Mary's Legs

After being in Idaho this summer, right after the accident, it's been hard for me to be back home in Texas - so far away from everything, unable to help, and left wondering "what does it mean that Mary's legs are looking good???" I've been wondering, what does "good" mean? There was obviously before-the-accident good, and then there's the picture in my head of what her legs might eventually look like (typical burn scars that I've seen). So where do Mary's legs fit into that spectrum, because it's quite a difference! Anyway, I imagine that many of you out there who keep up with this blog are wondering the same thing. Well, a few days ago Mary posted this picture on her Facebook page. It was taken from a Telemed camera from the appointment that she just had in Boise with the SLC docs. I asked her if it was OK if I posted it on the blog and she said "of course!" All I can say is, you go girl!! Way to have confidence and way to let it out there! I was pretty surprised at how RED her legs were!! And then I was wondering what the "white" patches were on her legs. Evidently the patches that look white in the picture are the parts of her legs that were second degree burns, but were not used as donor sites. So the white is actually just flesh colored. And all the red parts are either the donor sites (on the front of her thighs) or are the actual skin grafts themselves. I asked how long they would be so red and sore looking, and they will likely be quite red for a long time (a year?). The donor sites on her back are losing some of their red color already, so hopefully her legs will follow suit. But honestly...who cares about her having red legs??? She'll be in compression pants for the next year, almost 24 hours a day, and those legs are going to see the light of day for a long time! Leggings are going to be her new best friends! I'd also like to comment on the fact that the day after she sent me this picture, I also saw her proofs for her engagement pictures. WOW!! She looks gorgeous! Not a soul on earth would ever see those pictures and think that this was a girl who lost over 50% of her skin to burns and grafts within the past two months. No way. So some red legs??? It could be much worse! I can't wait to see her walking like a champ, looking amazing, on her wedding day!! So keep working hard, Mary!!! Push yourself and that stubborn skin to it's limit. I know it's hard and painful, but I know you can do it. As stubborn as you are, I know you won't let that stiff skin beat you! (OK...sisterly pep talk is over.) Mary was fitted for her compression pants on Monday, and she was told that her wounds should be all healed up within the next two weeks. Two weeks!! That's pretty amazing. Looking good Mary!!