EAR 2.0

It has been almost two months since Vanz had his "Vincent" done. If you didn't have the pleasure of seeing the after picture in person. Here it is...

(not for faint of heart).

You can see where the incision/stitches were along with all the Sharpie markings from the doctor.

The "greasy pack"

He had to wear massive amounts of gauze pads literally stuffed into his ear which were saturated with vaseline (they referred to it as a "greasy pack"). We were given instruction that it was not to be removed and it would leak and bleed and it would be normal for it to start turning black. They were not kidding. It was pretty sick by the end. The pictures above are mid-gauze and mild in comparison to how it ended up looking. I couldn't bring myself to even take a picture of it.

When the gauze was finally removed, which Vanz said felt like he was having his brain sucked out via his ear, he was given the instruction to wear cotton in the ear for the next three or so weeks. He had a follow up appointment last week where he was hoping to have the green light to be able to surf again. The doctor told him he was healing nicely and about 90% there. He said part of the skin graft wasn't looking great and so he burned the inside of his ear canal to make it bleed back together. Ouch. And instead of the ok to surf, he was told he had to wait 5 more weeks to get in the water. I know he is dying right now. I told him he had every right to book an amazing surf trip on account of his pain and suffering and I even said I wholeheartedly thought he at the very least deserved a new surfboard. I am a pretty awesome wife.

The good news is that he is finally gauze and cotton free. He even has noticed an improvement in his sinuses. And he is looking forward anxiously to when he gets to surf again...hopefully soon!