Opinion #3

With the memory of the search for the second opinion in the forefront of my mind, I set about finding a orthopedic surgeon with a foot/ankle specialty in the main metropolitan area closest to my home. I looked at the websites for the few major hospitals therein and happened upon an Orthopedic Institute. They had a good website which showed the specialty of each doctor, including a foot and ankle guy who was board certified, had experience in several countries and judging my his photo, had been practicing for some time. I called his office and the lady I spoke with was very kind and understanding. She immediately grasped the nature of my request and the timing aspects. She put me on hold while she consulted with the doctor and when she returned she said that the doctor had agreed to see me. She offered me an appointment at 9am on Tuesday July 27th. I jumped at the offer. No need for faxing referrals or any other nonsense.

Up until last year, I used to take a car/bus/ferry combination commute to work 4 days a week. In fact I hadn't been on the ferry since my last day working out of the office (I work from home now). So my trip on the 27th was going to take me on my normal morning ferry. I also just recently heard from a friend with whom I used to work and he had informed me that he now worked in downtown again. So, I made arrangements to meet him for breakfast before my appointment. I also let my commuting buddy (and church friend) that I would be on the ferry too. In the evening prior to going to bed, my son (having overheard myself and my dear wife discussing the plans for the morning) asked if he could come with me. I thought about it for a few seconds and pronounced it a marvelous idea. We got his backpack loaded up with toys and books and went to bed early(ish) in anticipation for the early start.

On Tuesday morning I woke up at 4 something and I got myself ready for the day, I woke up my son and we loaded our stuff into the car, We left early enough to swing through the Starbucks for coffee/hot cocoa. ($6) Then we drove onto the ferry ($15), walked up to the passenger deck and sat with our friend for the journey. My son was well behaved and I got to have some adult conversation until it was time to head back to the car. We drove off the ferry and proceeded into down-town. We parked in my old office building and walked to the cafe where we met up with my former co-worker. We used to have coffee/breakfast there quite often when we worked together and we both commented on how familiar it all felt almost a year since we all worked together. We said our goodbyes after we ate our food ($14) and chatted, headed back to the car and paid for the 65 minutes of parking ($13).

It was a short drive to the clinic which had underground parking in the building ($5). It was a very plush facility. When we got to the 7th floor, each doctor had their own receptionist and when I approached the appropriate desk, the lady behind the counter greeted me by name! I had the usual paperwork to fill out and had the obligatory triage/nurse checkup. My son played with his toys quietly when the doctor examines my toe and reviewed the MRI and x-rays. He said exactly what Ortho #1 had said at my last visit. Basically that I had torn the EHL, that there was probably a tiny bone fragment that pulled away with some of the tendon, that there was a small thread of tendon still attached and that the remaining tendon was frayed like a shoelace. He said that surgery now might fix it, but if I left it too long, the only option would to fuse and pin the joint. At last, 2 doctors independently provided the same diagnosis. I had prayed for clarity, and I think this was God's way of providing it. He then looked at Ortho #1's records and said he thoroughly agrees but that he would also recommend a temporary pin for 4 week s to keep my toe straight while the tendon healed. He said he would email or call Ortho #1 with his notes/opinion.

I thanked him and we went on our way. We drove home rather than taking the ferry back and my son was delighted to see airplanes, trains, construction equipment etc on the journey home. It was a nice day out - albeit somewhat expensive ($50+) not to mention the cost of the doctor (still to be billed!).

Feeling more at peace with the necessity of surgery, I got my head in gear for the procedure on Friday July 30th.