The Ghost Inside’s Jonathan Vigil Offers Update on Ankle Fusion Surgery
Last September, The Ghost Inside vocalist Jonathan Vigil made the difficult decision to fuse his ankle after a series of unsuccessful surgeries to correct the joint, badly injured in the band’s 2015 bus crash. While the fusion operation would limit his mobility in the ankle forever, it promised (hopefully) to end the near-constant pain he’d been experiencing.
Vigil has posted an update on Instagram about all that went into his decision to fuse the joint: both the mental anguish that comes with his limited mobility and the relief at finally seeing real progress in his recovery. Here’s his post in full:
“Although I tend complain about the speed of it, progress is progress. I decided to go through with a (very dreaded) ankle fusion in September. After spending two years in/on wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and canes, I decided that I couldn’t live with the pain anymore. The benefit being a more solid joint with significantly reduced pain. The downside is a complete loss of movement in my ankle. Coming from being fairly active (playing shows, hockey, etc.) it was a very hard reality to accept. In my heart of hearts, I knew things were never gonna be the same again but that didn’t stop me from always wanting to believe otherwise.”
“You may read that as me being pessimistic but it’s actually the opposite. Things aren’t how they were anymore, they’re just different. It’s the fact that I can get around easier now with less pain. It’s me not having to rely on others to do basic things anymore. It’s me regaining self sufficiency. It’s waking up everyday a little bit better than the day before. It’s beginning to live my life again, not necessarily worse, just different.
“And at a time when it felt like it was going to be terrible forever, I progressed. Strides were made. Every day. Some days more than others, some more noteworthy than others but strides nonetheless. Today I progressed. My doctor told me that my boot can come off and I can start physical therapy to learn how to walk again. With no more pending surgeries or hospital stays planned, I can’t help but be happy.
“Progress is slow. Progress is tough. Progress is frustrating. But after everything, progress is still progress”
Meanwhile, Vigil’s bandmates are on their own paths to recovery. Drummer Andrew Tkaczyk — who had a leg partially amputated and suffered a number of other serious injuries — just released a solo instrumental EP. Guitarist Zach Johnson underwent a major surgery on his broken femur almost a full year ago, and a recent update indicates that it’s still healing with the possibility of further surgery not ruled out.
[via The PRP]
