Dad don’t read this.
So everyone is asking what happened to me and what’s wrong and what’s going on and how quickly I will recover, so I figured I’d explain it all as best I can.
When the bomb went off, something made a huge gash in the back of my right leg right near the bend of my knee. It is about a 9-10 inch horizontal cut. It was so deep that it severed my main artery and 2 main nerves. I lost a ton of blood. I think I got at least 4 units, but I’m not sure if I got more than that. My left leg has some cuts on it as well, but nothing that required stitches or anything. It is all black and blue and ugly with scratches and cuts, but it will heal fine. Back to my right leg. So in my first surgery they repaired my artery and cleaned it all up. A portion of my calf was also cut off/blown off? But it was small so it’s not like I’ll have a huge gap in the back of my leg where my calf should be :-). Ok so second surgery I have no idea what they did. Third surgery they reattached my nerves and closed up the wound. My entire leg is in a splint with my knee kept bent at an angle. The reason for this is so that the nerves don’t get stretched while they are trying to heal. I also have a boot on my foot. I am getting a hard cast on Tuesday and it will again be my entire leg. And I’m sure I will keep the boot on my foot.
My foot has no feeling. I have a small spot in the arch of my foot where I can feel if someone is touching me, but other than that, nothing. I also can’t move my foot or my ankle. This is because of the nerves being cut. Nerves repair at a very slow rate. In my case, since the nerve now has to “grow” from my knee to my toes, they said it will take roughly 400 days for the nerve to get all the way down. So I may not feel, or be able to move my toes for over a year. I’m not sure what this means for walking. Also, since it is my right leg this also means I may not be able to drive for over a year. Which is a very frustrating thought!
Since the nerves have been reattached I have CRAZY nerve sensations going on all in my foot and toes which is a really good sign, but still no feeling. So if you are praying for my injuries maybe this will help you be a little more specific. Pray my nerves repair way faster than expected, pray I regain feeling and movement in my foot/ankle/toes, pray that I don’t die being in a full leg cast for 8 weeks :-), and pray that my wound heals up perfectly.
Thank you all so much for the unbelievable support, love and prayers. I certainly couldn’t do any of this without you.
Gina DiMartino 
Have been praying for you Gina as well as the rest of your family since I heard. But reading this helps to pray more specifically – thank you for sharing. Karen
Brave you are. Thanks for sharing this…I will most certainly be praying every day for those nerves! God bless!
I know we haven’t spoken in a long time but know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I am currently a rehabilitation counselor (not drug rehab, although I did that for awhile). My focus is on disabilities – temporary or long term. Try not to worry about all you can’t do right now and focus on healing and regaining strength. When the time is right there are devices and all kinds of things that can help you drive etc. Also don’t forget about your emotional healing.. I’m sure there are a ton of churches and agencies who are providing counseling maybe one can come to you, if they haven’t already. If you need to get in touch with one let me know and I can help. Your continued faith and positive attitude are inspiring. Just remember that even in our moments of doubt Jesus is still holding us in his arms. He can handle it!
Gina:
We are praying for you and your family too. Thankful for the surgeries you’ve had thus far and for the specific items you’ve listed for prayer. Be strong and get well. Jean & Dave
Gina,
Thanks for this! I am praying for you and your family. I will pray that your nerves heal properly and that God continues to give you strength as you progress. It is encouraging to see your faith through this trial! Know that I have friends in Brazil praying too! Love ya!
Thanks Gina. Like many others – I’m definitely praying for you and your healing. Also for the whole family. I bet you guys are learning so much. I guess if you have a big cast your rehab isn’t painful right now? I can always wish.
Gina, thank you for the specific list of prayer requests. I will definitely be praying for healing faster than the doctors imagine and for patience as you recover with your cast. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us. Continued prayers for you and your entire family!
Gina, your journey is going to change many lives – mine specifically for one. I’m praying and confident that the God who brought you through will continue to protect and show His great love to you and your family. (He must have great plans for you otherwise we wouldn’t be reading this!) You are greatly loved by the Christens.
Thanks for sharing. I’m sure it’s not the easiest post to write…because putting things in print (at least for me) makes things permanant and real…which can be another kind of scary. I’m glad to know this, because as you said, now I know how to pray better for you! One day at a time, girl. One day at a time. Sending my love!!
I’m a friend of your Pastor, David Whiting. I attended the 16:5 conference. I want you to know that we are praying for you. I will be telling your story to our church http://www.evangelbaptist.com on Sunday. Our people will pray for your recovery. Thanks for the posts. May God comfort you in your pain and strengthen you and use you to be a blessing and help to many.
Gina, you don’t know me, though I hope to meet you in heaven one day :). I am a friend of JB and she has shared your updates so even people like me in Colorado can be praying for you. As I read your post on your injuries, I felt a deep understanding of your healing process – in a much, much smaller way. I had surgery a year and a half ago to repair a herniated disc in my back, but before the surgery, I had ignored the pain for far too long, causing severe nerve damage down my left leg, leaving me immobile. The doctors told me the same thing about nerve repair – how long it takes. After a year and a half, I finally feel mostly back to normal, though I still have weird sensations on rare occasions. I too couldn’t feel sensation in my foot for a few months after the surgery, and while your injuries are on a much more severe and extensive level, please know that somehow God will give you the grace to make it – it is day by day. I still look back at that time of immobility as the darkest and best times of my connections with God. I’ll never regret what He allowed me to go through.