Good evening and welcome to the Panhandle. In my last post I wrote about what led up to my amputation. Tonight I would like to write about the changes that I've experienced along the way. Maybe you are experiencing the same things or know someone who is. I pray you find this an encouragement.
When I had the bars and pins in my leg and foot I had to either lay in bed with my leg up or on the couch with my leg elevated. Needless to say this made many things difficult from riding in the car to taking a bath. I described a little bit about my process of riding in a car last time. Imagine trying to keep your leg elevated and straight as you climb in to the back of a car. I had to swing my leg in as far as I could and then pull and scoot to get in, a pretty rough process. Change - after my leg was amputated I would pile blankets and pillows in the front seat so I could prop up my stump. It was better than the backseat, but still a little uncomfortable. Change - now with my prosthetic I can climb in to the front seat, no problem. We almost no problem sometimes my foot wants to get caught on the door and I have to reach down and pull it in.
With the bars in my leg going to the bathroom was tough. When I was in bed, oh and that was a process let me tell you; anyway at night I couldn't get out of bed so I had to have Gayla help me by holding the urinal. Not a good feeling, and when you wake someone from a good sleep, no matter how much they love you they aren't happy. To go #2 I had to have Gayla help me to my walker and then down into my wheelchair. After I got on to the potty-chair we had to prop my leg up into a very uncomfortable position. And then lets just say this is when you find out how much someone loves you when they put on their glove and take care of your business. Change - after the my leg was taken off I got confident enough to swing out of bed and into my chair and roll myself to take care of business. Unfortunately our bathroom door is to small for my chair to get through so I'm still on the potty-chair, and I still need help cleaning up after a #2, but hey it was and is an improvement. Change - When I have my prosthetic on I can handle my business by myself. It's funny how such small changes can make a person feel happy.
When I had the bars and pins I had to preach while sitting in my wheelchair, it wasn't comfortable at all. I sat at a table with my leg sticking out the other side while I read my Bible and notes. I gotta tell you this cut way down on my walking while I preached. But hey at least I was able to preach and give an invitation. Change - after my amputation I preached from my office chair that Gayla rolled up to the front for me every Saturday. I was able to use a music stand as my pulpit and after my sermon I would move back into my wheelchair for the invitation. Change - now with my prosthetic I'm able to go up on stage and sit at the big pulpit and preach. I tried to stand through my sermon and that didn't go so well, my knees started wobble so I had to sit down. It wouldn't been good to fall down while I was preaching, dramatic, but not good.
With all the changes in my leg or lack of the lower part I wasn't sure about ever driving again, but that looks like that may change. If I can pass a driving class and a driving test then using a hand control I will be able to drive again and Gayla is so ready for that to happen, me too.
Yes there have been a lot of changes associated with what started out as a broken fibula and tibia. But I can't say I was ever discourage, I know God is sufficient enough to handle what ever comes along - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Thanks for dropping by and may God be gracious to you and bless you and make his face shine upon you.
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