Going Mobile

This Monday will be two weeks since I've been using crutches. It's opened my eyes to so many details that affect people with limited mobility.

*When you use crutches, you're extremely limited as to what you can carry in your hands

*Opening doors in public places can be tricky

*Transitioning between floors where there are no elevators or escalators is also tricky. And ouchy.

*It takes so much longer to get where you need to go...shopping, work, meeting friends for dinner, etc. And let's not even talk about 15 minute breaks at work :-)

*Crutch chafe :-)

I'm lucky! This is a temporary thing and I'm hoping to be off my crutches and back to walking unassisted by late November.  I've been amazed how many complete strangers have gone out of their way to open doors, share encouraging comments, ask if I'm ok!  My co-workers have been so fantastically supportive and caring - which is no surprise considering how awesome everyone is ( I work with phenomenal peeps!!) and all you guys - my internet buddies both local and long-distance have been very generous with offers of love, support, transportation & post-surgery nom-noms.

I have it made. My injury has  made me even more grateful than I normally am to have such a wonderful support system. It's also made me more open to receiving help - an area  of opportunity I've blogged about before. 

Looking at this whole experience as an adventure. Also learning lessons about taking mobility/life/health/great insurance for granted. Not that I really took them for granted 100% of the time but let's just say I'm really appreciating that I'll get the chance to be fully mobile in the near future :-)

Surgery is scheduled for Monday Oct 25. Out of work for 10-14 days afterwards. In rehab from Oct 27 until whenever I no longer need rehab. Can't conceive of being out of work for that long without being on a vacation - that will be uber weird, plus I'll totally miss my work buddies like you can't believe.

Thank goodness for the internet :-)

Comments

[Jess]

So glad you have so many supportive friends and coworkers! And hey, you should have super buff arms by the time you're off the crutches, right?

Good luck with the surgery!

[Kath]

@Jillian - and don't forget rehab! That should keep me busy 2-3 hrs a day.

[Jillian]

At least you'll have internet and tv...I'd go crazy though sitting at home for a week or two! Hope you have a long list of catch up things to do to pass the time! xoxo