Oh, please consider amputation. To quickly answer your questions . . . I was 39 when I shattered my ankle and 41 when I had my leg amputated below the knee. In those two years, everyone did everything they could to get me walking (13 surgeries, pic line, vac unit, heavy antibiotics for over 9 months) but the infection was relentless. I am an elementary Art teacher with over 350 students and had LOTS of input, help, and support. When the time came for me to finally face a decision between amputation and another radically iffy surgery with no promise of true quality of life, so many people COULD NOT accept my willingness to accept amputation. People have a WEIRD knee-jerk reaction that it is better to have your "real" leg than a prosthetic one--even if it means you will live in constant pain with no mobility. It took one lovely visit with a female amputee for my daughters, husband, and I to envision what an amputee life looked like, and to finally sign up for the amputation surgery. What a blessing. I threw a "farewell to the leg" party to thank my leg for being so faithful and to say goodbye. By the morning of the surgery, I was all too excited to start a new pain-free, mobility-full life! After 2.5 months of recovery, I had my prosthesis fitted and never looked back. It is basically something you incorporate into your lifestyle and manage. By the way, most people would never know I am an amputee. I walk, dance, hike, mountain climb, etc. However, running, going up and down stairs, and ice skating is possible but not the "best look." :)
When I first fell off the ladder, I started a blog to keep people informed (it was too hard for my husband to have to repeat the story over and over!). Little did I know that my journey would end in amputation. However, it has been an unexpected answer to prayer. I blogged a few times a week for almost two years but the day I got my leg, I never blogged again! I was too busy getting back to living!
In it, you can see the journey, emotional highs and lows, and recovery process. Hang in there! It gets better!
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Oh, please consider amputation. To quickly answer your questions . . . I was 39 when I shattered my ankle and 41 when I had my leg amputated below the knee. In those two years, everyone did everything they could to get me walking (13 surgeries, pic line, vac unit, heavy antibiotics for over 9 months) but the infection was relentless. I am an elementary Art teacher with over 350 students and had LOTS of input, help, and support. When the time came for me to finally face a decision between amputation and another radically iffy surgery with no promise of true quality of life, so many people COULD NOT accept my willingness to accept amputation. People have a WEIRD knee-jerk reaction that it is better to have your "real" leg than a prosthetic one--even if it means you will live in constant pain with no mobility. It took one lovely visit with a female amputee for my daughters, husband, and I to envision what an amputee life looked like, and to finally sign up for the amputation surgery. What a blessing. I threw a "farewell to the leg" party to thank my leg for being so faithful and to say goodbye. By the morning of the surgery, I was all too excited to start a new pain-free, mobility-full life! After 2.5 months of recovery, I had my prosthesis fitted and never looked back. It is basically something you incorporate into your lifestyle and manage. By the way, most people would never know I am an amputee. I walk, dance, hike, mountain climb, etc. However, running, going up and down stairs, and ice skating is possible but not the "best look." :)
When I first fell off the ladder, I started a blog to keep people informed (it was too hard for my husband to have to repeat the story over and over!). Little did I know that my journey would end in amputation. However, it has been an unexpected answer to prayer. I blogged a few times a week for almost two years but the day I got my leg, I never blogged again! I was too busy getting back to living!
In it, you can see the journey, emotional highs and lows, and recovery process. Hang in there! It gets better!
February 8, 2016 - 5:15pmThis Comment
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