Update: Laken’s leg 2nd week post surgery. 

This week we started getting ready for Back to School. Laken is adamant that she will start school with her class, wheelchair, crutches, brace and all. Strong willed this girl is! 

Saturday-Monday were filled with the same; bed rest and more bed rest. 

Tuesday our big brown eyed little girl turned 15 years! Where has the time gone? You are very strong and never cease to amaze me. Know that you make me happy! I am proud of your achievements and even though disappointments may arise I am never ashamed of you little one. Believe that you will do great things and you will. Have faith in our GOD’s promises for the future and know that he will cause it to be. Most of all be you and be the best you that you can be, always while being kind to others. If someone is unkind to you or hurts you, pray for them as Jesus did for his wrongdoers. I love it when you call me your best friend, it warms my heart so. Even though you are my daughter and not my friend I know the day will come when you will be my best friend but for now my beautiful daughter you are and will always be. Laken Rayne I love you to MawMaw and back! Here’s to the next 15 years and to all the accomplishments ahead!  We ate at Casa Ole’ tonight  and then Laken decided to get out for the evening activity at Band Camp. So we loaded up “Big Blue” again and headed to the 9th grade campus to drop her off for the next 1.5 hours of fun. Upon pick up we find out it was trivia night and she’s still in one piece (phew). Trivia is good!! 

Mike surprised Laken with a cookie cake that had a fence. This made for a good laugh. 

Wednesday we dropped Laken off for another 1.5 hours of evening activity. Tonight she was a spectator as they played ships and sailors. Getting out of the house and seeing everyone is helping her spirits so much!  
Thursday comes and Laken wears her Purple Guard Wars Tank (Thank You Jennifer) 💙💛💙to late school registration. My baby is a Sophomore, and in just three short years she will be graduating and then turning eighteen. 😩 After registration and a tour of the big campus the whole guard headed to Antalya’s to practice for Untalent night. If you have never had a loved one in SHS Band of Pride and have somehow missed this event I am so sorry for your loss! Antalya’s family had prepared chicken alfredo for the guard, we are all so appreciative of their kindness and hospitality. At 6:15 the caravan of guard headed to Lewis for the show. There we met up with the rest of the band, there were aliens, Pokemon, B•A•N•A•N•A•S, a tribute to Hirambe, Star Wars (Guard), and more. Laken was a “bad plane” and was able to get on the stage thanks to a “fat kid tested and approved (according to Mike)” lift to fly across the stage. This smile right here makes it all worth it!  

Guard took fourth place, and the flutes took it all home! Great idea of them to use Mr. Mac’s remind. We enjoyed tonight laughing and visiting with our friends. The night ended with leftover gumbo at home. 

Friday morning we are up at 6:30am to dress and get on the road to New Orleans for our follow up with Dr. Gonzales. 

We arrive early for our 1:45 appointment. Dr. Gonzales comes into the room and says, I’ve got some good news. He talked to the plastic surgeons about a graft. If the EMG shows no nerve conduction then the plastic surgeons will go in to harvest and graft the nerve. We will not know anything until after the EMG if the nerve has any function so far there are no signs. Dr. Gonzales took the splint off and the staples out of the back of the leg and removed the stitch she had on the outside of her leg. She is cleared to shower and swim!! Laken’s smile shows her excitement. Laken is to spend a good amount of time on her stomach now trying to straighten the leg. Once she has her brace she is to begin trying to walk. If there are no signs of improvement with straightening the leg and walking after 3 weeks then physical therapy will begin. So the EMG is next then follow up with Gonzales and he will let us know if we are going forward with the plastic surgeons or if the nerve is healing and the next surgery will be the tendon transfer to correct the foot drop. She has not been cleared for PE or physical activity yet. She is however capable of spinning and tossing flags, rifles, and Sabres while sitting in her chair. Not sure how volleyball will fit in this year. Dr. Gonzales told Laken she couldn’t have hurt the nerve any worse than she did, he said a clean cut in half would have even been better. He also made the point of telling her again how fortunate she was to be here with us as she was very close to the artery. 🙏🏼 

Guess who will be shaving that left leg tonight?                                                    

We leave the hospital waiting for a call for the EMG and follow up with Gonzales. 

Now in search of food, we head to Willie Mae’s Scotchhouse (Guy Fieri dined here) only to find it is not ADA friendly. Okay, so we head to R&O’s Restaurant in Metairie oh no they are closed from 3-5. Alrighty then we get in I10 and get off at Veteran’s Blvd. We find a honey hole New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co, they have an ADA Ramp, it’s clean, has great food!!!! Mike had the eggplant, crabcake stack and it was delicious the girls and I had chicken tenders and a burger. Time to hit the restroom before we get back in the road; eeek the restroom is in no way ADA so we get the crutches out of the car. She is barely able to get in this tiny space with the crutches. Overall I rate them a 9. We will be back. 

We are now back in I10 heading West. 
Still in a wait and see mode and keeping the faith. I was pleased to get the encouraging news from the Dr. regarding the plastic surgeons, even though I am going to move forward with the hope that they will not be needed and the next surgery will be on the foot. 

Dr. Gonzales says we have at least another 6 months of recovery ahead. Until then, we are continually grateful to all of you for your love, help, and encouragement. 💙💛💙 

#LakensLeg #PeronealNerveDamage #NerveTransfer #Neuroplasty #PeronealNerve #FootDrop #PeronealNerveInjury