Steps in the right direction
I’ve been daydreaming For 8 weeks. Endlessly visualizing myself walking on 2 legs as I have for the last 35, incredible years of my life. My Mom says that as a baby, I quickly learned to flip out of my crib, land on my feet and run to my parent's bedroom. She could not figure out how I was doing it when I barely knew how to walk. I think that was just a preview of the person I am now. After my initial limb salvage surgery, when I felt well enough, I would hike, take long bike rides and do all kinds of things my surgeon was both shocked and terrified by. I don’t do well being told to stay still. Never have... this is in fact what lead to my first (and hopefully last) fall after surgery. 2 weeks after surgery my husband asked if he could walk behind me while I used my walker to get to the bathroom. I snapped back “No, I’ve got this!” and went on my way alone, down a step, through the narrow bathroom door and then slipped on the bath mat. On the way down, I tried to break my fall with my right leg. ALEX YOU DON’T HAVE A RIGHT LEG. The world of pain I felt as the edge of my freshly stitched limb with metal fragments still in place hit the tile was unbearable and lead to a trip to the emergency room. I learned my lesson that day and now ask for help when it’s needed.
After some delays, my socket was finally made to fit my residual limb and I AM READY to walk. Put me in coach! A practice leg was provided by my clinic to use during my sessions until mine arrived. My limb went into a double wall socket first. New amputees beware, if you consume too much salt, you may not fit in your socket the next morning. So long over-salted popcorn and extra cheesy pizza. Tragic, I know. My socket was attached to a microprocessor knee, metal rod, and foot. It was time to stand up with this terminator part and get moving! Weird is not a strong enough word for how this felt. I took a moment to lift it, bend it and bravely place my weight on it. My hands met the parallel bars and I placed this stranger leg in front of me. Here goes nothing! I took a few steps with my prosthetist, Roger behind me. A few laps in this was feeling a bit less unnatural. I was instructed to rotate my hip and then step down with an emphasis on heel to toe steps without looking down. It was kind of like tapping the top of your head while simultaneously rubbing your tummy in circles with the other hand. The challenge that few of us conquered as kids. It was the truest form of multitasking and it would take lots of practice to perfect. But I was more than willing to put in the work. Now, If I could only learn some patience while waiting for my leg to come in the mail.
POA (Prosthetics And Orthotics) is a place where amputees come to have their prosthetics fit and adjusted, but its also a place where they come to laugh, make friends and cheer each other on. By the end of my second session, I was walking with my hands floating just above the bars and I had an audience. It felt good. Just as I had smiled watching others take their first steps on a new leg, they did the same for me. I felt on top of the world and this was just the start of what I know I will accomplish. Stay tuned!
