This week marks 5 weeks since my knee surgery. This has been such a crazy time for me, but I have learned a lot as well.
~I don't trust easily. When people are pushing me in the wheelchair, I have a lot of stress. It's hard for me to let go (literally) of the wheel and trust someone else to get me safely to my destination.
~There are some amazingly nice people out there. I already knew this, but this does reinforce it. People are so nice to hold doors, make room for me to pass, etc.
~Some businesses are really bad at making things accessible for people in wheelchairs. To get my kids to the orthodontist I have to park around the side of the building because that's the only handicap space with access to a ramp to get on the sidewalk. Same is true of the shopping center where our cell phone provider is located - one ramp on one side of the building, even though businesses are on 3 sides. Back-to-school shopping was quite hard since I could barely get down aisles at a clothing store.
~I can survive not walking for 6 weeks. I actually knew this too, but there have been some very hard days. I am learning to go slowly, and focus on what I can do rather than what I can't. I'm also good at adapting to whatever life throws at me.
~The kids' school doesn't take parents in wheelchairs into consideration very well. It would take a long post to explain, but basically they think it's easy for parents to run into the school. Well, not all parents can run. Some of us have to get out, hop around, get out a wheelchair, and then reverse that process when it's time to go.
~I really hope I never have to endure another knee surgery that involves 6 weeks of no walking.
Updates - no pain in my knee most of the time. There are still some occasional moments when I feel pain if I move just right, but for the most part, it just feels tight. Thankfully I'll start physical therapy this week, and that will get me ready for the next big step - walking next week!!
I'm almost to the end of this journey. Yay!!
