Round 2

Well, two operations later and the foot is (hopefully) fixed!  A new application has been submitted to the Army but it's thought that it may take anything up to a year to be processed.  Fingers crossed!

Although the operation in November went well initially, a second operation is now needed as the bone has fused together making the toe inflexible. The second operation, which involves removal of the metatarsal head and insertion of a metal rod, takes place on Wednesday of this week under general anaesthetic. It is likely that a career in the army will be out of the question following the procedure.

Operation 'Metatarsal Head'!

Never thought I'd see the day, but at long last, tomorrow Connor will be having his foot operation!  It's being conducted under local anaesthetic by his surgeon and a colleague who's flown in from Cyprus especially.  He'll be off his feet for a good two weeks but it'll be worth it if it works, and there's no knowing how successful it will be until they cut it open tomorrow and see what's really going on.  As soon as there's any more news you'll be the first to know!

Coming home

If someone had told me 278 days ago that my son would start his army training but not complete it, I would most probably have laughed.  There was no way I could have known, or expected, at that point that my gritty determined son would later be discharged on medical grounds!  Although I have known that this was inevitable for some time now, I haven't been at liberty to share the news until all family members had been made aware. 

He's now under the care of his specialist who has said that he will need an operation on his foot to remove particles of broken bone which have become detached and have lodged elsewhere in his foot, causing pain.  The problems have been caused by Freiberg's Disease which is a problem with the metatarsal heads, which hopefully might be treatable.

Despite being devastated when I first found out he was not going to complete his training, I've now got over the initial shock and am just really keen to get him home and get his foot treated.  Luckily, he's been informed that he will be allowed to reapply to the army after 12 months so long as he has made a full recovery following his operation.  He is staying on at the college for a little while longer to complete the education aspect of his training which will allow him to enter at a more advanced level in the future, as he will be reapplying as an adult.

The last few weeks have been a time of huge disappointment and upset but he's had a fabulous experience at the AFC and has done lots of things that he wouldn't otherwise have had the opportunity to do.  He's worked hard, played hard and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  For now then there is little more to say.  It may be a little while before we can get the operation organised but as soon as I have any further news I will post it on here.

I just want to add a big thank you to everyone who's followed Connor's progress over the last eight months, and to everyone who's asked after his wellbeing.  Thank you all.

Family Day

The junior soldiers and AFC did an excellent job of hosting Connor's platoon's family day today.  They know how to put on a show!  It was great to be able to see first hand what our JSs have been up to this past 36 weeks; physical training, shooting down at the range, war games and camouflage training.  It was a real eye-opener too - I tried lifting one of the backpacks that they have to carry and run with and I couldn't even get it off the ground!  And that was without their guns and the extra equipment they have in their webbing.  I was astonished at how heavy the guns are!  The ration packs were delicious, especially the meat stew one that I tried.  I wouldn't go hungry in the field, that's for sure! 

A huge thank you!

The thing about Connor is that you can be sure he knows lots of people and he always seems to know the right people!  I've been so worried over the last few weeks about the state of affairs with his foot, but it just so happens that Connor knows somebody worth knowing who knows something worth knowing about feet (if you follow me!).  This good samaritan has examined Connor's foot and believes that it can be treated (although to what extent I'm not sure) however, he has offered a little ray of hope in what was otherwise a very grim prospect and for that I am hugely grateful (as, I'm sure, is Connor!).  So, to that good samaritan I'd like to say a very big thank you!  And for Connor, fingers crossed!

A waiting game

As I suspected, no definitive news.  We have to wait now for the specialist to submit his report and recommendations to the army.  The not knowing doesn't help.  Connor's still allowed to go on his hockey trip to Spain next week, although clearly he will be unable to play.  Perhaps a week in the Spanish sunshine will lift his spirits a little though.  He then has a week on leave before returning to barracks and hopefully the report will have been received by the end of the holidays.  As soon as there's any news I'll let you all know.