It has been a little while since the last time I have blogged. So here is a little catch up on what has been going on. In the last month or so more titanium mesh screen has been coming through a minor split in my mouth, though I was told to expect some of the mesh to come through as the months passed, I was still concerned that the amount of mesh showing was more than it should be. There are areas where the mesh is that hurts and I thought that meant the bone graft wasn't working. One side of the bone felt strong while the other side was hurting and uncomfortable. But then I went up to Portland for my 4 month check up, Dr. Dierks looked in my mouth and said that the bone graft was working exactly as he wanted it to. The bone was growing and looks strong enough to put in the base of the implants. So this is the next step to my journey...
During Thanksgiving break I am going in to see my dentist to have impressions taken of my mouth. The impressions will be used to create a set of barium teeth. These teeth will be used while the doctors do a cone scan of my face. A cone scan is a 3 dimensional scan to allow the doctors to use a computer to digitally place the teeth implants in the most accurate place in my upper jaw before they put the bases of the implants in during my surgery. We originally were looking at having my next surgery during Christmas break, but because of the time of year it is with my family owning Great Harvest it is the most busiest time of year for our bakeries. My doctor said that it would be up to us whenever we wanted to schedule the surgery, because there is no rush to put the base of the implants in we could do my surgery months out if we wished to. But I don't want to wait months out because of how uncomfortable it is to have titanium mesh sticking out and the sooner we can get this surgery done the closer I am to having my permanent teeth put in. So currently we have my next surgery penciled in for January 3rd.
I want to thank everyone of you who prayed for my mouth and the bone graft to grow. The power of prayer is incredible. Even when everything seems as if it's not working, it turns out that it is exactly how it should be. The last four months have gone by so quickly it's crazy to be seeing Thanksgiving and Christmas already coming and my 10th surgery on it's way!
I wanted to share with you guys something my mom shared with me, it's the story of Elisha in 2 Kings 13:21. This small passage says " Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet." I think it's crazy how the dead man's bones were able to bring a man to life. My mom told me this after my last surgery to remember to thank God for the person who donated their bones to be used for someone else, in this case for me. Just as their bones were dead, they were mixed with my blood platelets and were brought to life in 4 months time. Now my body has taken over the bone and growing it's own.
God is incredible.
