My name is Adam Consalvo, and for the entirety of my adult life I've been hyper independent and asking for help has been something I almost never do or have ever been good at.. Generally I just wanted to be the one to help others, sometimes even at the sacrifice of myself. But after this surgery & the next few months of recovery/physical therapy I know I have to ask for help.
In September of 2024 I noticed a growth on the inner wall of my bottom jaw due to an infection around my gums/teeth I assumed was an abscess.. Around the same time I was attempting to start over in Asheville, NC. After a few new scans It was apparent it was some sort of unknown growth/cyst that had taken over the majority of my lower jaw..
Before I was able to get scheduled for surgery/testing/removal Helene tragically devastated the city/surrounding areas and turned mine/tons of others future plans upside down.
This sent me back to Colorado where I'd end up getting the procedure done.
The procedure I needed is called mandibulectomy and fibula free-flap reconstruction.. Which is the removal of one full fibula/one artery from the lower extremity to graph a new lower mandible section. Allegedly a procedure with a 90% success rate with my age/health.
On January 17, 2025 I went into surgery. Ended up being 8 hours, needing to have a tracheotomy in case my airway swelled while I recovered in the ICU for approximately 5-10 days.
About the 1.5 day post op mark, I had significant swelling in my jaw and a faint arterial pulse on the artery to the new graph. I ended up needing emergency surgery where the surgeons went back in and had to remove the new graph/artery due to it failing. Now there is just a plate with no bone support.
After being in the ICU for 7 days, I was released where I feel the true physical/mental battle begins. After being so independent to now not being able to do much at all on my own. Will be starting physical therapy in the next week for my jaw/movement and walking/rehabbing the left leg/foot.
After the surgery, the growth was sent off and it came back as an odontogenic keratocyst which luckily is benign.
For work I've been an independent contractor installing graphics for the last 13+ years. Which is pretty strenuous on the body, awkward positions and being on my feet/job sites for 10-12 hours. It'll be at least 2-3+ months before I'll be able to even attempt to get back in that routine.
Thank you for your time and any help would be greatly appreciated!