|
I lay in the bed
..my arm beside me
it was strangely still but I could still feel it, it just would not move.
My left ankle was causing some discomfort .it was in plaster and at an odd angle . My dad spent most of the time sitting with me reassuring me it would be all right. My shoulder was sore where the doctor had made the incision and my ankle just ached. But the male nurse silently ensured that the pain was relatively minor. He sat looking at my distorted form still encased in the braces with my back and shoulders still stooped even though I was in bed. The Doctor would come in and check my arm prodding and poking ensuring I didnt have any pins and needles or signs of lack of blood supply and smiled at his handiwork. My arm was permanently stilled. He spoke to dad in Spanish. I had no idea what they were saying but I knew I was the topic of discussion. After a few days dad wheeled me back to the car. Dad and the male nurse helped me into the car. Gently adjusting the seat to make me as comfortable as possible. The doctor and dad stood talking for sometime before shaking hands warmly. As we drove off I just knew that we would return to this strange clinic. We arrived home and I struggle through the door my ankle was still in plaster and twisted at a 45 degree angle inwards. The doctor had broken and reset the bones to create the twisted foot. Never again would I be able to walk properly... bit by bit I was becoming my dads crippled son. My arm hung limply at my side .useless. My dad was taking control of my destiny and we both knew I wanted it He fitted my teeth braces again, gently pushing my jaw into an overbite. My skin received another dose of the cream and it began to itch and feel hot almost immediately. The first steps towards my re-fashioning were almost over. But dad had more in mind and began to talk about was to come I was scared but knew it would happen. A few weeks later my new dad removed the plaster cast as directed by the doctor. My foot seemed slightly pink and withered as well as at the twisted angle. I could put my weight on without it hurting but walking normally was not possible. The leg brace restricted my knee but the twisted ankle meant every step was a sort shuffle. And my useless arm made balance a bit difficult too. Dad had taken to feeding me he said I needed to get used to being fed so dinner times I would sit at the table while dad would mash up the meal and spoon-feed me. It felt funny at first but it became natural after a while and so much easier than struggling with only one useful hand. Every day was a routine of being washed, dressed and having the braces fitted and adjusted. Every few weeks the teeth braces were tightened and the overbite increased slightly. My face was visibly changing and the skin cream had done its work. My face was now a field of acne .red and ugly but dad enjoyed washing my face or dabbing extra cream on and checking the progress as the acne ate into my face, ruining my skin permanently. Then one morning he packed the car again and placed me in the front seat we headed south .once more to visit the strange doctor to be continued... I welcome comments and suggestions. Please feel free to contact me. And a special thanks to "dad" for inspiring this story.
|