About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

W is for WALKING

How many of you have ever thought about the act of walking?  We certainly take it for granted once we learn to walk by around one year of age.  But...take away the ability and how would you feel?

As most of my regular readers know, I broke my ankle mid-September and was in a freakishly stylish boot that I nicknamed Frank (short for Frankenstein) for seven weeks!  Also, for those of you who have followed me for years now, do you recall my back operation when my spine was fused in three spots and seven pins were drilled in to keep everything in place?  Now - picture me with this boot that raises me about 4 inches higher on one side and you'll know why I called the boot Frank....well, maybe it should have been Igor....but I digress.

A week after breaking my ankle (in two places, by the way) I had to see an orthopedic surgeon who would check to see if I needed to have an operation to pin it together.  When we arrived at the hospital, Lorne got me into a wheelchair because I was not to put any weight on the foot yet.  As a result, it had been h...e...double hockey sticks all week as I tried to hop to and from the most important room of the house.  My back was already killing me along with the pain in my ankle. 

Luckily, I didn't need surgery and I could start to put a bit of weight on the foot as long as I wore the boot.  And I didn't have to wear it to bed anymore, either.  So that was a big relief.  However, after moving around in the house with one foot 4 inches higher than the other, my hip started acting up.  I'm not used to wearing shoes inside, but I finally figured out that if I wore my walking shoe with the boot, it raised that side up a bit more so it wouldn't be so hard on me.

Counting down the weeks and finally the days, I arrived once more at the hospital to see the orthopedic surgeon.  My ankle was x-rayed and poked and prodded and I was announced "healed."  Yes, well, I still needed to go to physio because all the ligaments and tendons were stiff and inflexible.  That was okay with me and off I went to make some appointments.

I had had about four sessions with the physiotherapist and the kinesthesiologist and was doing great!  I found that I could go up the stairs left/right, left/right and could almost do the same coming down.  Apparently, it's harder going down because of the angle the foot needs and I wasn't quite there yet.  But I was again independent, driving, and doing my Christmas shopping without too much trouble other than tiring quickly.

So guess what happened!  Last week, I was going out the door and as I looked back at the dog to tell her to stay, my bad foot went over!  OMG! It hurt like bl**dy h***... and I screamed at Lorne to help me!  The pain was so bad I started crying and saying "Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t" over and over again.  Anyhoo, long story a bit shorter, I went to my next physio appointment two days later with a swollen foot that looked like a piece of raw meat with five red sausage toes.  In one session the physio was able to get the red out and the swelling down almost to normal.  I can walk again (with a limp), am icing my foot every day and am thankful that by Christmas I should be back to normal.  Well, except for my brain that is! 

So don't take walking for granted.  Whenever I see a person on crutches, in a wheelchair, or pushing a wheeled walker, I remember to thank God I am better now.  I'm also much more open about helping someone out if they look as though they'd welcome it.  As I sat waiting for Lorne to park the car that first day at the hospital, I watched people walking as they passed me.  I can still remember how I felt - helpless - and thought about how important it is to be able to walk.

With that, I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and will only be posting a short Xmas message next week in honour of the day. 

Warm wishes for a wonderful holiday season!
Click to play this Smilebox greeting

23 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

Oh, my dear Leslie, you've had a tough year! Good thoughts to you!
Know that you are greatly admired and appreciated.

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Dear Leslie , you certainly have been in the wars with your ankle and walking , and injuring it again ,, I feel for you ,as I know what it is like. I had to sleep with my cast on, and when it came off , I was so scared of sleeping ,incase I damaged it again. A little while ago I went to some health taster event ,and do you know how many of us walk funny , and walking does not start at your feet or hips , it starts at your neck ., I never knew that. By the time she finished , I did not know which foot to start off on, it was quite and eye opener, Thank you for your amazing comment on my blog, I was amazed. xx

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Dear Leslie , you certainly have been in the wars with your ankle and walking , and injuring it again ,, I feel for you ,as I know what it is like. I had to sleep with my cast on, and when it came off , I was so scared of sleeping ,incase I damaged it again. A little while ago I went to some health taster event ,and do you know how many of us walk funny , and walking does not start at your feet or hips , it starts at your neck ., I never knew that. By the time she finished , I did not know which foot to start off on, it was quite and eye opener, Thank you for your amazing comment on my blog, I was amazed. xx

Rajesh said...

It has been a really tough year for you. Take care.

photowannabe said...

Here's to a New Year of health and walk-ability!
So sorry you have had a tough time. Please be careful.
I too appreciate walking so much more now that my osteoarthritis makes me gimpy all the time. Walking down stairs is really a pain. Going up isn't so bad.
Merry Christmas to you and Lorne.
Hugs
Sue

Hildred said...

Take care, - I do hope 2014 will be kinder to you both. Thank you for a lovely smilebox Leslie, and such kind Christmas wishes.

Leovi said...

Yes, I know what you're talking about! I spent three years with the heel of Achilles, believed that he would never walk without thinking!

Anonymous said...

oh dear what a rough patch you hit this year. hope it's way better next year.

sending warm thoughts.

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

I am thrilled to hear your last "episode" didn't take you over the deep end, but let's hope all the bad luck and carma leave you and Lorne alone for a long, long time.

Wishing you a happy holiday and may 2014, bring you only joy, good health and happiness!!!!

Joy said...

You will be glad when 2013 is over and the stars are hopefully better aligned for 2014. I did something similar when I broke my leg, I think I was giddy with the fact that everything had healed and was skipping along and slipped on a rock which meant I was back to hobbling so I know how you must feel. Those boots will be useful if you visit Cumberland.

Anonymous said...

Oh dear! Am feeling for all the paint you're going through this year:( Maybe you can get someone to cook you two Christmas dinner (or part of it).Despite your foot and your back I wish you blessed Christmas (just realized that next Wed. it already is the past!)

Carver said...

I'm so sorry about all the difficulties you've had lately. Walking is definitely something no one should take for granted.

lotusleaf said...

I am sorry about the difficult year you have had. Wish you a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

K V V S MURTHY said...

Merry christmas...all the best!

magiceye said...

Heres wishing you a speedy recovery!

Carol said...

Lots of W's and quite a painful story, hope its getting better. So many things we take for granted....thanks for making us aware of this...

Oakland Daily Photo said...

What an incredible ordeal. Your physiotherapist sounds like a miracle worker.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

After so many Ws, I wish for you to get Well soon. Today, I went out with a group, among us, was a 90 something old man. he has a walker like your photo. I wanted to take a photo, but decided not to.

Gerald (SK14) said...

yes walking is a blessing - my wife is getting a new wheelchair for christmas which will leave me standing unless I run instead of walking.

Reader Wil said...

I wish you a speedy recovery, Leslie! It is so painful and unpleasant to be handicapped in such a way!
Have a great week!

Lady In Read said...

Leslie, here is wishing you a speedy road back to walking well and wonderful times for you and your family after a tough year

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

Bless your heart! I'm glad to hear that you are doing better in the the walking department. May you and Lorne be blessed with love, joy and peace this Christmas and throughout the new year.

Indrani said...

Great message! We often forget to be thankful for what we have.
I am glad you are doing fine now.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.