Getting Back to Normal

Well, I’m back home in Chattanooga, my legs are just about even and I’m working full-time again! A lot has happened over the past three weeks. I’ve been pretty busy.

I’m done lengthening my leg. I gained about 6 centimeters which is just more than 2.25 inches. From the beginning, my goal was always to gain between 2 to 2.5 inches so I achieved what I set out to do! My leg will always be about a half an inch short. There are several reasons why I stopped short of making my legs completely even at this point. But honestly, I can’t really even tell there is a difference. They feel even to me. We’ll see if I can tell over time.

Now I’m in the healing phase. My leg is still broken and I am still on crutches. My surgeon predicts my bone will need about three months to heal completely. That means crutches until October. It’s a little overwhelming. I’ve already been on crutches for three months and I’d be lying if I said I’m totally used to it by now. I’d love to throw them aside and run down the street, but since there’s no alternative I just have to be patient. It is still worth it.

(These are all of the shoes I had to get rid of… plus one or two pairs that I found hiding later! We donated them all to the hospital. They will probably take them to Haiti during a mission trip and donate them to amputee patients.)

It’s been great to be back at my own apartment in Chattanooga. My mom and I drove down from Pittsburgh and she helped me get settled in for two weeks. We went grocery shopping and she carried all the bags up to the kitchen! She also ran many errands for me to get me covered for a few weeks. My dad stayed home in Pittsburgh to work and to be able to visit with my brother, but we talked with him often.

I was nervous about my first day back at work, but everything went great and my coworkers were so supportive and kind! I jumped right in and it was pretty much like a normal day.

Here are some pics from my first night back on the air:

On the drive back down to Tennessee my mom said something that really hit home. She said, “God provided everything you needed. He provided a skilled surgeon. He provided a new method of lengthening. He provided health insurance and time off of work. He provided a caring and supportive work place. He provided two parents to help take care of you.” It’s so true. Through all of the fear and anxiety I felt surrounding this surgery I should’ve just taken a deep breath and known that God would provide.

It’s still not easy. It takes me longer to do everything on crutches and knowing it will still be several months until I can shed them is hard. I get frustrated more easily. But I try to remember why I chose to have this surgery and go through this. God has provided everything I’ve needed so far and He will provide the strength I need to make it through the next few months!

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”