Due to the need to carry something requiring both arms, I ventured out to the shops today without my crutch. This week my physio granted “approval” to part ways with the crutch, with the condition that I use it in crowded situations where the risk of bumping and falling exists.
For the past week, more often than not, I’ve found myself walking while holding the crutch in the air, scarcely placing it on the ground. Today presented only one precarious moment. Close to home, I ran into a colleague and his wife. While maintaining eye contact, I failed to notice the uneven surface of the footpath. Fortunately, I swiftly recovered, averting a potential fall.
During my three-week absence in Lismore, I continued daily public walks, complemented by exercises prescribed by my physio. She told me she was very happy with the ongoing progress I’ve made. In our conversation, I outlined my first goal for the year: to participate in the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, marching with the ABC float again.
Unlike previous years, my current reality involves living with a disability, following the amputation of the lower part of my right leg six months ago. I now walk with a prosthetic leg. The challenges of the Mardi Gras march include its length (1.7km), the uneven terrain at the start, the rising incline of Oxford Street, and the potential for fatigue.
Discussions with a colleague, who, like me, lives with a disability (walking with a crutch), highlighted the anticipated fatigue. Despite her warning – “You’ll be exhausted the next days” – she offered encouragement. With my daily step count currently ranging from 4000-5000 steps (approximately 3km), my physio thought the Mardi Gras march feasible based on distance. Incidentally, for every bit of exercise for an amputee, it’s generally thought to be two or three times that of someone who isn’t an amputee, so the 4000-5000 steps probably equates to around 12000-15000. Plans for the next few weeks include strengthening my upper leg and practice runs before the event. “But what are you going to wear?”, she asked with a laugh.
This week marked a significant step in my rehabilitation as I met with my prosthetist to discuss transitioning to a “permanent leg.” The interim leg has undergone adjustments due to my evolving limb shape. Meeting to determine the characteristics of my permanent leg, considerations included the ability to wear it in the shower or for swimming.
Financial support from the NSW Government funded the interim prosthetic, while I anticipate NDIS approval for the new leg, recognizing the substantial cost involved. Hopefully, it will include a “wet leg” with drainage holes in the prosthetic foot for shower and swimming use.
Additionally, I met with a fellow amputee today, who I have been chatting with online. Approaching the one-year mark since his diabetes-related amputation, he navigates well and shares a positive attitude. Both of us emphasized the power of positive thought in our recoveries. Acknowledging occasional encounters with negativity, we stressed the importance of addressing realities with a proactive mindset rather than succumbing to a negative spiral.
I know any day something might happen that means I’m back in the wheelchair, unable to leave home. But in the interim, I’m so incredibly happy that six months ago I was potentially on the verge of death, and as we start 2024, I’m able to be able to get on with my life. Cheers!
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