What a fun ride it had been!! Seriously, my new life has made me forget about all the pain and the nightmarish times... when I had to crawl around my home... when I slept in my big red chair in the great room because I couldn't bear the thought of climbing the stairs... when I couldn't walk my children home from school like everyone else could... oh my gosh, how life has changed. All of that horrible stuff is a distant memory!!
It has been way too long since I have posted, I suppose I just got too busy with feeling "normal", whatever normal is. Let's just agree to agree that having an ankle replacement was one of the best decisions that I could have made in my life, outside of choosing my amazing husband and having my precious daughters. If I didn't have them, perhaps I would have chosen a different route. I don't know. But guess what, I became an ACTIVE family member again! I get to go to amusement parks and keep up, I get to shop till we drop without having to find a chair, I get to HIKE, I get to.... do everything that I couldn't do before my surgery. When I think back, it makes me really sad, how much I missed out on, because of the damn pain. You can't hide it all the time, it takes it's toll on your emotional well being. It can go away... trust me.
I have been enormously blessed to hear from ankle replacement recipients from all over the world and I love and cherish all of your stories! The emails I have received have meant so much, albeit I'm not the best at a quick response, I care deeply about your recovery, really I do. I always hope that you keep in touch and update me on your progress into a pain free life!! Then, there are the lifelong friends I have made... we make friends with people who can "feel" and understand us. Kay and Ingrid, you will always and forever have a special place in my heart.
So, life has been pretty incredible since the surgery. I forget that I have a fake ankle... yes, it aches once in awhile and might have an annoying random pain, but it always goes away and I always forget about the horrific pain that led me to my decision to replace my joints. I can go anywhere and do anything and NOT DREAD IT!! Ahhhhh... life is good. When I'm stopped at the supermarket crosswalk and someone is limping across... my heart breaks. That used to be me. It's not anymore, but I will go of my way to assist these people. After all we've been through, it should be our calling.
As usual, I'm rambling. I simply want all of you to know that you can get your life back, like I did. When you get your replacements, you must give it a lot of time. You must have patience, and an unusually positive attitude. If you don't have a great attitude and understanding going in, you will pick it apart and hinder your healing. You WILL have pain, you will have aches, you will wonder if they will ever go away!! Well, I'm living proof and here to tell you that the pain WILL subside. Bless you all, and as always, best wishes for pain free living!
Best,
Suzanne
