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[Master Distractor]

Day -8:

I waited over nineteen years to write this diary.
It's my turn now.
My dream is coming true.

After following countless lengthening journeys for two decades, many unfortunately riddled with complications, I waited and chose my surgeon - the best in the world Dr. Marie Gdalevitch and her team at the Canadian Limb Lengthening Centre.

I always thought I had to do this alone, in a foreign country and deal with the high complication rate. Russia was my first choice all those years ago, with plans to fend off polar bears by ripping out the wires in my ex-fixes and use vodka for pain management.

I made plans to go to many other places after that, and whenever I thought I saved enough money to have surgery overseas, I would end up finding out about the untreated complications in the places I planned to go to.

So I constantly postponed until I had enough money to get somewhere safe, and by His Amazing Grace, I am finally able to do this in my home in Canada, in Montreal, with the CLLC, the safest place I can be.

If you are wondering how I was finally able to fund the surgery, I did it by selling eggs to Americans.

I also don't have to do this alone anymore and found supportive people - shout out to my ancillary lengthening team (in addition to the CLLC team), these people are all very dear to me for helping me get to my goal.

I am making this entry on the runway of my flight to Montreal from Vancouver. I'll be there in a few hours for my surgery in 8 days.

It's time to take off - and it's time to break these legs. The journey of a thousand miles begins.

Original posting timestamp: 2025-03-31, 11:30 PM (Ported from Cyborg4life Dis cord patient-diaries channel)

[Master Distractor]

Day -7:

Arrived at YUL Airport, I love this place, brings back memories. I was here 3 months ago for my in person consult with Dr. Gdalevitch. I also briefly met Canada's greatest documentary star and his pastries - thank you for your service to this country and this d (members here know him well). I salute you.

Having nothing written in English here is fantastic, and I feel like I’m in Europe tasting a baguette when I’m greeted by French gibberish. “Pepe Le Pew, sacre bleu and croissant to you too mademoiselle.”

Settling into my small, yet well equipped accommodation as I write this entry. It's well situated for the CLLC staff to get to me and close enough to the surgeon’s office where I need to see her in person for biweekly follow ups.

Busy day ahead tomorrow, need to stock up on supplies and outfit the apartment to be handi-capable while I’m regular-capable (shower chair, toilet safety rails etc). Super jet lagged and have not slept in over 30 hours getting various things done - a few small stretches then sleep now.

“Accént aigu and bon soir” folks. (edited)

Original posting timestamp: 2025-04-01, 5:37 PM (Ported from Cyborg4life Dis cord patient-diaries channel)

[Master Distractor]

Day -5:

Went on YouTube Live with Victor and other patients to discuss limb lengthening. I also went to the surgery centre to show the person taking me back home what to do. I have been told that I must be accompanied back after surgery.   

I met a Dr. Gdalevitch patient in person, he was cleared for full weight bearing and is doing well. We both went on Victor's live that day. Another Dr. G patient that I am in contact with also just became fwb. I expect to meet more Dr G patients soon. Fun times.

Original posting timestamp: 2025-4-05, 4:33 PM (Ported from Cyborg4life Dis cord patient-diaries channel)

[Master Distractor]

Day -3:

Disclaimer - Take nothing for fact from random people on the internet aka me and talk to a surgeon instead. The videos are of surgery that I found on CLLC's youtube channel.

I am mentally preparing myself for the surgery in a bit more detail.

The following is what I expect to happen in 3 days and I am quite excited for it:

I will be put under with spinal anesthetic.

The surgeon will use an external fixator during surgery to maintain rotation as seen here:

The surgeon will vent the canals to reduce fat embolism risk and to facilitate the osteotomy as mentioned here:

and here:


I believe the surgeon makes an incision at the troch entry point since I expect to get Antegrade Femur Trochanteric 10° (bend) nails. I believe they are 10.7mm in diameter, I do not know the length but I'll find out one day.

The surgeon will use a guide wire and reamers to prepare the canal to make more room for the implant. Here is a clip of it in action:

The surgeon uses a guide arm to insert the nail at the entry point up to the point of the osteotomy site as seen here:

She completes the osteotomy with an osteotome. This way the body will think its fractured so that it has better chance of making good regenerate bone, then the rest of the nail will be advanced to the distal femur.

