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Justin is scheduled for surgery – 4th on whatever the surgical equivalent of the docket is – this morning. I am sure they will call me with the details and I will update this post with that info as soon as I have it. — 11:25 – Mom just called. They took him back about an hour ago, and he has about an hour left to go. He got the doctor that my cousin-in-law Shelly recommended, and he is under General Anesthesia, and also has a nerve-block behind his knee, which should greatly reduce pain during the first day or so of recovery. He will have several incisions – the largest being below his knee cap, where they will be inserting the rod. The rod is about 12mm in diameter, and the full length of his Tibia. It goes through the center of the bone, and in order to make room for it they will be reaming out the bone marrow. They say that the marrow will regenerate within a few months. He'll have several smaller incisions along his leg, wherever they have to add screws. He's been lectured by just about everyone who knows why he's there, and I'm sure he's sick of it. I know most of you probably disagree with me, but I support his decision to not let it stop him from riding motorcycles. I would also support his decision if it were the opposite, because I think he knows the risks just as much as anyone else right now, and it's his own decision to make. — 1:20 – Justin is out of surgery, but my parents haven't been able to see him yet. He made it through and should see a full recovery eventually. There was a lot of internal trauma (my opinion: potentially because of? the careless people at Easton Hospital who sent him home instead of rushing him to surgery), and I don't recall what the doctor said would result from this, but there you have it. He will be in the hospital overnight tonight, and if all goes well, should be discharged tomorrow afternoon. He'll be in a velcro half-leg cast, 100% non-weight-bearing for 6-8 weeks. After that he can start touching his toes to the floor. It will be several months, and lots of physical therapy, before he is back to 100% weight-bearing and walking normally. It will obviously be quite a while before he can drive a car, let alone a motorcycle.

What did the Easton, MD hospital do wrong? Quite a bit.

My cousin Ellen and her husband Charlie had their baby yesterday. His name is William Terrance Davis. He is 8 lbs., 19 and a half inches – which is roughly the same as me. (When I was born, Zach, not today.) He has all of his requisite fingers and toes and his parents are both reportedly doing well. Congratulations Ellen & Charlie!