The Navy Plastic Surgeon
How would I have ever known or guessed when I entered the military that I would have ended up with a plastic surgeon at some point? I hope that none of you ever need to have one. I like my plastic surgeon, and yes, I am forever indebted to him for doing what he has done for my leg. However, I would have rather known him under different circumstances. I have spent hours upon hours with him over the last year through surgery after surgery fixing and saving my leg. He has done an unbelievable job in repairing, removing, and replacing damaged nerves. He has done things to my leg that I never knew could be done.
How I Met My Plastic Surgeon
I met my plastic surgeon after months of other treatments here at Walter Reed NMMC. I spent months upon months of other treatments but nothing worked to ease my different pain issues. Then in August of 2016, after months of treatments and an EMG that revealed damaged and dead nerves in my right leg, I met a Harvard graduate. Yes, it is true. My plastic surgeon is a Harvard graduate. He is also a naval officer.
On our first appointment, we went over my options and they all led to surgery. My first nerve surgery was on August 4, 2016. He moved one nerve and then removed another. You would not believe how much relief this gave me! However, we also knew that this was the first of a few surgeries I would have. The second one was October 22, 2016. This was to remove a nerve completely, and it was a success. Then I had to wait 90 days to see how well I recovered. Then around November, we realized much more had to be done. At that time, we also found out that I had developed what is known as CRPS, or Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. If you have it, you know there is no cure. It comes with a lot of redness, swelling, and skin color changing to purple. The pain that comes with CRPS is unbelievable. I have been asked now over a million times what my pain level is on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. My pain level is usually around a 7 and even higher at times.
My next surgery was on Feb 7, 2017, done by my plastic surgeon. This was to move a saphenous nerve to behind my calf muscle. I hopefully have only two more surgeries to go: one on March 22 and one after that. I have nothing but the highest level of confidence in the plastic surgeon to fix what is left to fix.
Thank You
To Naval Officer and Plastic Surgeon Doctor Soussa, I can never thank you enough for what you have done and continue to do to help me. You and your team have done an unbelievable job, and I look forward to the day you don’t have to call me your patient, just your friend. I have seen many plastic surgeons out there do amazing jobs at Walter Reed. From all of us wounded warriors, veterans, and our families, I want to say, “thank you.” A team member told me the other day that it’s my job to win the battles and the war. And it is their job to fix me up when I’m wounded. I guess that speaks for itself.
- What’s Missing in Today’s Military: Integrity - March 20, 2018
- What’s Missing in Today’s Military: Honor - March 19, 2018
- Veterans without Care: What’s Wrong with the VA? - December 18, 2017