See here:

There will be few more incisions to drill in the locking screws. The guide arm helps with the proximal locking screws and the surgeon uses a technique called perfect circles for the distal locking screws as mentioned here:


The surgeon locates the magnet and uses a marker to draw a cross so that I know where to place the erc during the distraction phase.

The surgeon will also draw smiley faces on my knees to make me happy (surgeon calling card). I will need to redraw the cross as it fades. Most likely knowing me, I will also redraw the smiley faces to remember my surgery day.

The surgeon distracts the nail intraoperatively to test it as seen here:

I am not sure if she retracts it right after, I should ask surgeon.

The surgeon will do a percutaneous ITB release - it will be a full release on the side since the IT band is quite resistant to lengthening.

One of the last steps is to inject botox into the quads and hamstrings to make the lengthening process a bit easier.


Here are all the incisions I expect to have, 8 small ones (nail entry point, 2 proximal screws, osteotomy site, 2 distal screws, 2 for fixator and soft tissue release). Explained here:


Here is a slightly longer video of the surgeon explaining things properly during surgery:


I gave consent for my surgery to be recorded as well for it to be studied by medical professionals. I wonder if I as the patient will be able to see it too, cuz that would be pretty cool.

Original posting timestamp: 2025-4-05, 4:33 PM (Ported from Cyborg4life Dis cord patient-diaries channel)

[Master Distractor]

Day -2

Ported my diary entries to the Limb Lengthening Forum for backwards compatibility, a website I lurked around for a long time on and off reading diaries. Iirc, there used to be even an older LL forum besides this one many years ago, don't know what happened to that.

I will be using Cyborg4life Dis cord patient-diaries Forum Channel and as permitted, Cyborg4life live streams as the primary means for documenting my journey. I will try to reflect entries on the forum from time to time for legacy reasons since so many people still use it, but I have mainly given up on the forum as it's usually down half the year.

Dis cord is a better way to contact me if you have any questions, but I'll do what I can to reply on here as well. Thank you.

[Master Distractor]

Day - 1

Was a beautiful day in Montreal. Went for my last run for a long while. Not to mention did my last stroll in the park without walking aides. Did my last prayers that I could do on my knees.  Meh. All function should come back in time - super happy for tomorrow.

I used to hate running 9 months ago, could barely do 10 mins without running out of breath, now can do 2.5 hr jog easily. It made me lose weight... but lately I gained 10 pounds since my last weigh in at CLLC... I don't know what they put in the food here, maybe they feed their poultry and beef poutine and I'm inheriting their calories.

[Master Distractor]

Day 0

Father, hallowed be your name.

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,
And let Your will be done in me.

Please give me my daily bread,
Today that being a successful surgery.

Forgive my sins, for I also forgive anyone who sins against me,
Forgive me for today if this is a sin, but I have been waiting for this day for a very long time and I am 100% certain that this is right for me.

Lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil.

In the name of the Christ Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, to the Father I pray this.
Amen.

Can't wait to see the surgical team in a few,
It all begins here,
I'm seeing nothing but my dream coming true,
While I'm staring at the world through my rearview,
To the end, my friend, I'm seeing nothing but my dream coming true,
While I'm staring at the world through my rearview.

See you on the other side.

[Master Distractor]

### DAY 0 cont. - approx ~ 1 hr post up

Out of recovery room and in my room, I think surgery was under 3 hours, went in around 8:30am,  making this entry 11:45am ish

Talked to Dr G quite a few times, answered 100 of my questions and she said she filmed my surgery and I can see it so I am super happy about that 😄. 

I will put it up when I get copy, maybe I can show Victor Cyborg4life too.

Honestly barely any pain, to no pain, but  anesthetic probably haven't worn off yet. I had more pain during wisdom.teeth removal surgery.. really not feeling much atm. Legs are still bit numb.

There were like 10 ppl in the op room, huge team.

Everyone is super nice. I feel well taken care of here.

This was peanuts so far.


I was able to drink coffee right after... was going insane not having my morning cofee. So happy got my coffee.

[Master Distractor]

Trying to attach photo in my surgery centre room , i can't cuz of limit, I ll format a link later, dis cord i did it easily,  you can see it there...

[Master Distractor]

Day 0 continued

Uploaded videos to YouTube of me walking around 8 hours post up that has orginal timestamps in case this diary seems unauthentic. Uploaded diary entries to dis cord. I ll backfill these entries later for ll forum. I need to sleep. Cuz y know, just had leg breaking surgery today