"Are you walking yet?" I hear this question over and over from friends and family. It's a hard question to respond to. Part of me wants to let people know I'm doing just fine and say a quick answer but the reality of my recovery is that it's a slow and steady process- I'm fully aware that I am in this for the long haul but it's imperative that I stay strong and focused no matter how long. I think part of the misconception of my injury is that technically I broke my ankle but as I have to gotten to know very well that the ankle is made out of many parts, the tibia(inside the foot), the fibula (along the calf). the talus (the heal) and a number of other bones that are critical to the working function as we human beings typically know as our traditional ankle. Well I not just broke my fibula but it shattered and split in two during the accident. This action separated the foot partially from my leg, I felt like Raggedy Ann! I broke my calf bone so essentially I broke my leg - this might make it easier for others to understand my recovery process. I had three different casts and one major surgery and a minor one coming up to remove one large screw. Nine screws and a rod along my calf bone will remain as forever jewels. So although I broke my ankle, it doesn't mean walking will come easily for me as someone who would have had a minor hairline fracture and no surgery as many experience and that people are commonly aware of. Most of those people recover in two months, I wish that was me!! I am now completing five months of recovery! I will get there though as I am determined!
So to answer the question of "Are you walking yet"? Well, I am happy to say, I am successfully managing without my wheelchair now, graduated from two to one crutch and for the majority of time, I am limping without crutches. I am pushing myself through the pain. It's like a catch 22, the more I attempt to walk, the more swollen my leg and foot get, so my days will be rotational spent resting and taking steps, everything in moderation. I am doing short intervals of walking on my own in public which brings new challenges as many will either rampage me without realizing I am disabled, others will be overly kind and some beautiful compassionate people will ask me "What the hell happened to you?!". Some even look like they are going to cry when the hear my story. I truly have become to appreciate the hearts of humans thru this time. I mean, I knew I was fairly important person in this universe, to my God, to my husband, family and friends but to the average stranger on the street? It has been an eye opening experience to say the least how loving, how deeply empathetic people can be. It really gives me strength to go on, to get thru everyday....as a runner shouted outloud to me along the walking trail "YOU GO GIRL....you will get there!!".
So "Am I really walking yet?"....I am walking my malki walki way (as I can call it!), with a smile limping awkwardly, right foot to a slight angle and absolutely no heels just ugly wugly flats. But this morning, I turned on my reggae tunes full blast and got my dancehall on, I told Gary that this is called the "broken ankle ragga muffin" dance. It looks funny, but I'm smiling and when it comes to dancing, people are ever so forgiving right? Unlike walking!!!!
