From 5K to Wheelchair and Back!

 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"!!