Everyone drop what you're doing and smile a big, happy smile.
Why? Because I'm happy to say that Aaron's release from Bethesda Naval is looking more and more like a permanent thing. I told you on Monday that there was some concern that part of the skin graft Aaron had at the site of his amputation might have to be repeated, a process that would mean he would be readmitted to Bethesda and put on bed rest for another several weeks. That was a depressing prospect to say the least. But today, Aaron's head doctor said that it looks like Aaron's skin graft is 60 percent "taken," meaning that 60 percent of the skin that was grafted on has taken root and begun to grow, and the 40 percent that didn't "take" should be able to heal on its own because of the healthy skin surrounding it. This is very, very good news. I know I've said it before, but the hardest part of this so far for Aaron has been the time he's had to spent just sitting in the hospital waiting to be well enough to move on to physical therapy. He still has some healing to do, but it's good to know that his doctors are confident that he's seen the last of the operating room for the time being. Please join us in thanking God for that.
When I spoke to Aaron, it sounded like he had an all-around encouraging day. In addition to knowing that he doesn't have to check back into the hospital, he was seen by a wound care specialist who he had not seen before. Aaron can't start physical therapy in earnest until all the skin on what he affectionately refers to as his "stump" is healed and healthy. In addition to that wound, he has had trouble with a big gash on his right foot. It had to be stitched up, and the place where it was stitched seems to have healed well enough, but the surrounding area has had trouble healing completely, which would also be a problem once he needs it to bear weight in therapy. The specialist has completely changed the way that his wounds are going to be treated and dressed, and seems to think she can have him in much better shape soon. It's been frustrating for Aaron because those wounds healed to a point and then hit kind of a plateua and didn't seem to be improving very much. But it sounds like this doctor knows her stuff, so there's reason to believe he'll be improving soon.
Tomorrow, Aaron will go to an appointment at Walter Reed and will start his therapy. Until he's healed up enough to start learning to walk, Aaron's therapy will probably consist of just building his strength and weight back up. We've all been telling Aaron that he's lost a lot of weight since the attack, but today he said he realized for the first time that we're right about that. He put on a pair of his pants that used to fit really snugly and realized that they now have to be cinched up with a belt just to stay on. He and Kelly think he's probably lost 20 to 30 pounds in this whole ordeal. Part of the reason for that is that the medications Aaron is on have killed his appetite, so his doctors have started encouraging him to drink protein shakes and eat small meals throughout the day to keep his nutrient levels up until his appetite returns. When that happens, Maryland better hide anything they don't want eaten. It's a well-known fact that you don't get between the Rices and food.
I hope this good news cheers all of you up as much as it has me. Rejoice with us, and I'll talk to you again tomorrow. We love you all.