The best possible news from Dr. Daly, who took a look at my foot and chanted the bandage, and said “the foot looks great. It is healing beautifully.”

That is great news. There was some not as great news: I have to stay in special boot for one more week. In ten days, the stitches can be removed and I can wear my usual socks and shoes. And begin taking walks again.

In the meantime, walking is mostly confined to the farmhouse.

I must ice my foot for one hour a day, not most of the day, and keep my foot elevated all of the day, even when I write. I have to wear the boot in bed at night. The boot she gave me today is much lighter and softer than the clunker I’ve wearing since Wednesday.. I can work insofar as it doesn’t involve walking or driving for long distances or holding things that bring the weight down on my foot.

This foot drama has been dragging on for months. I cut it last winter and the wound wasn’t healing properly. It took me months to realize I needed a podiatric surgeon.

Then the pandemic blocked the orthotics we need to try to heal it. She took X-rays a few weeks ago (and again today) and found the problem was a bone spur that was irritating the wound and keeping it from closing. This was a relief to me, as I am a diabetic, and foot injuries that don’t heal can mean serious trouble. In the X-rays today, there is no longer any trace of a bone spur.

The problem wasn’t diabetes, but if the wound got infected, the foot could be in trouble. The wound is healing as rapidly as the surgery.

The stitches look great – no signs of swelling or infection. It’s as good a report as I could want, thanks to  Dr. Daly’s skill and the very hard work Maria has done taking care of me, putting ice on my foot, making me keep the foot up,  feeding me, etc. (Tonight, the famous borscht soup is on the menu. Minnie Cohen will be watching from above.)

I can drive short distances, bring things to the Mansion, visit the Millers in a day or so. I still need to rest the foot and keep it still. Maria and I saw the wound, it looked great. She went right to work in her studio when we got home. She is happy. Me too.

(My stitches)

I wish I could return to normal life tomorrow, but I won’t be greedy.  I need to be grateful.

I just have to be careful for another week or so. I went outside and threw the ball for Zinnia, we were both very happy.

Doctor Daly was pleased but cautioned me that the stitches are in a vulnerable place and need another week to be secure when she will take them off the foot. Any swelling or blood flow to the foot could set us back.  So more reading for me and I can blog and take photos pretty much as I want.

We’ve come very far and Dr. Daly has done an extraordinary job of managing this difficult injury.

I’m too close to healing to screw it up now. And Maria can step back from a lot of the most intense caretaking. She was happy to help, she’s happy to get back to her work. I am fortunate beyond the world to be with her.

I’ll continue to focus on the foot and also my sleep apnea mask, which feels more and more comfortable and normal every day. I don’t seem to need naps much at the moment, even though I miss them and know they are healthy.

Thanks for riding it out with me this far, not too much longer to go. The Recovery Journal will continue for a bit. Maria wants to keep doing the art for the photos. We are happy and relieved. And tired.