Thankfully most bumps are easily ridden out as long as I just hold on tight to the wheel. Our family most recently hit a bump which thankfully didn't send us careening off a steep drop off, but rather just rattled the car a bit.Zach had been complaining of shin sprint in his right leg since track season. He was in a lot of pain and we did what we could to help him recover. He stayed off it and went to a sports medicine therapist who would message it out. It continued until mid-June when we took him in to see the doctor.
At this point he could barely walk on it and it had just gone on too long. Brook was wondering whether or not it was a stress fracture since it wouldn't heal. An x-ray proved inconclusive and the radiologist scheduled an MRI so they could rule some things out (don't say cancer around me!), along with some lab work. 
He went in for the MRI and lab work the following week at which time we were then set up with a pediatric disease specialist. We thought nothing of it and I remember telling Zach we'd be no more than 15 minutes in the office (just long enough, I figured, for the doctor to bill us and tell me that he had a stress fracture and to stay off it). I quickly realized that it wasn't that type of appointment. I learned a new word that day: chronic osteomyilitis (bone infection). Isn't learning new words fun:? For an hour Zach and I were educated about osteomyilitis and how dangerous it was and what we were going to be doing for the next 6-12 months. Zach would be scheduled for surgery for a bone biopsy, a picc line would be placed in his arm so he could be on a continuous IV pump for the next 6 weeks, and his life would kind of be on hold so that they could battle the infection until it was gone. Needless to say, my head was spinning. When the doctor asked about our schedule and the possibility of beginning it that day, I just couldn't think straight. I had been completely blindsided. I told him no, that I'd rather do it the next day, and we were sent home with instructions for the upcoming procedure.The next day Brook and I accompanied Zach to the hospital and waited while he had his biopsy. He was put under general anesthesia and had an orthopedic surgeon drill two 1/2-inch diameter pieces of bone from his right tibia. They then packed it with cadaver tissue to help it heal quicker before stitching him back up. Afterwards, the doctor said his bone looked great and that he even pulled up the MRI again to check it out. Sometimes, he told us, stress fractures can take on the appearance of infections. We then sat with Zach and waited for him to feel better before taking him home.
At home, a home health care nurse taught us all we never wanted to know about IV pumps, saline solutions, primimg a line, and antibiotics. For some people (like Caitlyn), all that stuff is interesting. For other people (like me), who get squirmish at the mere smell of antiseptic, all that stuff is stressful and nauseating. But given that there wasn't another option, Brook and I did our best to learn what we could so as not to endanger poor Zach's life. Zach felt horrible and spent the first four days on the couch or in bed. Even had he felt OK, going somewhere was a hassle given that he was now attached to an IV pump and bag 24 hours a day. He carried them around in his Nike bag, threading the tubing up through the neck in his t-shirts. On the sixth day, Brook called the doctor to ask about the test results. Remember, the reason they took the bone biopsy was so they could test them in a lab and see what type of infection they were dealing with. What kind of infection do you think he had? Any guesses? Staph (which they suspected)? Others? Well, the kind of infection he had was called nada-infectialitis. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing grew in those dang petri-dishes and nothing probably would. The doctor apologized. The nurse came to the house that night and removed his picc line. Zach thought it was better than Christmas and promptly decided to go swimming at a friend's house. I refused to talk to anyone and went for a very, very long walk with the dog and tried to sort things out. While I was EXTREMELY GRATEFUL that it had been a misdiagnosis, it had been a horrible and stressful week and I reasoned that it was ok for me to just think for a minute.
That was about 2 weeks ago. He still experiences pain and walks with a limp because the recovery for the biopsy is 12 weeks, rather than the 8 week time for a fracture. I have to admit, my stomach kind of seizes when I watch him shuffle around, knowing that the biopsy was unnecessary and only prolonged his recuperation. Brook and I have had many discussions about it and still can't quite explain the whole thing. It truly is one of those things that happen in life that make you say, "WHAT?"
I've pondered as to why this happened and what the lessons are I'm supposed to take from it. While still uncertain of the overall lesson, I have remembered some precious truths about my life. First, I have great kids. There was a moment after the disease specialist doctor's appointment that just Zach and I were driving home. I was kind of weepy at this point, and scared, and a bit apologetic to him because I knew he was thinking about football and how this just kind of wrecked it all. He stopped me in my sadness and basically said, ""Mom, look, it's going to be OK. It's not cancer or anything and I'll just fight it and be fine. It's just a trial and I'll overcome it."
I was proud of him for not having self-pity, but rather for seeing it as a challenge he could grow stronger from. He's a great son. Second, I was reminded about how thankful I am for the priesthood. Brook and my brother Aaron were able to give Zach a priesthood blessing the night before the surgery. Words can't express the gratitude I have for a such a gift. The fact that I have a husband who lives worthy of holding the priesthood is a blessing beyond measure. The priesthood blesses my home and my family in so many ways. It's priceless. Third, I'm grateful for family. Family isn't just something, it's everything. I was so touched by the calls and concern expressed by every family member. I KNOW who's in my court when the unexpected happens. Fourth, I'm thankful for prayer. It's a sweet thing to know that in times of trouble I can get on my knees and communicate with my Father in Heaven. I know He hears our prayers and concerns and is mindful of our struggles. Fifth, I'm grateful for modern day medicine. While sitting with Zach one night, waiting for his pain killer to kick in, I had the opportunity to read about Joseph Smith's childhood surgery, which coincidentally, was due to osteomyilities. It was truly a miracle that anyone survived infections and illnesses back then. It gave me a profound appreciation for the advances we've had in medicine and for the amazing things doctors can do nowdays. We live in an incredible time! I'm sure there will be lessons yet to come. It's still quite fresh, but it will be interesting to talk with Zach a year from now and hear his take on this bump in the road.
FREE!!!
