The Recovery Part 3 – One Step At A Time
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.
Back at the Hospital and seeing familiar faces
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.
The First Steps
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.
The Road Ahead
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.
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.”
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