Kevin's Healing Journey: After HyProCure Surgery in NJ/PHILLY

We traveled to New Jersey for Kevin’s HyProCure/foot surgery on Friday, April 11 with a short stop at FHC (more on that in a separate post). We spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night in Atlantic City. I have to tell you that I felt a little out of place arriving at our hotel Friday night. When we arrived at the hotel we saw the other cars with people taking out their small overnight bags and people dressed to go out into the neon of Atlantic City. When we open the back of our car I felt like the Beverly Hillbillies, we had packed so much stuff we couldn’t see out the back of the car! But we eventually got settled with all our stuff into our hotel room and made the best of it.

On Saturday, we returned to the hotel after Kevin’s short surgery. We drew the curtains and laid in bed and watched movies all day while Kevin rested with his feet up. We catered to Kevin letting him watch his favorite movies, Disney Jungle Book and Disney Mulan, on repeat all day…even though I had many other movie options available for him. But this was only until we received an email from Kevin’s 5 cousins (ages 6-13 in range) who spent four hours that day making a one minute music video (I Heart Hand Signs) for Kevin that we then proceeded to watch over and over again. We also enjoyed phone calls and Skype video calls with his cousins to pass some of our time.

Watching favorite movies Jungle Book and Mulan

in hotel room after surgery

On Sunday, Kevin seemed to be feeling okay (no pain medication was needed) and our hotel was about a block from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk. We set Kevin up in his stroller with a blanket because it was slightly chilly. He was refusing to wear the “boots” that Dr. Joe provided for him to wear so we put Jon’s sneakers on him to protect his feet and ankles. We spent the afternoon walking up and down the boardwalk. It was a beautiful sunny day and a good way to occupy our day. I even took a break to sit in the sunshine and talk to my Mom on the phone while Jon and Kevin continued to walk and of course buy Kevin a t-shirt in one of the shops.

Wearing Dad's shoes

Atlantic City Boardwalk

Watching the Sunset from our hotel room

Monday was moving day, we had to pack up all our stuff at the NJ hotel and load it back in the car because we were moving to a hotel closer to FHC in the Philadelphia area. But first we drove one last time along the shoreline and then headed over to FHC so we could use the Hyperbaric Chamber, which would aid Kevin in his healing. By the time we were done at FHC and checked into the new hotel, it was dinner time and we had time for another movie before bed.

Moving hotels to be closer to FHC to use HBOT

Atlantic Shoreline

Tuesday morning started off with a bit of excitement. I set off the fire alarm in our hotel room because I left the door open to the bathroom when I took a hot shower. It was about 15 minutes before Jon and the hotel manager finally took the alarm off the wall. Kevin and I were sitting down the hall away from the noise in our night clothes while we waited for the loud noise to stop. The rest of the day was much less exciting, I’m not sure if we were feeling tired because of the rainy weather or because of all the traveling but it was nice to be able to relax in the hotel after breakfast. Later we went to the mall to walk around and get out of the hotel for a bit. And then after lunch we went back to FHC for another session in the Hyperbaric Chamber. And again, by the time we returned to the hotel it was dinner time which left enough time for another movie before bed.

A safe ride for Kevin feet on the carousel at the mall

Dad and Kevin in Hyperbaric Chamber at FHC

On Wednesday we were in the hotel lobby having breakfast. I had noticed a man watching us and he later came up to me and said that he could tell we were “good parents”. I asked him if he had experience with special need kids. The man said no, and with tears in his eyes, he again told me he could just tell that we were good parents and that was all. It feels good to receive comments from total strangers to encourage and support us in our ongoing endeavors. And I have to say this is not the first time someone has given us positive feedback regarding Kevin while staying in this same hotel. We’ll be back there again next month for our revisit at FHC and follow up with Dr. Joe.

Wednesday was departure day. We packed up all our stuff one last time and drove back to New Jersey to have a follow up with Dr. Joe before our 8 hour drive home. Dr. Joe said the feet look good and verified it with a Xray. Then he changed the gauze wrap and supported the ankles again with an ace bandage.