One Complete Year of the Monopod
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009On October 28th of last year, for better or worse, my life was completely transformed. Due to a massive infection, my left foot and ankle were amputated. Things I had taken for granted my entire life, like getting up in the morning and walking to the bathroom, were now goals to be achieved after weeks of trial and error. At that time, I felt completely overwhelmed and completely betrayed by my own body.
Now, after the passage of an entire year of healing, exercising, rehabing, and working I can look back and take measure of what has happened, what has been learned, and what remains to be done. The amputation site itself is fully healed, and from all appearances the surgeon did a beautiful job. One of the first things a nurse will say when they look at the amputation site is how good it looks. Wearing and walking on the prosthetic has been a real challenge, mostly due to my lack of balance. I have no feeling in the prosthetic, and due to neuropathy I have no feeling in my right foot either. This makes standing a lot more work than I remember, but I am getting the hang of it. The broken femur in the right leg is still healing, and the right leg is still pretty weak. I do what I can to make it stronger, but I have to be careful not to re-fracture the bone.
I have learned a lot about humility, and the lessons were probably the most important part of my recovery. My ego has shrunken several sizes and I cannot help but feel that I am a better man for it. I have also learned about patience and hard work, and the rewards to be earned through their exercise. It is do to them that I am able to be independent with my prosthetic and rejoin the daily struggle. Finally, I was once again reminded that I have a wonderful wife and family, who have given their undivided support to me whenever I needed it.
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October 28th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Been a year already? Man! Where does the time go?
You have no idea how happy I am for you, and how proud I am of you.
Having endured some of what you have endured, I can relate to your situation very well. Having witnessed all of your trials and tribulations over the last three decades and the way you always bounce back, I can say that I have truly witnessed miracles.
All the best to you!
October 30th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I don’t know if I’d call them miracles, but I have gotten through some situations which I didn’t think I could. I credit that to you and the rest of my family and friends who have so unselfishly supported me.
BTW, are you out of the chair yet?
October 31st, 2009 at 2:08 am
Not quite. I still use it for the most part but sometimes I can use my crutches. I am almost done. The wound is just about closed.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:15 am
“I have a wonderful wife and family, who have given their undivided support to me whenever I needed it.”
And that is indeed, undivided support for the soul in all of us!
Continued good luck to you in improving your health, strength and balance. You’re really working for it and certainly deserve it!