Her Torn Leg

Frustrated. Slowed down. Cramped. Angry. Rehab was slow going. One tiny mistake. And she could not walk. For two months now. So angry at self and leg. One bad fall. Bruised bone. Torn meniscus. Torn ACL. Frustration level high. Exercises were boring. Bicycle hard at first. A bit easier later, but boring. Mark, the physical therapist begged her to try without the walker. She refused. Fear factor high. Did not want to risk another fall. Mark went on vacation. Two small women therapists tried to talk her into giving up her crutches. She saw them three times a week, still refused. Fear was enormous at this point. She pictured them kicking the crutches out from under her, so went back to the walker. Mark came back, said, "let me see you walk." She did, with walker. He told her she did not need it. She held on stubbornly for next 5 visits. On a Friday he said, "You are not even using the walker, you need to walk from here to that counter." It was about 15 feet. She shook her head "no". "What is keeping you back?" he asked her. "FEAR," she said. "I'm afraid of falling again." "I'm six foot six," he said, "I won't let you fall." Ten minutes later the entire place was shouting and cheering as she walked for the first time in two months without a crutch or a walker. Everyone had been watching. The usual suspects except Janice. Janice was usually on the exercise bike with her. When Janice came to the door, she ran to the door and said, "Guess what? I can walk." "You cannot!" Janice said. So she proved that she could and they all cheered again.