Kelowna city Coun. Charlie Hodge is back in hospital.
Hodge, who has been battling an infection in his jaw for several weeks after having a severely impacted wisdom tooth removed, underwent emergency surgery Wednesday after doctors told him they believed the infection was in both the soft tissue, and the hard bone, of his jaw.
“Which basically means some nasty work going on and likely some jaw replacement or mending with titanium plates,” said Hodge is a brief written statement prior to the surgery.
On Thursday, his wife Teresa said Hodge had dead bone removed from his jaw and a plate installed, but was in good spirits and doing well following the surgery.
“I know he is happy to have this over with and concentrating on a speedy recovery,” she said.
“The doctor says he will be in hospital several days. If I know Charlie he will want out as fast as possible so he can check out airport security and see if he can set off the bells and whistles.”
Hodge, a popular columnist with the Capital News, said prior to Wednesday’s surgery, he had had four different operations and four other teeth removed in a bid to deal with his latest illness but none of that solved the problem.
“And now the infection is in the bone,” he said.
The jaw problem is not connected to his emphysema issues, but he said his weakened immune system has not helped with his his latest health battle.
Two years ago Hodge was hospitalized with pneumonia for five days.