Tommy Collison

This isn’t the first time I’ve had surgery on my right leg. It’s not even the first time I’ve had it done here. In March 2004, I also spent six weeks here having similar surgery. It’s interesting to look at similarities and differences.

The biggest difference by far is my age. I was 9 back then and I’m 16 now. I’m a lot more emotionally mature than I was, experienced with living with Cerebral Palsy and probably best of all, this time round isn’t the first time: I know what to expect.

I think the simplest way of boiling it down would be to look at it this way: In 2004, my parents suggested this surgery, I trusted them and went with it. It was the best decision of my life. In 2010, we met again with the surgeons and they suggested doing this surgery. I agreed and here we are. We’ve eliminated the middle-man here -my parents- to an extent. Obviously, they were part of the decision and are here in Minnesota with me, but I didn’t need my trust in them to do this surgery. At 16, I can now decide for myself: I wanted this.

I’m a better patient this time round too. I have a higher threshold to pain – less jumpy when they go to take a blood sample, for example. I can also communicate better with the nurses. Post-op days 1 and 2 were agony for me when they went to help me turn in bed – my Dad and I finally figured out it was to do with how the nurses were supporting the cast. We explained what was happening to the nurses and since then, being turned doesn’t fill me with huge amounts of dread.

Being older also takes some of the pressure of my parents. One of them doesn’t have to be there 24/7. They’ve gone out to get a bite to eat, leaving me to my own devices: listening to music or reading or writing.

The internet is also pretty neat this time around. I’m a lot more outgoing than 9-year-old Tommy was and I’m missing some really great friends while I’m here. MSN, Skype, Twitter and Facebook are all proving invaluable in keeping in touch. I remember reading somewhere online that happier patients recover faster. I can’t find a link to back up that fact but I’d put money on it being true – could the opposite be true? I’m happiest when talking to friends, so the hospital having wifi really keeps my spirits up. :)

In short, I’m getting through this well, I think. I’m out on Saturday but back as an out-patient after that. The surgery went very well – couldn’t have been better, so now it’s up to me to get the most of the recovery. :)

Plus, one of the surgeries involved putting pins in my hip – looking forward to trying to get through airport security! :D