Well Michael's saga turns another corner. The decision has been made and he will not test in May. Oddly enough this decision did not come from the ISKF or our regional officers. Nor did it come from his Sensei. Rather it came from his doctor and parents.
Wednesday we went for follow up with Michael's podiatrist . We pretty much knew that surgery was the only option for Michael's misshapen, flat, over worked , even abused feet. but we honestly didn't know the whole of it. Wednesday's office visit consisted of the doctor telling us that he was in over his head with this one and that , though he would assist, the surgery would be preformed by a doctor who specializes in these surgeries. We were told to have Michael at the surgeon's office yesterday morning at nine. Mike called off work for a half of day to go and we were at the office by 8:45. We were called back soon after arriving and the fun began. Michael was called from the room for his first set of X rays, then his second, then third,fourth, fifth, Then the doctors assistant came in to examine him. More X rays, he said. When Michael was gone this time the surgeon came in. He introduced himself to Mike and I and told Mike to take his shoes off. We explained that Michael , who was the patient , was in X ray. The surgeon said OK , obviously surprised that he was still in X ray and said he would be back. True to his word soon the doctor was back and so was Michael. An exam was done and Michael was sent again to X ray. It was now lunch time so after Mike let work know that he would not be in at all, we talked about lunch plans. Mike suggested that we hold hot dogs to Michael's feet and let the radiation from all the X rays cook them for us. OK not funny but sadly true. I am not real sure whether that was his last trip to X ray or if there were more but the surgeon came back in and explained what needed done. ASAP was recommended as the doctor felt that there were tears in the tendons which are causing all the pain. An MRI could confirm this but since Michael's karate has been suffering because of the pain anyway, we scheduled surgery. He will have the left foot done on April 16th. The right foot will be done after the cast comes off and the pins come out of the left ( about two to three months).
Please continue to pray for Michael, as he has a long road ahead. Though, the good news is that since he has been winning karate competitions with this problem, once it is fixed he should be unstoppable.
