Today is the 100th blog posting! As the summer comes to a close, I can't tell you how fantastic it feels to be in an entirely new place as for progress and the hopefulness that is ahead. I can vividly remember driving home from Chicago on July 27th, after meeting with the physician that recommended amputation, and complaining to my mom how we were going to end the summer no further ahead. I was anticipating more major surgery, of which I was not content with doing and was trying to process the death of the dream of walking again somewhat normal. I was lamenting on and on about how we were making no progress, none of the doctors had ever seen this before and yet there was no possible way that all of this was going to end by the finish of summer. I was incredibly wrong and had little faith for any improvement. I was very frustrated that everything was moving at a snail pace. I would have laughed at the idea of wearing any shoe at the end of August, much less being at a place of only taking two pain pills per day (more as a precautionary measure).
On Wednesday, the entire physical therapy office was still talking about the amazing progress that I've made since we stopped therapy in July. Everyone knows me by now and it was good to have something positive to talk about with the staff, since we've all spent the past 1 1/2 years trying to get motion out of a foot that wouldn't move.
Toes continue to wiggle this week; somewhat easier than last week. One of my exercises is to gather a bed sheet under the toes and see how much of the sheet I can squeeze together with the toes ... it is much harder than it sounds.
There have been several speaking opportunities that have surfaced in the past week, which would allow me to share my "story" to inspire and encourage others. I've humbly accepted two invitations to speak in October and Novemeber. It is my heartfelt prayer that God will be glorified as we praise him for the enormous blessing of restored function and pain relief. I believe the foot will continue to get stronger in weeks ahead, swelling should decrease, and my shoe choice should increase .... I am for sure at a place that I could likely live with it, if it never improved any more.
I really want to return to every doctor that I've ever seen and "show off" the foot, although the only three that would really appreciate what has happened have already seen it. I return to the St. Louis orthopod on September 12th to have him look at the screw that is near the surface of the big toe. I saw an x-ray today from last month and the spot that is bothering me is exactly where there is a screw. May get a pedicure this weekend and do red toe polish ... have to keep it lively for therapy.
Grateful for your prayers, God's blessing and for ending the summer a big step ahead .... keep the faith & don't give up hope.
Jenny
1 comment:
I think red would be an appropo toenail color for "hurrah," my foot is functional, but you may also consider a color like a red w/ a little auburn to it b/c fall is coming and you could accessorize the season w/ your toes! How 'bout that? Hey--you and I should go for pedicures together sometime! That would be fun! Dueling toes and dualing pedicures--ooh, boy! Celebrating w/ you today and glad that you can share your story with others. Or should I say God's story, b/c it's HIM who should get the credit for this unbelievable footpath you've tread!
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