CAST OFF, LEARN TO WALK

I GOT MY CAST REMOVED ON MAY 25TH. THE DAY THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN. I HAD A LOT OF SWELLING, WHICH HAS GONE DOWN A LOT SINCE THEN! I THOUGHT HAVING THEM USE THAT POWER TOOL TO REMOVE MY CAST WAS SCARY, UNTIL THE DOCTOR TOLD ME I COULD NOW WALK ON MY FOOT. I PANICKED! I BEGAN TO CRY, AND WAS TERRIFIED. IT WAS AS IF HE ASKED ME TO BUNGY JUMP OFF A BRIDGE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE FEAR CAME FROM, BUT IT WAS SO REAL. THANK GOODNESS BILL WAS WITH ME, BECAUSE HE IS MY ROCK.

IT TOOK ME A FEW DAYS TO PUT WEIGHT ON IT, BUT NOW I CAN WALK ON IT WITH THE WALKER OR CANE. THE INCISIONS ARE HEALING NICELY AND DON'T LOOK AS GNARLY AS THE PICTURES. I STARTED PHYSICAL THERAPY AND THAT IS GOING WELL. WE HAVE TO TEACH MY FOOT HOW TO WALK AGAIN WITH ALL THE HARDWARE THAT IS IN THERE.

I GOT A BOOT, THE GREY IN THE PICTURE, WHICH I CAN MOVE PRETTY GOOD WITH, BUT I END UP USING MY HEEL ONLY, WHICH DOES NOT BENEFIT ME AT ALL. THE BLACK BRACE IS TOO TIGHT AND MAKES FOOT SWELL AFTER I TAKE IT OFF. I AM HAPPY THAT I AM REACHING THE END OF THIS PROCESS. THE DOCTOR SAID I SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE GOOD AS NEW IN TWO MONTHS.

WE LEAVE FOR CHILE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WILL CONTINUE REHABILITATION THERE AND WILL TAKE IT EASY SO I CAN BE READY TO RETURN TO WORK.