Fix Me

What I wouldn't give to be fixed...I feel so broken, unrepairable. I feel stuck in reverse...especially when it comes to my face. The surgeons are doing all they can to fix me. But there is only so much they can do.

Another surgery done and over with...one of many attempts to fix my face. I wish I could tell you this surgery was one step closer towards healing. Unfortunately, during surgery the surgeon made a discovery...the bone in my face had a chip in it. It was alarming enough for him to pull in my surgical oncologist to take a look. The bone fragment is either from cancer, an infection or simply from radiation. We are still waiting for the biopsy results. While this may be answer as to why the skin on my face continue to break open, I am feeling very discouraged and overwhelmed knowing I have a long way to go before this problem is fixed. In the meantime, next week I am meeting with an Infectious Disease doctor to find the best way to treat the bone if it is infected. I will also start undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is the breathing of high concentrations of oxygen in an environment with greater than normal atmospheric pressure. The effect of this is a greater amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood than can be achieved normally. This increased amount of dissolved oxygen has a variety of effects that result in an improved ability to heal. We have discussed this option at length for the past few months. Finding the chip in my bone helped the surgeons come to the conclusion that now was the time to start the hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments. In order to be prepared for the HBOT treatments, I had to have tubes put in my ears. I will not be able to relieve the pressure in my ears that normally takes place during the treatments as it may blow a hole in my face again. My surgeon put the tubes in during my post-op appointment on Friday. This was NOT a pleasant experience. I now understand why this is normally done while a patient is under anesthesia.
Please continue to pray for healing. Pray that this will be the last surgery. Pray that the hyperbaric treatments will work. Pray that whatever it is that is causing my bone to break down will be resolved. Pray that God will give my surgeons the solution to fix me.

Love,
Sue