Inch by Inch

Step by Step.

After being sidelined for about a month, I am finally back at physical therapy. And it's hard. I have lost some ground and definitely lost some strength. My physical therapist is warning me not to try to get it back all at once. And I'm listening to her.

The walk I usually take in PT ended with me being in a lot of pain. A lot of soreness, but it's all muscle, not bone. So that means it can and will get better. I just have to pace myself.

I saw my plastic surgeon last Monday and he okayed me to start wearing my prosthesis again, and maybe I overdid it a little.

But I did have two days on my own and I did learn that I can, indeed, take care of myself.

Saturday evening, Jerry got back from doing some flight instruction, and he was not feeling well. Our neighbor Ray took him to the Hopkins ED the next day. Initially they thought it might be his appendix, but it turned out to be a kidney stone, and they admitted him until he passed it.

Ray's wife, Irene, brought me breakfast and dinner on Monday, but most of the day, and that night, I was on my own.

And I did fine. I was back in my wheelchair some of the time so I could carry things, but it did show me I could take care of myself. At least with some help from my friends.

Ray took me to my plastic surgeon's appointment on Monday.

Tuesday, evening, Jerry came home. He was exhausted, and after dinner he got into bed. We knew it would take a while for him to get his strength back, so we cancelled our trip to see relatives in Cleveland for Thanksgiving, and we crashed our local cousins' dinner.

So in general, things are good, despite not moving forward. my physical therapist is quite optimistic that if I behave myself and not overdo it, I will regain lost ground. She gave me some new exercises and encouragement.

And I still believe that in the long run, having the surgeries will make my life better. Small steps, but all of them forward.