The things that shape our lives........
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My story started the day I was born (1948, the dark ages of Medicine). I was blessed with bi-lateral Club Feet. At the ripe age of 17 days old my Mother had me into the Orthopedic Children Hospital in LA.
The Doctor gave my Mother a long and winded explanation of how it happened and went on and on. I got tired and went to sleep according to my Mother. She finally ask three questions, #1 What will my son's future be if you do nothing. Answer, a wheel chair for life. #2 What will my son's future be if you do all of the experimental surgeries on him and they fail. Answer, a wheel chair for life. # 3 What will my son's future be if your experimental surgeries are successful. Answer, we do not know, never been done before. May be able to walk with crutches or even with just braces on his legs. Well, my Mother asked one question, why are you not already working on him.
Fast forward 18 years.
30 plus surgeries and many hard times for my Mom and new Father.
I was playing tennis at college and rushed the net and broke something in my ankles, I gained 50 pounds and reacted poorly to all the NEW medicines. They brought in my old doctor to consult. He asked me how I broke the wire sutures that held my ankles together. I told him the story about the tennis game. He had this look of pure horror on his face. He asked what else I have been doing for the last 5 years to my feet. Told him I was the captain of the tennis team in High School, Right guard in the marching band and played baseball when ever I could. Dr. Edkins, the doctor that transformed my feet in to two wonderful appendages looked at my mother and said in a very loud voice, "Margaret, why was Carl playing tennis and doing things like marching band". My Mothers answer changed my life. Well Dr., I never told him he was crippled, I guess I just never got around to telling him he was not normal.
If you look below, you will see my life's motto.
My story started the day I was born (1948, the dark ages of Medicine). I was blessed with bi-lateral Club Feet. At the ripe age of 17 days old my Mother had me into the Orthopedic Children Hospital in LA.
The Doctor gave my Mother a long and winded explanation of how it happened and went on and on. I got tired and went to sleep according to my Mother. She finally ask three questions, #1 What will my son's future be if you do nothing. Answer, a wheel chair for life. #2 What will my son's future be if you do all of the experimental surgeries on him and they fail. Answer, a wheel chair for life. # 3 What will my son's future be if your experimental surgeries are successful. Answer, we do not know, never been done before. May be able to walk with crutches or even with just braces on his legs. Well, my Mother asked one question, why are you not already working on him.
Fast forward 18 years.
30 plus surgeries and many hard times for my Mom and new Father.
I was playing tennis at college and rushed the net and broke something in my ankles, I gained 50 pounds and reacted poorly to all the NEW medicines. They brought in my old doctor to consult. He asked me how I broke the wire sutures that held my ankles together. I told him the story about the tennis game. He had this look of pure horror on his face. He asked what else I have been doing for the last 5 years to my feet. Told him I was the captain of the tennis team in High School, Right guard in the marching band and played baseball when ever I could. Dr. Edkins, the doctor that transformed my feet in to two wonderful appendages looked at my mother and said in a very loud voice, "Margaret, why was Carl playing tennis and doing things like marching band". My Mothers answer changed my life. Well Dr., I never told him he was crippled, I guess I just never got around to telling him he was not normal.
If you look below, you will see my life's motto.
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RipitRon wrote:
I had my left leg blown to pieces my junior year in college, 1977. I had 6 operations in a 9 month period to repair my left leg...which had been broken in two places, all four ligaments were blown out, my patella tendon was ruptured, knee cap fractured & my vastus lateralis was torn so badly I lost about 8 inches of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastus_lateralis_muscle
I spent the next 2 years in rehab and PT just learning how to walk and function again. I have dealt with severe Osteoarthritis in my left leg for over 30 years now, and RA for the past 10. My doctor calls me the "Toughest SOB" he has ever known...because with the damage that was done to my leg, he has no clue how I function day to day. He says he knows I am in sever pain 24-7-365 and yet I continue to work and do what I have to do without pain killers. I am not able to do the things I did 10 years ago...as RA leaves me very stiff and is extremely difficult to deal with all the time...but at least I give it a shot. I still play golf once or twice a month, and go to the driving range every Saturday morning to hit balls and practice on the putting green.
There have been many things that changed my life...some for the better...like meeting my wife....and some not so good. But I wouldn't go back and change anything. The things in my past made me who I am today...and despite all the physical problems and everything else I go through....I kinda enjoy being who I am now.
RipitRon wrote:
Ron...sounds like you and I had similar experiences...except... no drugs here...or getting drunk.!!! But the women part... I never got that part down that good.... but I gave it the ol' college try!!!:%
I had my left leg blown to pieces my junior year in college, 1977. I had 6 operations in a 9 month period to repair my left leg...which had been broken in two places, all four ligaments were blown out, my patella tendon was ruptured, knee cap fractured & my vastus lateralis was torn so badly I lost about 8 inches of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastus_lateralis_muscle
I spent the next 2 years in rehab and PT just learning how to walk and function again. I have dealt with severe Osteoarthritis in my left leg for over 30 years now, and RA for the past 10. My doctor calls me the "Toughest SOB" he has ever known...because with the damage that was done to my leg, he has no clue how I function day to day. He says he knows I am in sever pain 24-7-365 and yet I continue to work and do what I have to do without pain killers. I am not able to do the things I did 10 years ago...as RA leaves me very stiff and is extremely difficult to deal with all the time...but at least I give it a shot. I still play golf once or twice a month, and go to the driving range every Saturday morning to hit balls and practice on the putting green.
There have been many things that changed my life...some for the better...like meeting my wife....and some not so good. But I wouldn't go back and change anything. The things in my past made me who I am today...and despite all the physical problems and everything else I go through....I kinda enjoy being who I am now.
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