facing forward, was twisted to the left. Strangely, I didn't feel much pain. I guess the brain, during trauma, has a way of blocking what should have been excruciating pain. I felt my leg swelling. Ironically, as we were driving through Grove City, we passed my mother driving the family station wagon.

A pin was put in my ankle, and for 30 years my ankle has done very well. In recent years however, I have experienced traumatic arthritis and lots of pain. Hard to walk even a few blocks.

So on June 30th I will be getting this 'crappy' ankle replaced. I'm thrilled... my blog will be about my experiences with this and our healthcare system.