Making Progress

Walking Again

On June 15th—seventy days after my April 6th surgery—I stood up for the first time. Using elbow crutches, I managed a five-minute walk that left me exhausted. Today, I’ve built up to 45 minutes of indoor walking daily (three 15-minute sessions). For the past week, I’ve moved my practice outside, gradually increasing my stamina from 15 to 30 minutes a day.

 

Slow but Steady

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not breaking any speed records. In the time it takes me to finish my daily walk, a professional runner could cover over seven miles! But for me, every step is a victory, and I am incredibly grateful for the progress.

The "Boot Scootin’ Boogie"

Before I was cleared to walk outside, I used my wheelchair to "scoot" down the sidewalks, keeping my right foot elevated and pushing with my left. I enjoyed the fresh air for about 90 minutes a day until a run-in with some itchy chiggers convinced me it was time to move back to walking in the house!

 

Healing Progress

The nurses from Comprehensive Health Network have successfully cleared the dead skin and debris from the bottom of my foot, revealing healthy new skin underneath. During my July 12th appointment, Dr. DeCarbo also removed a patch of necrotic skin from the inside of my foot. Because the Achilles tendon had been lengthened to reach that 90° angle, the area was numb, and the procedure was completely painless.

Back to Westerville for Another Appointment

On Monday, July 12th when I went back to see Dr. DeCarbo, he removed the black necrosis skin, which was on the inside of my right foot. The area was about ¾ by ½ inch and fortunately it was numb and didn’t hurt at all when it was cut away, because the Achilles tendon had already been cut allowing the halo to return the ankle to a 90° angle.

Before and After

Below are some pictures showing how my foot looked on Wednesday, June 9th and how it looked on Friday, July 16th – five weeks and two days later. It’s quite a big improvement and proof that the body does heel when given time and the best possible care, which I definitely received from Dr. DeCarbo and the nurses from Comprehensive Health Network.

Looking Ahead

My next goal is to walk without crutches indoors and use only one crutch outside by late October. Before that happens, my heel needs to fully heal and my toes still need to be straightened—which likely means another six weeks off my feet. But I know that by Christmas, I’ll receive the best gift ever: a completely healed foot and a brand-new lease on mobility!