I'm not afraid, I'm not angry, I'm not sad, I'm just ready to get this behind me.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Big Scar

Today's post is a little bit graphic. I'm finally putting up the big picture. I think a photo of my chest is long overdue. I'm not sure what took me so long to do this, but it's better late than never. I don't think this requires a lot of explaining either. On August 18th I had my entire sternum cut in half so that doctors could fix my heart. This is a photo of what it looks like after they put it back together.


As you can see there's a bit of dried blood on the inscision and a lot of tape but everything is just fine. The surgeons used some sutures under the skin and some wires to hold my ribs together, but the tape is what's keeping the skin together. It stays on for a few weeks and then just falls off. There's no real pain this time either. I've been having some muscle soreness, but that's about it.

How about a little closer view:

I think they're pretty neat.

9 comments:

Melissa said...

Major props to the doctors that put you back together.

Lucy Kurtz said...

Very niiiiice (said like Borat). Did the docs make the incision longer this time, or did they follow your previous scar? Juust curious. Its nice to follow you on here ma dear :).

Marc said...

Props indeed to the surgeons. They do good work.

As for the size of the incision I can't really tell if it's bigger this time. They definitely followed the old incision, but it's hard to tell if they lengthened it. It was definitely an inch or two longer after the second surgery, but I'm about the same size as I was two years ago so it's probably the same. I'll have to do an official measure when the tape falls off.

Matt said...

Watch out for that moose behind you.

MATT said...

MARC DEAR GOD THE MOOSE IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU. PAY ATTENTION!

Marc said...

It's just a baby moose, he wasn't acting aggressive. He was just curious about what was going on.

Byeontae said...

I just wanted to let you know that I have been reading your blog. We were talking about you (among others) the other day at intermediate climbing school. I'm glad you have this blog so people can see how you are going- plus I'm sure you're glad you have this blog so you don't have to keep telling people the same stuff... I don't know what your plans are, but I hope you get better as quickly as possible.

Byeontae said...

random blog thing. haha. It's Logan btw...

Marc said...

Logan,

I'm glad you've been following along. The blog has been an awesome way to keep people up to date and it's been pretty therapeutic for me as well. It's be nice to put my thoughts down and really think about what's going on.

I've been digging the pictures from the climbing school. I wish I could be there with you guys.