March 12, 2026

This morning the day started early at the orthopaedic centre. It was an important appointment, one I had been looking forward to with a mixture of curiosity and hope.

The consultation began with two X-rays of my foot. Their purpose is simple but essential: to check that everything is in the right place and that the bones are fusing as expected. Over time, these few minutes under the machine have become almost familiar. Yet they always carry a certain weight, because these images tell the story of the healing process.

Next came a more practical step: changing the dressing. The good news is that the pump has now been permanently removed. Only a simple bandage remains on the scar. To support the healing process, the wound specialist continues to use a method that often surprises people who are unfamiliar with it: honey. No long list of sophisticated medications, just a natural product whose antibacterial and healing properties have been known for centuries. It goes to show that sometimes nature does the job better than the most complex technologies.

Then came the moment I had been waiting for most: my discussion with Professor Krause. He examined the scar carefully and was very satisfied with how it has developed. The X-rays confirm this positive impression: the bone fusion is progressing well.

One particularly important point concerned the bone transplant. In order to fill the gap in the ankle joint, bone material had been taken from my pelvis and transplanted there. The graft is now well integrated and shows no signs of rejection. The plates and screws, meanwhile, are perfectly in place and show no movement compared with the previous images.

All this positive news has a very concrete consequence: it is time to increase the load on the foot. Until now, I had to limit the pressure to around 20 kg (roughly the weight of the leg). The next step is to increase this to 45 kg. In practical terms, this means I need to gradually reduce my use of the medical scooter. This device has been a faithful companion over the past months, indeed years, perhaps even a little too faithful. By keeping the foot completely off the ground, it prevents the skeleton and the bones from receiving the mechanical stimulation that is necessary for optimal healing.

The cast, however, will remain part of the programme for a few more weeks. I must wear it until 8 April, when I have my next appointment with the surgeon. New X-rays will be taken that day. If everything continues to progress well, I will probably be able to say goodbye to the cast then. It will be quite a symbolic moment, as this accessory has accompanied me for nearly three years.

As for the medication, there is also positive progress. I can stop taking the antibiotics as well as the associated vitamin supplements. Two treatments will still be necessary, however. The first is Pregabalin, which helps to reduce the nerve-related problems in the foot, spasms that are sometimes painful, but above all rather unpleasant. The second is Calcimagon D3, a combination of calcium and vitamin D3 that is essential for bone formation. The probiotics I have been taking to counter the effects of the antibiotics on the intestinal flora can gradually be reduced depending on how things evolve.

After so many very medical months, it is pleasant to end on a lighter note. Tomorrow Deniz will celebrate his 33rd birthday. To mark the occasion, I am inviting him to the Japanese restaurant Tanaka, a well-known address in Bern.

Selfishly, I am particularly looking forward to this dinner. It has been a long time since I last ate Japanese food. And to be honest, I can be a little demanding in that area. After having had the chance to live in Japan, many restaurants give me the impression, let us say diplomatically, of interpreting Japanese cuisine somewhat… in a European way.

But Tanaka is very highly rated, and I have an excellent memory of it. I had dinner there more than ten years ago, and it was remarkable. So I hope to rediscover that authentic flavour there and perhaps, over a few sashimi, celebrate not only another step towards the end of this long healing journey, but above all Deniz’s birthday. 🍣