Light at the End of the Tunnel

Three months from the injury and six weeks have elapsed since my ankle surgery, and my sweet wife drove me to the surgeon for x-rays to see how far I have progressed since the operation. No weight bearing since May 24 has been trying, but I have been diligent, and hopefully my self-discipline will have paid off.

I rolled into the office waiting area, picking up glances from other patient using crutches or in casts. One man told me he had a wheel roller like mine but had to return it because he flipped over backwards twice while trying to use his. He was a significantly larger man than I, so I could figure the physics involved with his predicament.

The x-ray tech snapped a couple pics and I waited a bit anxiously for the surgeon to appear, hoping for an optimistic report. When She walked in, she clapped her hands, smiled, and said, "Let's start putting some weight on that foot." It was if I was given a winning lottery ticket. Rather than progress a month at a time, as I was told earlier was the norm, I get to place 25% weight on it for a week, then 50% the second, 75% the third and 100% the fourth week. Four weeks from today to 100% weight bearing, all in the boot, of course, but still a major milestone.

I will start PT the second week in August, and I can even try to wear a running shoe on occasion. This will be just in time for school to start, so the timing might just be perfect. I can get rid of my wheel roller and save the crutches for emergency use after that. My screws should be ready to come out by December, and the doctor said I may even be walking fully healed by January, ahead of the April 2013 she had predicted. I guess since I did not fit the obese, over 70, diabetic, female, and sedentary norms of this injury, I am ahead of the curve.

I am grateful for the many who have prayed and still pray for me. I never underestimate that amazing tool in God's healing. It's still a long way from trying to jog a few steps, but I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and for that I am grateful. I am also grateful to be moving so much more quickly. Armed with my trusty crutches for stability, my boot and my good shoe did some walking today, and it was so much nicer. I felt like I was ready to start running again -- or at least walking loosely toting the crutches. I will take what I can at this point. Look out, August, a walking man is coming!