Written in Nov, 2024, the day I’d had arm surgery. This isn’t really about being neurospicy—it’s about being humbled, and profoundly grateful, for the things I usually take for granted. Typos and misspellings are left for authenticity.
Sometimes it’s the little things that count.
Over the past few years, I’ve had a number of surgeries. The latest, today, is repairing a tendon in my arm. I have had a nerve block for it. I had thought that I might have a sling. So that I could move around a little bit. However, that was not the case. I have my arm, which is in dressings, a splint, and a big block of foam. In order to get around, I’ve had to carry my arm almost as though you would carry an infant.
This has really made me more aware of having the blessing of an arm that can move. I won’t be able to carry anything for a month, and I’m sure that that will prove to be an experience.
2 and 1/2 years ago I had ankle surgery and went to sleep thinking that I would be able to put weight on it in 2 weeks. In recovery, I was told that no, it wouldn’t be 2 weeks. It would be 6. Needless to say, this was rather disconcerting. It was also very much an eye-opening experience for how difficult it can be to get around for differently abled people. I had a kneely scooter. All terrain, of course. Knobby tires. Pneumatic. But even with all of these features, I still had to be very careful not to tip. I still had interesting experiences going up and down stairs with the scooter in places that did not have ramps or an elevator. Or even just maneuvering it through a house or other buildings.
I have had in the past surgery on the other knee, and if you had told me prior to the ankle surgery that I would be hopping up and down on that knee, I would have called you a liar. But we adapt, we learn and sometimes do things just because we have to, and there’s no other way to do them.
I don’t claim by any stretch of the imagination that I truly understand what it is like to have physical limitations that other people live with daily. But I’m getting the slightest glimmer of understanding.
It was very very exciting when just a few moments ago I was suddenly able to move my hand 3/32 of an inch.
I can’t move my fingers yet, but I am lying here, tears rolling down my face because I can move my hand. Just a little bit, but sometimes it’s the little bits that make all the difference in the world.
And I’m lucky. I’ve gotten use of the ankle back. I can put weight on it. I’m getting movement back in my arm. Yet, there are so many people in the world who have physical limitations that aren’t going to get better. They are so much more brave than I am. I would ask that you consider them and also push for accessibility. Whether it be physical or digital or some other way that I can’t even begin to imagine, it’s very important.
Thank you
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