OUR STORY

When we last spoke, I was struggling to get the hang of crutches and working on my stationary bike with little to no resistance. I talked about the struggle to find patience and the need to stay busy while I awaited my next doctor’s appointment. Well the afternoon of June 10th had finally arrived.

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Back at the Hospital and seeing familiar faces

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I went for x-rays and then waited patiently at orthopedics, with a knot in my stomach. Eager to shed some light on my situation, the questions continued to roll around in my head: Had the bone graph taken? Would I need to undergo more surgeries or will I be given the OK to put some weight on my left leg and start the next phase of the recovery?
With much relief, he walked in with a huge smile on his face and explained that he was very content with the way the bone is healing I can go ahead and start trying to put some weight on my left side, according to pain tolerance. My wife and I held each other tightly, both of us trying to hold back tears. As we left, Elo booked the next appointment with at the reception and I starred at my left foot as I placed it fully on the ground and applied some weight. Miraculously, there was no pain.

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The First Steps

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The sun was shinning in between a valley of clouds as we drove to my brother Dave’s house. While sitting on the back deck talking about how I can start learning to walk again, my wife suddenly said “would you like to try a step?”. It had never dawned on me that this whole time while running my mouth, I could’ve been walking! So I got up with both crutches, my right foot firmly on the ground and I put my left foot on the floor. Still no pain. Then I handed my left crutch to Elo and put a little more weight. So far so good. Then after a big deep breath I put my left foot forward, using the right clutch to help relieve the weight and took a step forward. No pain. So I kept going and slowly but surely walked to the other side of the deck and back again. I am still in disbelief that after 4 and a half months and several surgeries, there was no pain at all on those first couple steps.

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The Road Ahead

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The weeks since have involved lots of exercises, stretching my ankle to regain mobility and walking as much as possible with a cane. It has been beyond incredible to have the freedom of being able to walk again and I am so very thankful.

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At one point, I was told that if I would be back biking the country roads around my house by the end of the summer, I would be very lucky. Once I got the OK to put some resistance on my bike trainer, I continued to practice and got my leg stronger. Well, June 22nd, 5 months and 2 days from the accident, I got back on my bike and did a 30 minute bike ride with my wife Elo. While riding past the open fields and feeling the warm wind against my skin, I thought about everything I’ve been through: the morning of the accident, seeing my dad while I was in a coma, leaving the hospital to go to rehab and then leaving the rehab to go home. I thought about all the pain and all the tears that led to that moment of being able to do something I love, with the women of my life. If there is a way to describe that feeling, I personally don’t have the words to convey it. All I can say to you is that if ever you are in a dark place, confused and unsure if you will ever get out, trust me, it gets easier. You will find a way to pick yourself up. It won’t be easy, but there is always a way to get out of that ditch. Just breathe and say “I’m still here.”