Dustin LaFortune

Archive for August, 2011

Thank you for all the emails looking for updates and wondering on how Dustin is doing now. Here is a little something that his mom got to me a few days ago in-between life happening:

I took Dustin for his pre-op physical exam today. He’s healthy and “fat” (255 lbs). LOL! No medical or health issues. Dustin laughed all the way to Wendy’s to buy his ‘Baconator Combo’. It seems he is quite amused by his weight because he describes anything OVER 250 as fat. After much chuckling, he said the first order of business was to sit on his brother Ryan. Next, he said that if anybody gave him a hard time about his weight, he would ask for counselling and allow some pretty therapist to pat him on the shoulder and offer him a kleenex to wipe away the tears (of laughter). He was a total brat today but in a good mood after a sleepless night spent talking about what happened to him. Anyway…Dustin is healthy is very pleased with himself.

We also got back from the plastic surgeon’s office. Good news and bad news: the liposuction to transfer fat from Dustin’s butt to his lips has to happen before the full flap grafts and facial reconstruction. So, between now and Sept. 9th, Dustin will go into hospital and have his facial scars erased. In September, the surgeon will pull skin from the inside of Dustin’s top and bottom lips then inject fat. As soon as his mouth is sufficiently healed, he’s goes back into hospital for ear surgery no.#2 (more cartilage removal and his ears will be ’sewn’ to the side of his head). Then the dental and plastic surgeons will begin the serious reconstruction.

Surgeries still to be done:

• bone grafts to reconstruct and repair Dustin’s nose
• bone grafts to reconstruct and repair Dustin’s eye orbits
• bone grafts to reconstruct and repair Dustin’s cheeks and jaw
• micro-surgical procedure to fix muscles and ligaments
• two to three more operations on Dustin’s ears
• complete dental reconstruction (extractions, crowns, pivots, veneers)
• full flap grafts (3 surgeries) to reconstruct lips
• full flap grafts on Dustin’s legs

Dustin has also been very active in the following activites:

• adventure therapy (kayaking and climbing)
• Disabled Sailing Association
• Tai Chi
• Trauma Counselling
• working daily/weekly two ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) Support Workers

Dustin is also attending classes at The Victoria Brain Injury Society. His mentor  meets with him (one-on-one) every Tuesday. Dustin will be featured on their new website and he’s represented VBIS all over the city.

He is also wanting to get the number of supporters to his NSAT page up over 1000!!