The Hurt Locker

Today was surgery day to work on repairing the lower lid on Michael's left eye.  In a way, he was looking forward to the surgery cause it means he is one step closer to being able to leave but as you can see on his face, he is not happy.  It is the hospital gown that is causing that face.  I told him at least it isn't pink like the ones at Walter Reed but that didn't make him much happier.

Here he is waiting for his turn for the doctor and keeping himself entertained.  This talking cell phone has been a lifesaver for him.  It helps him stay connected with his family and friends and the outside world.

The eighteen years Michael spent living at home, growing up he was a typical boy.  He played baseball, football, climbed trees, jumped out of trees onto the trampoline, jumped off the roof of the house onto the trampoline, jumped off the trampoline into a pool, roller bladed, skate boarded, jumped off the bridge into the irrigation canal etc, etc, not to mention burning up every bit of hairspray his sisters ever owned and any spray paint of his dad's that he could find.  Believe it or not, through all that, he never once broke a bone or required any stitches or even burned himself.  As he said when he was in Walter Reed, he saved it all to be experienced beginning on January 3, 2010.

We couldn't even begin to count how many stitches or broken bones he has had since then.  It is typical of Michael that if he is going to do something he wants to go all the way.

I have not seen the movie The Hurt Locker but I know a little of what it is about and it does seem that Michael is in his own "Hurt Locker".

Here is his latest batch of stitches.  The skin under his left eye is missing so this surgery was done to help repair that.  The skin was cut here and stretched over under his eye in an attempt to make it look as good as possible and get it ready for a prostetic eye.  He also had some skin about the size of two postage stamps removed from the top of his mouth to put around his eye.  Needless to say, when he came out he was not very happy and in a lot of pain.  One thing I have noticed about him is that everytime he has been in pain with a lot of pain killers in his system, he begins telling me what he is thankful for.  Perhaps that is his way of coping and I think there is a lesson to be learned there. There is always something to be grateful for if we take the time to look.   His true qualities are showing through and his family is so proud of this man who used to drive his mother and sisters crazy with his "boy" activities to now displaying great courage and gratitude.