It was a cold and windy day the first time I met Dr. Weaver. I had non-healing ulcers and had been attempting to heal them at the wound clinic at one of the local hospitals. The method of treatment was not working and I seemed to be getting worse. The sores were not healing, the swelling of my leg was uncontrolled, the drainage was at its worse, and the treatment was both painful and non-productive.
Dr. Farhoud performed an abdominal angiogram to check on the blood flow in both legs. Everything was within limits but not as good as it should have been. Dr. Farhoud called Dr. Weaver immediately for an appointment for me and I was at Dr. Weaver’s the very next day.
Who was this doctor? I had been battling these sores for 9 months with very little success. Now, here was another doctor and more pain. Little did I realize that this would be the doctor that was not afraid to use new methods when the old standard procedures had failed. I was putting all my faith and hope in his hands – and I found that it was the best thing I could have done.
It took Dr. Weaver from the end of January to the end of April to heal the sores through the use of skin grafts. The loss of lymphatic fluids running down my leg had stopped completely. Was this the end of my problems? Dr. Weaver was kind and gentle when he explained that he had healed the symptoms but the underlying problem was chronic lymphedema and one I would be battling for the rest of my life.
The time it took to bring me to the place I am today was not easy and quite honestly, there were days I hurt. There were days I just wanted to throw my hands in the air and yell, “Enough! No more! I don’t want to do this.” Dr. Weaver allowed me to have those days, of feeling like this would never end. He knew that I needed time to vent at the unfairness of all that had happened. Dr. Weaver was wise enough to let me complain so we could get on with the healing.
Through all the skin grafts, wrapping my legs tightly, and infections it was a bumpy road to the place I am today. And as I look back on the experience here at Central Kansas Podiatry Clinic, I find that I was treated not as just another patient, but as a friend. And as the days here are coming to a close I find I am a little sad. From the time I walked in the door and was greeted by the ladies at the front desk, to the staff (who have gone above and beyond to make things as comfortable as possible), to Brooke Weaver, she is the one who wraps my legs, and to Dr. Weaver himself – I feel like I am more than a patient. I am a friend.
I may not be as healthy as I want to be – but I am not as bad as I could have and or would have been. I owe Dr. Weaver for getting me back on my feet. Now it is my responsibility to Dr. Weaver and the staff to stay as healthy as possible and follow the guidelines they have set for me. It is with all my heart that I say, “thank you” to Dr. Weaver and the staff.
Carol S.