Tracey's TibFib-a-Thon

Ever since she was little, Tracey has always been a very athletic person, horseback riding with her mother and then eventually with both of her daughters, running track in school, skate boarding with her brother, and surfing - where she had competed nationally and she has continued to do so every chance mother nature provided waves for over the last 30+ years.  

However, on Saturday, March 12th - Tracey's life was turned upside down and now she is currently fighting to keep her right leg.  Her injuries are so severe that our main concerns are that she stays infection-free and can get the specific surgeons to save her leg.  She will be having countless surgeries in an attempt to save and repair the extensive damage to her right, lower leg (tib/fib compound fracture). Tracey has been told that she is looking at a period of easily two years of surgeries and physical therapy.  

Obviously being an amputee is not what she wants to happen but if an infection happens, the possibility is there that she could still loose her right leg.  She has a very, very long road ahead of her.  As Tracey said - "I am not giving up and God is in full control.  Good vibes, good energy and prayers are getting me thru this traumatic time.  I appreciate and love each and everyone of you.  I hope to be surfing again." 

Tracey and Paul genuinely need your help during this very rough time, as unfortunately they currently do not have health insurance.

The following is a timeline of the events that we will continue to update as things arise:

**Saturday, March 12, 2022, Tracey and her husband Paul were out driving around in a two-seated side-by-side for a friend's birthday gathering in a location called the Prairie northwest of Okeechobee, FL.  Going around a corner, the side-by-side started to flip and the next thing they knew, her leg was literally crushed under the roll-bar. They called 911 for help and then Tracey had to travel in an ambulance for over an hour by ground to the trauma center at Lawnwood Medical in Fort Pierce because massive storms were going through the area at that time so she couldn't be airlifted. Upon arrival to Lawnwood, Tracey was taken straight into surgery to "wash" the wound (her first one - this is where they open up the wound and go in and remove as much foreign matter from it - dirt, bone pieces, etc.) and do a CT scan to see how bad the break was. It was at that time they discovered that Tracey had suffered a significant compound fracture with an open wound.

**Sunday, March 13th, first thing in the morning, they took Tracey into surgery for her second wash procedure and stabilize her leg in a halo to stabilize and hold everything in place. She is in good spirits but in significant pain at this time. Their main goal is to keep her stable and infection free.

**Monday, March 14th, they let her rest but had her stand up; absolutely no weight on her right leg but she stood up with the walker and PT personnel's help.

**Tuesday, March 15th, Tracey had her third "wash" procedure to continue to keep her wound infection free. We all had another great visit with her, one person at a time - we have been truly blessed that a lot of the COVID restrictions have been dropped so that we may visit with her as she needs us.

**Wednesday, March 16th, the doctors have stated that due to the significance of her injury, they need to send her to a location with specialized surgeons (orthopedic, vascular & plastic surgeons) to handle her injuries.

**Thursday, March 17th, Tracey was in great spirits and we all had a fantastic visit with her.  They were told that Tracey had been accepted at Kendall Regional Medical Center in Miami but had to wait for a bed to become available.  Tracey also stood up again with her walker, no weight bearing, and with her nurses' aid.  

*** Transfer from LAWNWOOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER to KENDALL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER***

** Friday, March 18th, around 2am, they got the call - the bed is available.  They then loaded Tracey up and transported her down from Fort Pierce to South Miami (135 miles/2 hours).  Once she was settled and the physicians came in , they took her in as the physicians wanted to see how extensive the damage actually is and make sure there's no infection.  They did Tracey's fourth "wound wash" session, unfortunately putting Tracey in significant pain for the evening, but she's been a real tough cookie.  

**Saturday, March 19th - Tracey had a good day.  Nurses have maintained her pain to an acceptable level.  Everyone that was there was able to visit with her.  She was actually craving specific foods.  The family was told that Tracey will have one more washing procedure on Monday and at that time they are going to have a bone specialist to come see her and the damage she has. 

** Sunday March 20th - Tracey is maintaining a great positive attitude.  Her pain level is staying between a 3 to 7 with medications.  She's been told that they are going to have a bone specialist attend the next wound washing, hopefully tomorrow.  Once the bone specialist has seen the extent of the damage, all four doctors will meet to discuss and plan the next direction for Tracey's leg. 

** Monday, March 21st - Tracey has stabilized and improved so she has been moved from ICU into a regular room at KRMC.  The bone specialist wasn't able to see her today so she will be the first patient of the day tomorrow.

**Tuesday, March 22nd - Tracey met with the bone specialist - who said her bone looks good and so does the tissue.  All of the washings have kept the wound clean from infection.  He and the plastic surgeon have worked out a plan to take place over the next six weeks with various procedures and surgeries to take place.

**Wednesday, March 23rd - She got a Midline put in, meaning her arms/veins get a rest!  Her hemoglobin is low so she's getting a blood transfusion and looking at Friday or Monday for her first significant surgery with the plastic surgeon and then she will have a procedure done with the orthopedic surgeon.  

**Thursday, March 24th - The Bone specialist went in today and confirmed that the bone and tissue look great.  He replaced the concrete spacer with a new one and bridged the gap.  He shortened the halo to allow for flexibility in the knee.  Previously he had been talking about moving  existing the bottom bone up to meet the top ones but today he decided that he doesnt need to do that.  He's now moving onto the next phase.

**Friday, March 25th - Plastic surgeon went in today for initial evaluation of wound.  He decided not to flap and skin graft today but is planning on constructing the flap either Monday or Tuesday.  He did do another wound washing and confirmed that the bone, tissue and vascular look good.

**Saturday, March 26th - Tracey had a painful night but they have adjuster her meds to compensate this am.  The physicians are giving her "the weekend off" from any procedures.  They are hoping her body gets her hemoglobin stabilized without having a third blood transfusion.  

**Sunday, March 27th - Tracey had another day off from procedures but she did have PT.  She got to relax and visit with family and friends that came to visit.  Eating lots of foods high in iron in hopes to get her hemoglobin stabilized for surgery(s) this coming week.