Sometimes for the many steps we take forward, there are a couple back. It sucks. But it happens. My leg is getting stronger every day. (#brokenfemurssuck) My physical therapist has helped me get stronger and on my feet that I forget it’s only been a month and a half of therapy so far.
I’m walking using a walker.
I’m riding a bike.
I’m doing leg presses.
I’m driving.
I’m mastering steps. I’m stepping up an 8” step now.
I’ve been practicing steps at home since the ramp out my front door will be taken soon. I’ve gone up and down a step at home to let Piglet out! And I’m so proud of myself for doing so.
Then…the last time I went up the kitchen step my knee buckled and I fell. Down the basement stairs.
All. The. Way. Down. Head. First.
“Falling down is a part of life. Getting back up is living.”
~ Anonymous
Now, thankfully, we have a baby gate at the top of the stairs to keep my cousins dog from going downstairs. I fell on the gate and practically slid down the stairs instead of bounce.
And, thankfully, the basement is carpeted. So when I reached the bottom head first I didn’t hit anything hard.
Then my walker followed me down. Now that hurt!
I have bruises in places that I can’t understand how they got there. But when I took inventory everything was still intact and moving as they should.
“Be mindful of your thoughts and words for they are the pen writing that which will manifest.”
~ Sanjo Jendayi
My dad kept saying the week before when I was going up and down that step that he as worried that I would fall down the basement stairs. I kept reassuring him that I was fine.
I guess we were both right. Two manifestations converging. That’s what I was thinking as I was falling.
When I reached the basement I realized how long it had been since I was down there. Now, that was a weird thought.
Then I realized, my phone was on the kitchen table and I had to figure out how to get back up the stairs.
I’m smart. I’m strong. I do leg presses now, ya know.
I maneuvered myself around. I got my booty on the first step. Then began hoisting myself up with the railing and lifting myself with my legs backward, seated, up the stairs.
When I finally got to the top I realized I ran out of railing. Oh boy! My therapist and I never discussed how to get off the floor if you’re on the ground. Plus, my walker was still in the basement.
I got on my belly and did one of those elbow, military crawls across the kitchen floor to the table. Sat up. Reached the phone. Texted my neighbor.
“If you want to find who’s a true friend, screw up or go through a challenging time…then see who sticks around.”
~ Karen Salomanson
God bless my BFF neighbor and her wonderful firefighter husband. They are more family than friends. They came running and got me off the floor.
And I started laughing. Hard.
Hey, it’s better than crying.
“Smile when you’re hurt. Laugh when you want to cry. Have faith in yourself when nothing seems right. Believe in your heart. Trust that even though its hard now, in the end you’ll be okay.”
~ Anonymous
I’m fine. I go to therapy the next day and tell them what happened. They went easy on me that day. But I still did leg presses and I still practiced going up and down a step. Can’t lose progress!
“This is my journey. There is no time or space for fear.”
~ Carmen
The next morning Piglet needed out again. My mom in the shower I decided I needed to go up and down the step. This time in the living room. Not going near those basement steps in a while. But, I was not going to let fear take over either.
No big deal. Going down is the easy part.
So I took my step down and as I went to get my good foot down the step, my knee buckled out from under me and I fell backward on to the step. And as my knees bent when I fell back it twisted a bit and the pain was harsh!
My leg is swollen again. And it hurts somewhat to walk.
Damn it! One step forward…
Went to physical therapy. She said to call the doctor.
New X-rays. Knee is still good. Just angry.
Can’t say I’m too happy either. I was supposed to be on a cane by now.
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
~ Japanese Proverb
So the ramp out front will be staying a while longer. I’ll be going to therapy for at least another month. And I’m still using a walker.
But hey. I’m driving. I’m doing leg presses. I’m riding a bike. I’m getting stronger. I’m laughing. I’m living. I’m here.
Getting through the journey may be hard at times – but, getting through it will always take one step at a time. #betheturtle
Carmen is a single mom who acts, sings, drinks coffee and writes stuff as she authentically navigates life. Sometimes it’s interesting, sometimes not so much. You can decide. But if something moves you, drop a line, share it far and wide, and let me know what you think!
