One Year After Surgery

Yesterday marked one year since my ankle surgery. This is a landmark I've been waiting for. It was supposed to be a marker that I could measure my progress by; but after having my second surgery two weeks before this anniversary, I've had quite the setback. I'm just starting to walk again after the second surgery and I'm having to go back to physical therapy, which I wasn't supposed to need to do. I'm ok with going because I recognize that I definitely need to get into PT - I'm not walking well at all. I'm just wondering when it will actually be that I can say "I'm better," or even, "I'm doing really well," when someone asks me. I'm definitely frustrated. But, I do recognize that most likely with more time (and lots more patience) I will get better. And maybe someday I will be better than normal and get back to real activities that I love - like working out (maybe even boxing again??).

When I get down about my ankle and the fact that I have been on activity restrictions for one and a half years now, I've gained weight, and in general my life has been put on hold, I try really hard to look on the bright side. There are people who have worse things happen to them, who aren't going to get better, and whose illnesses or injuries really permanently change their lives. The people I think of the most are our men and women in uniform. How many of them come back injured physically or permanently loose the use of their foot or other body part? And how many of them protect us, but are injured in other ways we can't see? These heroes are inspirational.

This experience with my ankle and having surgery, just like everything else I've been through in my life, is just part of who I am now. As a very wise supervisor would say, it's "woven into my tapestry." It's changed many things about me, but in the end there's nothing I can do about it, it's just something that happened. It's taught me many lessons, and I try to look at it the best way possible. I hope writing my story here helps my friends keep up with me, as well as gives others some hope that if you're going through something, keep going! It will get better! And I hope I've shared some of the hope and kindness I've been shown, as well as the lessons that have helped me.

I feel like I should have made a celebratory cake! One year since surgery!