Give Cancer the Boot!

Why do i need a boot up to my knee and wheelchair for 5 weeks? The short answer is that I lost my balance last Friday morning and twisted my ankle going down 3 measly steps to the living room. It had been a tough week. I had finally gotten rid of my UTI but i was more nauseated after chemo than normal. Plus the chemo infusions are increasing my hand and feet neuropathy so not as steady.

When I went down on Friday, I heard something snap in my foot and thought “this can’t be good.” I texted Bev, my sister, and she came over and we got into Knoxville Orthopedics. They X-rayed and found mall fracture on my tibia side of my ankle. Foot was swollen and discolored. Bev had a boot and crutches so i used hers since are both about the size. She broke her ankle while taking care of our dying parents 2 years ago so she is the expert and learned to operate under difficult situations—not to mention going back to work soon after she broke hers. i’ve never had a broken bone so his is a first!

We bought a sofa bed last spring so i’m sleeping downstairs near the kitchen. it was a hoot trying to get around Saturday morning before I figured out the stupidity of sleeping upstairs. I got out of bed and slid to the floor (figuring i could push myself up with my “strong” arms and core.) hah! I underestimated how weak i was from my left arm lymphedema the pain in my right foot. i ended up looking like a turtle on my back and I tried every yoga and strength position I knew to right myself. Finally I called Dan who came running. I was bald, had bad breath and had almost wet myself. Oh the indignity! But he scooted me to a place where i could pull myself up and life returned to normal. That’s when we decided i should sleep downstairs in a lower bed with side supports (the sofa arms). Plus i don’t have to go up stairs!

Cancer is a lesson in humility,for sure. Recently I thought how much i enjoy being able to walk. Now i’m not able to do that. Goodbye hair, lashes, breast, eyebrows, dignity, strength, walks. At least the broken ankle is temp. Besides as you progress in life, you learn to survive and sometimes even be contented in all situations. As I told the ortho doc, it could have been worse since I had cancer, and he nodded. After you’re given a metastatic diagnosis, you have just about worst case scenario anyway.

The wonderful cancer support community of east tennessee lent me the awesome wheelchair in case i want to go for a spin in the cool autumn air. i’m trying to keep weight off ankle so it can heal. i want to be back to my walks soon.

I’m continuing to get the nicest notes from Docs all over the world about my JAMA poem “Moving to the Marriage Bed.” Such a blessing.