NuMe1228

I’ve been away from this site for so long! Too many distractions. I think it’s important to revisit and update so here goes.

I saw my doctor a few weeks ago. I hadn’t seen him in 3 months. We took new Xrays of my arm, foot and knee. Everything looks great!

The doctor was especially pleased (and actually quite shocked) by the improvement in my arm. He admitted that with the severity of the injury, he actually did not expect that I would regain full use but thought that encouragement is what I needed to hear. Rather he thought that my range of motion would be extremely limited, stiff, and that my arm would be a lot more crooked than it is. You can barely see the difference between the two.

I still have a ways to go, but he puts me about 6-8 months ahead of the recovery schedule. He could not wait to share this news with his colleagues who have been following my case.

And then there is my knee. Still a problem, but getting better daily. There is still a gap where the scar tissue did not fill in, so unless I want to go through another surgery to fill it, it’s best to leave it alone. We agreed that I will continue my strengthening exercises and will do a second surgery as a last resort. Hopefully not.

I am more mobile and a lot more quick on my feet! I’ve even begun to lose weight…today I’m down 11 lbs! It’s a start!

So I’m back on the road to better health! I’ll check in at the next rest stop!

The first, and sadly the last, time I para sailed was about 20 years ago. Since I couldn’t swim, for 2 years I had researched the perfect company to take me on this adventure. I had heard so many stories of people being dragged in sand and over rocks when they took off from the shore, and of persons missing or being injured when they landed back on small boats, so I took every precaution to find the right fit.

I finally found a company which provided take offs and landings from/on a motorized platform the size of a small room. This was it!

I went with family and explained to the operators that I could not swim. They assured me that I was safe with the life jacket, and that as the small speedboat that pulled me slowed to turn, I would come down gently toward the ocean. Only my feet might touch water as the slowing would not be long enough to lose wind.

I decided to go last in order to watch and to confirm for myself that all was well. Para sailor after para sailor took off and returned excited and dry! I had to do it!!!

The take off was exhilarating to say the least!!! Of course during the first half of the ride out I was checking every belt and cable attached to me, so I missed some of the gorgeous view. And then I finally relaxed and took it all in. Awesome!!!

As the boat slowed down to turn I began to descend. I was calm and kept telling myself that only my feet might hit water.

WRONG!!!!!!!! I dropped straight in! But before I could panic, I found myself being dragged through the water, sky barely visible above my head. All of a sudden I was airborne again. Flew straight up! And the driver was yelling up at me, asking if I was okay and apologizing profusely.

Turns out that the boat stalled as he was turning, and he could not start it fast enough to keep me in the air. Luckily the para shoot did not collapse or I would have been in real trouble!

I returned to the platform soaked from head to toes, much to the total shock to the others waiting.

But I had a blast!!! The “little” mishap did not ruin my experience one bit. I loved it and long to do it again. But I’ll try to stay dry this time!!!

I saw my doctor and took new x-rays of my foot and arm yesterday. Good news! My foot is almost completely healed and I can start to wear normal shoes. Flat and hard soles only. I will begin gait training soon.

My arm is still crooked, but much stronger! YAY!!! My doctor believes that I will regain full motion and strength, but it is likely that it will never be a mirror image of my other arm again. Oh well, I’ll take what I can get!

As far as my knee is concerned, this was the first visit where my doctor sounded confident in telling me that I will most likely NOT need a second surgery. There is still locking so I may need additional Supartz injections, but not anytime soon. Perhaps next year, and only if I begin to have more pain. With the continued healing of my foot and arm, I will be able to return to my knee strengthening regime soon, and hopefully I become strong enough to avoid these shots altogether.

It has been a long 2 and a half years, with so many setbacks. But I finally see that light at the end of the tunnel.