Finally.  The hardware is out of my ankle...and it also came out of my arm while we were at it:)  2 plates and 18 screws later.  (1 plate/11 screws in my ankle & 1 plate, 7 screws in my arm).  And I am beyond stoked.

The morning of surgery started with Wade and I making a visit back to ICU as I 'hungrily' awaited my 1:30 surgery time (wasn't allowed to eat).  I remember very little about ICU in general as I was only awake for about 3 days of it...and was heavily sedated when I was awake.  I was so curious to see what it would be like to be back with some more normal cognitive processing going on....or at least as normal as it gets for me;)

We went up to the 4th floor and looked in the ICU door windows but after standing there for a few minutes, I realized that I really wanted to go inside.  I buzzed at the door and explained that I had been a patient back in November. A nurse came to the door and said, "Are you Janelle Morrison?" Geeez!  Didn't expect that.  It turns out that the ICU crew has been kept very updated about my progress and were equally as pleased to meet me and see my progress first hand, as I was to meet them, in fact, I do believe they may have been more pleased.  It was explained to me that ICU doctors and nurses see few success cases and even fewer of their previous patients.  Coming back was something that confirmed to them WHY they do the job that they do.  I am so glad that I went back.  In saying this, I am sure that was not my last visit.

It was strange to actually 'sort of' recognize some of them too.  They told me stories about things that I said while in their care.  The physiotherapist, Ryan, told me that at one point after I had regained consciousness, if there was anything I wanted.  I guess I told him, "I want to get out of this bed."  And he told me okay.  And so we did...for the first time.  All the weight on my right side obviously...but with the number of broken bones I guess this had some nurses shocked at what they were seeing.  I don't remember much of that....so it was interesting to hear the story told from him.

And then it was on to surgery.  I was actually just so glad to be knocked out as I was really struggling with hunger!!!  I am an official wimp, I know.  I woke up nauseous, and extremely tired and weak, but was up and on my feet within an hour of waking up.  No problem.  The first few steps I took I could feel the difference in my ankle already.  It was incredible.  The only way I can describe it is that the ankle was for the first time in 9 months, FREE.  I walked up some stairs later that day and there was no restriction.  I did some ankle circles and, again, for the first time in almost a year, there was no 'pinching' in my tib post.  When I did some ankle raises there was no 'shin splint' feeling to accompany it.  So, I am 100% confident already that this was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.  Once I am running again with no pain in my ankle, which I believe will be the case once this all heals up, quite literally the sky is the limit.  Everything else is in place, and quite honestly, it's going to be tough to have an athlete who is as happy as I am to be running hard again after all of this.  In fact, I will be ultra bold and say that it very possibly...may be impossible;)

Day three after the surgery and things are already getting much better.  Things were very very sore after surgery where the incisions were made, but nurses reminded me that this is a good thing as the areas were highly vascularized which will cause more immediate pain, but will also speed up the healing. And as always, I am very much okay with 'speedy healing.'  Bring it.