Jubilant.
I’ve not been able to walk freely for almost 6 years and without a cane for a year and a half before the 6. However, I was faced with a predicament: I needed walking shoes. I could not believe it. I was not only walking post-surgery, but enough to make my feet hurt in the current barrage of shoes in my closet.
Over the years, I’ve amassed a collection of shoes that fall into two categories: 1) boots that support my ankles and 2) shoes that look good in a wheelchair. Neither of these categories are good for relearning how to walk. I’m not sure if I have the best pair of shoes, but I needed something with increased arch support, cushion and a good set of grippy bottoms.
I found my magical LPCs (leather personnel carriers) at a Sketcher’s outlet. I wish I could report, that like a small child, new shoes make me run real fast. They don’t. They give me something more precious than speed. They give me freedom of movement. Freedom is a word often used too lightly. I assure you; this time is not one of those times. I’m supposed to get up and walk around at least 8 times a day. I stay up until my muscles are fatigued and then I take a break. I’m averaging about 5K steps a day. Sometimes, I get as much as 9K. There are a few days that I clock in at as little as 1,500. Those are rest days.
Life has come to a battle of trying to repair damage caused by the disease and trying to find out what the disease actually is. We still do not know. And there is the big elephant in the room that we are knowingly ignoring. We are fighting the effects of an unknown disease that is causing innumerable unknown damage to my body. We take the wins when we can. Having to get a new pair of walking shoes is a win. It is a big win. Now, I can work to regain some muscle and tone in my legs and buttocks…and regain limited mobility again. What I really want is to dance with my beautiful wife one more time. I think we are on the trajectory of doing that. Time will tell. Until then, I’m just going to soldier on.
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