In July 2011 friend Deborah and I did our first 5K walk
using the online training. What a victory for both of us. One week later we
did another 5K with along with many others.
13
months ago TODAY I took a misstep and broke my left knee, then tried to
catch myself as I was falling and broke my left wrist. Both were out of
joint. Two ligaments in my knee had torn. The fire truck and rescue
squad came to the house. I got to choose the hospital where they took me
so I asked to go to the one closest to where my Mom lived so it would
be easy for her to visit me. I also had a good friend, Nancy, who worked
in the Emergency room.
The Othopedic surgeon who saw
me in the ER said that he would "try" to fix my knee but that I might
ultimately need a knee replacement. My knee and wrist were put back in
place in surgery. A metal bar was put on my leg so that my knee would
not bend. Then I went to the recovery room but then it was discovered
that I did not have ciruclation in my leg so I went back into surgery
and a vein was taken and turned upside down and sewn in to replace my
popleteal artery. If I had been in Africa and had the same accident, I
would have had to have my leg amputated!!!!
One
week later I had a metal plate and screws put in my wrist to fix my
Ulna. Still one week later I had a plate and screws to put my smashed
Tibia back together. A half week later I moved to a Rehabilitation
Center where I stayed for five weeks. I spent plenty of time in a
wheelchair.
I had to learn to use a walker by holding on with my right hand and my
left elbow and then hopping on my right foot. There were many muscles
that needed strengthening for me to do this very far. I had physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Eventually
I went home, but not to the same condo where I had been living. I
needed an apartment that had wide doors for my wheelchair and also a
walk in shower. Two weeks later I learned that I needed a total left
knee replacement but I had to wait until my Tibia was healed before that
June 19th surgery. I had broken my knee on March 5th and had my sixth
surgery on June 19th. During that time I was not allowed to put any
weight on my left leg. The day after my knee replacement I was up and
walking! I still needed weeks and weeks of physical therapy but the
photo to the right shows one of the first days that I walked with a
cane.
The
day I broke my knee and wrist I told my Orthopedic Surgeon that I
worked in Africa and needed to get back there. In September 2012 he gave
me permission to return and on December 2012 I retuned to my work at
teaching Nursing on the Equator. The one needing many Caregivers once
again became a Nursing Professor and a Caregiver!!!
Now
about that 5K. I do not know if I will ever do a 5K again but I am
walking outside for exercise. I need to look down as I walk to make sure
that I don't trip on something and fall again. I walk on bad pavement,
dirt paths, grassy areas, etc as I walk on the station and from one
hospital building to the next. I do try to take a short 15 minute walk most afternoons.
Today's Positives:
1. God has truly been GOOD to me to heal me and allow me to return to my work in Africa.
2. I am working on walking more. I walked 2 fifteen minute laps today instead of only one.
"Progress not perfection"!!
