August 2011.
My podiatrist's office.
She breathlessly breezes into the room, a big smile on her face.
"Well, look at you."
I beam back at her. I'm 20 pounds lighter, my muscles are more toned, my blood sugar is lower, and most importantly, the pain in my feet is gone and the strength in my legs has returned.
"I know. That physical therapist is a miracle worker."
"That's part of it, but give yourself some credit," the doctor says, continuing to smile. "You know, 90 percent of the people who come in here don't do what you did."
"How's that?"
"They don't listen to me."
"You're kidding. Why wouldn't they?"
"It's too hard. What I ask of them, what Scott (the physical therapist) asks of them -- they're not willing to do it."
"Wow."
"Wow is right. You're not going to believe this, but you've done it."
"Done what?"
"Gotten better. You've worked so hard. SO hard! Do you know that most people take a minimum of six months to get over what you had? Usually, it's nine months to a year, though. And you did it. You did it in THREE months."
We sit there in silence, sort of reveling in my new blaze of glory. I honestly feel like an Olympic champion, an Everest climber, a triathlon winner.
Then I take the plunge.
"So I can go ahead and do what I've been planning."
"What's that?"
"Get a part-time job."
"Well ..." she hesitates. "There's still the matter of your spine. You'd have to stand on your feet for hours at a time. Yes, you're stronger, but we need to make sure your back can take it."
"Huh."
She turns and writes an order for a spinal specialist to take a look at me.
"If he clears you, go for it," she says.
And I do. The spinal specialist reveals that my back pain is because I've been sedentary by my computer as a full-time writer. A little bit of time at a part-time job on my feet will strengthen it, he says.
All lights green, I decide to dive into my Mission Impossible.
I decide to apply for a part-time job at a place that will give me affordable health insurance.
Tune in for the next part of the story ...
Whether you're strengthening your back or your legs or whatever, it all comes from strength of character. And you have a mighty character, my friend, so I have no doubt that you can conquer any task before you.
ReplyDeleteThe story is harrowing, and you are likely a success story compared to others who are so much more unfortunate when it comes to health insurance. The greatest country in the world, and yet we could lose our homes if a gall bladder goes bad. Stay strong...you have friends behind you. All the way.