Erin K. - Ribs Repair Recovery and Healing

🏥❤️‍🩹You may recall that I slipped on a small patch of ice and broke four ribs in December 2024. On Friday, I underwent surgery in Tacoma at the Trauma center to repair two of the damaged ribs. Here is a simplified explanation of the procedure, presented by Allison Grace. 

“Usually, broken ribs heal by themselves, but these two ribs never healed properly. They stayed loose and unstable, causing pain, clicking, and popping feelings. The doctors decided to fix the problem. Think of the ribs like two broken pieces of a fence that never grew back together. Rib #9: The surgeons cleaned out the old damaged bone, applied special bone-healing putty, and attached a metal plate and screws to hold the rib in place. Rib #10: This rib was more complicated due to its shape. The surgeons cleaned it up, applied bone-healing putty, and used a special system with a plate on the inside and a plate on the outside of the rib, like a sandwich: Plate-Rib-Plate. This made the rib very stable. The doctors also inserted a temporary chest tube to help the lung recover after surgery. The good news is: Both ribs were successfully repaired”

🙏🫶🏼I am on day three in the hospital. Calling all prayer warriors to pray specifically for my left lung to fill back up with air. They had to deflate it to complete the surgery. I can’t go home until the lung tube comes out. They will X-ray again tomorrow morning-Monday. Thanks FB family!