...to your regularly scheduled programming

Yesterday, Robb had what may be his final visit with the neurosurgery team at Highland Hospital. As usual, there was some kind of insane screw up with the scheduling. We waited for over two hours, and on top of that, the hospital had no computer record of his case.

The appointment itself was probably no more than seven minutes long. Dr. Patel pretty much said that there wasn't much more that the neurosurgeons could do for Robb, with the implication that his recovery was now in the hands of Robb's other doctors and therapists. The bone grafts in Robb's spine seem stable. The vertebra that was crushed seems to have good bone density. The completely freaky "popping" noises that Robb has been hearing in his back may be some of the stitches inside of Robb. Apparently, these are intended to break apart six to nine months after surgery. (When I asked where the stitches go after they break up -- "do they pop out of one's ear, or what? -- we were told that the body absorbs them. Hmmmmm. We were also told that after an injury of this magnitude, Robb will be more prone to arthritis.

While Dr. Patel was very warm, it did feel a little like being "dismissed." But that's all right. We close one chapter of this story, but that doesn't mean that it is The End.

We're still waiting for the doctor who announces in the Voice of God (or at least of the Great and Powerful Oz) that they "will ... now ... administer ... the ... CURE."


The bird at the top is an American Coot. Check out those feet. If he can walk, Robb certainly can, too! The flying bird is a Northern Harrier, a kind of hawk.