Thank you all so much - Update · 4:14pm Sep 24th, 2021
So, the uh? The jaw thing? Remember how I said I needed it before the public option surgery that was happening?
I just got a letter that the major surgery's been scheduled for less than a month from now.
Because of you wonderful folk, I was able to organize the first surgery for Wednesday. A letter came in my mailbox this morning telling me that the major surgery this was preparing me for has been scheduled way sooner than I anticipated - The 18th of next month.
If it wasn't for all your help, I wouldn't have been able to get this first surgery in time. I'm still looking down the barrel of maybe a 30% chance of permanent nerve damage, but the chances of my jaw just shattering entirely goes down to nearly nothing.
It's the difference between being terrified for this, and being excited for it. Instead of worrying about how bad this could go, I get to look forward to the fact that a month from now I'm going to be able to recognize my own reflection in the mirror - my jaw's so messed up that my brain's mental image of my face doesn't match what it sees, enough to give me really bad dysmorphia. On top of that, it'll be the first time in years I'll be able to talk for more than half an hour at a time without getting lockjaw.
So, bottom of my heart, thank you so much again to everyone who contributed to making that possible.
As has become custom, have some more Twinkie.
My first thought is the various trans people you can probably further empathize with as a result of having gone through this. Probably not worth it, per se, but I'm sure you'll take whatever good you can find.
Oh my goodness, that's still just horrifying. Maybe the numbers are inflated to make sure people know what they're getting in to? Humans are really bad at visualizing percent chances. I hope everything goes well for you!
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The thing is they're slicing my jaw off, moving it down, and then lengthening it on both sides with titanium, while trying not to damage the nerve inside of what they're cutting. Apparently it's an art as much as a science to not damage it in the process.
I'm glad that worked out so well. :)
Good luck indeed on it working out all-the-way well, without nerve damage or other complications!