Blog
Next Surgery
March 4 will be a big day for Tison. He will have his second surgery since arriving in Alaska. He was sick when his second surgery was originally scheduled. It was rescheduled and the countdown begins. This is a very important surgery because the surgeon will work on removing the contractures on the left ankle. This will hopefully allow his foot resume the normal flat position. He has been walking on the side of his foot since the burn accident.It will take a while for him to recover from this surgery. He has been active and doing so well in...
read moreDown Hill
It seems like Tison loves going down hill. He has adapted to the winter in Alaska very well. Who would have thought a child who knows only sandy beaches and tropical weather, would feel so at home in the snow. His host family has made it possible for him to enjoy sledding, snow machining, and snowboarding.I have watched Tison play soccer for hours in Indonesia, even with his disabilities. Soccer is really a popular sport in Indonesia. He told me, “He liked snowboarding more than soccer”. Liz Wood wrote–he might be the first...
read moreHe Left for Home
He came as a translator and to help Tison adjust to his new home in Alaska. Hendra was here for over two months. He is an amazing young man with a hunger to learn and a gift of serving. He did everything he was asked and did it with a humble gentleness. His study of the English language started when a young American came to Indonesia and taught an introductory English class. Hendra had a passion to learn and pursued his degree in English. He did not know he would some day come to the U.S. as an interpreter.Hendra left on Friday for Jakarta....
read moreNo Surgery Today
We all walked into the surgery center at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital early in the morning on February 4. Tison had picked up a cold over night. That was not a good sign for the scheduled surgery. The nurse came into the pre-op room and took his vitals and expressed a little concern but said the decision to have the surgery was up to the Anaesthesiologist. We waited for a while and then the Anaesthesiologist came in and in a short time he made the call to cancel the surgery.The surgeon came by later and told us he thought the next surgery will...
read moreNine Little Fish
Tison has been very active since he came to Fairbanks. The Johnson’s, his host family, have made many opportunities for him to enjoy the fun activities of Alaska. In Indonesia, Tison’s father is a fisherman, in the remote region of North Maluku. Tison talks about his father and the fish he catches, now he is also catching fish. It is very different when you can drive on the lake and drill a hole in the two feet thick ice and put your hook and line down the hole.He went out this weekend and was so happy they caught nine small...
read moreNext Step
The next surgery for Tison is very close. The first surgery is healing well and the surgeon is confident he is ready for the next step. February 4 is the date set for the surgery.His translator, Hendra, was able to stay about a month longer than he was planning. He has enough time on his visa and he has been very gracious to give another month to assist in Tison’s transition. The next surgery will realign his great toe on his left foot and improve the range of motion for his legs. We are so pleased that Hendra is able to be here for the...
read moreThumbs Up
Thumbs up is the best way to describe Tison’s first surgery. Literally, Tison’s injured thumb is now up. It was bent backwards in a very awkward and useless angle. The thumb on his right hand was pointing backwards. It was painful just to look at it. It was completely non-functioning. The first surgery turned the thumb into its normal position. The surgeon placed a pin in the end of the thumb to hold it in the correct angle until it heals. Tison is actually starting to move it–he likes to show the progress it is making.The...
read moreRecovering
Tison came out of surgery thirsty and groggy. If you have every been in surgery, you know the feeling but likely do not remember much. He did very well following the surgery on his right wrist and thumb. He was taken to his room and had his right hand elevated. A good first night sleep followed and he was released the next morning.After arriving home he asked for French fries, chicken nuggets, and ketchup. The three main food groups for this guy. If you add rice and chicken soup you have the five main groups. He eats well and I think he has...
read moreFirst Surgery is Done
Tison came out of the two hour surgery, completing a major hurdle in the year of care in the U.S. The hospital staff did a wonderful job of preparing him and making him comfortable with the unknown ahead of him. He has never had surgery before. He was aware of why he was here and the day of his reconstruction had finally come. Liz Wood, the nurse who has a major role in his care, wrote her evaluation of the surgery, “Some work on his thumb and skin grafting to his right wrist to release that tight band was done. He (the surgeon) had to...
read moreFirst Surgery
Tison has had a wonderful Christmas and has seen a lot of new things. I have written about his adjustments and the many people who have been a part of his first month here in Fairbanks. He is a lot of fun and is really making strides in his English language. I am surprised at how fast he is picking up phrases and key words.The real reason he has come here is to get his burn injuries treated. Liz sent us a note with the awesome news that he has the date of January 11th (Monday) set for his first surgery. The surgeon will let us know tomorrow...
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