A nurse came in and got Kathy ready for surgery. She took her to an operating room. Dr. Western was waiting with his crew. Kathy’s lower legs were unbolted from the knees and the blood supply lines unhooked. The legs were hooked to an infusion machine in the corner. Her legs were no longer a part of her. The metal knee joints were unbolted and a cast made to slip over the stumps. It was removed and ACE bandages wrapped on middle of her stumps. A shot was put in her back and suddenly her stumps had no feeling. A belt was placed over her stomach to hold her in place and a tube was placed in her bladder. She didn’t like the tube but she was glad. She had been getting uncomfortable. A clamp was attached to the metal rod in each stump and they were pulled up and held by an overhead frame. Sterile sheets covered everything but the end of her stumps.

Dr. Western and another doctor would operate. “I’m going to do the left and Dr. Foltz will do the right at the same time. After you’re out of here we’ll do your lower legs. They’re fine for now. You just don’t have to be there for that surgery.”

With that they started. The plastic cap on her stumps was opened and the bad chips found. Fred made a test and verified that they were gone. The third degree burns under the chips confirmed the test. They removed the chips and the damaged flesh. The nerves were relocated and the new chips were installed. The networking chip was installed and all of the wiring was installed and tested. The stumps were sealed and Kathy was taken to a room.

When they left Kathy made an inventory. She had no lower legs. Her stumps were sore and in casts. The chips in her stumps were experimental. There was no programming for them. She couldn’t sit up. Her stumps were in traction. On the positive side she had not permanently lost her legs. With that thought, she fell asleep.

Kathy’s Legs: Chapter One, The Accident

Kathy’s Legs: Chapter Five, Brad Becomes a Patient

Kathy’s Legs: Chapter Seven, Kathy is Without Her Legs Again