Kyall started complaining about his feet hurting about 2 years ago, at the age of 9.  We didn't think much of it.  One day, we noticed he was walking funny.  We didn't think much of it.  As the months went by and he kept walking funny and kept complaining about his feet, we started taking notice and wondering what was wrong.  We researched foot pain and of course, there are a thousand things that come up, none of them good.

About a year ago, I asked some friends if they knew of a good podiatrist in town.  Both of them said they had experience with a certain one and that he was great!  One of their husbands had actually been operated on by this Dr.  So I called him.

Long story short, the Dr. knew just by looking at Kyall's feet that he had tarsal coalition in both feet, pediatric flatfoot in both and that both heel chords were too short and tight.  Kyall has lived this past year in daily pain, often limping around the house, often playing and running, just gritting his teeth to the pain.  It has been hard to watch.  Just last week, he went to summer camp and couldn't stand in line at the cafeteria because it hurt too much after a day of being on his feet a lot.

Operating is the only way to fix all three of these problems, so we knew we had no choice.  The Dr. only does one foot at a time so the patient isn't basically an invalid for 2 months, so we chose to do the worse foot first.  We also agreed to take care of all 3 problems at the same time.

I gave all my fears to God about the anesthesia, about the pain, about Kyall being afraid, about the meds making him sick, about everything.....then I took them back and fretted and cried and worried all day!!!  Kyall was an excellent patient, didn't cry or complain once through the whole ordeal and I have been so impressed and proud of him.  The Dr. did say he had to do more "digging" than expected as the coalition was big and hard to "cut out".  Uuggh.  Thankfully, Kyall had a constant supply of morphine for 24 hours and really did not feel much pain.  When he woke up from the anesthesia, he asked for me but I was not allowed to go see him because of the Hippa laws.  Just stick a knife in my heart next time, it felt about the same.

Now we are home and he has been hurting and is having a hard time maneuvering around on crutches with a 10 lb. weight on his cut up foot.  The cast is huge and very heavy.  He has been a trooper and just wants this all to be over, but the recovery is just beginning and will be a long process.  My prayer is that by his first day of middle school, he will be walking well and experiencing no pain on his "new" foot.  I know he still has to live with the pain in the other foot until we decide it's a good time to put him through all of this again.

For now, we are thankful for good doctors, good friends, a brother and sister that love and care for Kyall, good pain meds, a great recliner that Kyall has made his little throne, and a God who cares about the big and little trials of our lives.  I am praying Kyall will learn some valuable life lessons through all this.  I'm sure I could learn a thing or two as well!