After spending my initial recovery period at Anna's place, I was happy to return to my shoebox apartment. It might be small, but it's home. The week passed slowly with fluctuating weather--just like my spirits. It was a constant struggle to stay positive when everything felt so wrong.
Fortunately, my first follow-up appointment went well. The x-rays of my knee were clean, and my physician cleared me to work and drive as I felt ready. I was also assigned to begin two physical therapy (PT) sessions each week for six weeks. My first two sessions went well, and provided the confidence that I needed to acknowledge that I was indeed recovering.
Part of my frustration during the week was the circumstances of my mom's visit. All I wanted to do was share my city with her, but I had to accept that this wasn't the time for that--she came to take care of me and get me "back on my feet."
Still, we did have some fun. One night, Dana joined us at Vine Street Pub & Brewery (#35). Mom and I also made it to Cheesman Park and neighboring Denver Botanic Gardens. The gardens bloomed with spring flowers, and sponsored a local cactus and succulent sale.
The highlight of the week was our over-night trip to Estes Park. Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, this mountain town provided the opportunity to escape the city and breathe in much-needed fresh air.
Estes Park is home to wildlife, including elk--Mom's favorite.
We treated ourselves to a fabulous dinner at Rock Inn Mountain Tavern...
...and a good night's sleep and hot shower at Murphy's Resort.
My injury is testing my physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual strength. Living a healthy and active lifestyle defines who I am; it is a passion that facilitates my happiness and my independence. As a result, it’s not just my knee that was broken; my spirit broke, too. I’ve never faced a hardship like this before. With my mom here this week, I let myself fall apart because I knew that she could put me back together.
Two weeks out, things are starting to look up. I will continue making progress with PT and ease my way back into work at Omnicare. My main uncertainty at this point is where I stand with the military (as usual). I still have a long road ahead of me; six more weeks on crutches until I can start bearing weight on my left leg. From there, I will have to motivate myself to gradually return to my previous physical level of activity. It won't be easy, but I believe that I will make a full recovery and be a stronger person in every way imaginable.
- Do not underestimate the importance of proper rest, fuel, and stretching.
- Slow down and remember that I can't always be in control. It doesn't always matter what we expect from life, but rather what life expects from us.
- Everything happens for a reason and everything will turn out as it should. Moving forward is not always straight ahead.
- It is okay to depend on loved ones in times of need. The support and generosity of family and friends that I have received has been overwhelming.
- We must keep a healthy perspective of our own situation, and be grateful for those dealing with circumstances much worse than our own. Things could always be worse.
- Last but not least, Mom is always right--March came in like a lamb, and inevitably went out like a lion.
