This is what the surgeon did to repair the tendon
This is the scar that is now on my leg 6.5 weeks after surgery...not too bad!
6 weeks after surgery I went straight from not putting any weight on my leg to walking on it with my boot and without crutches. I should be in the boot for 4 weeks and then I will be able to walk in hiking boots for 2 more weeks until I am completely cleared. That means 10 weeks after surgery I will hopefully be walking freely. The doctor says it will probably be between Halloween and Christmas before I start running or jumping.
This is amazing and I am extremely happy with the speed of this recovery. I feel enormously blessed to be able to walk again. I now realize how much I have taken for granted having the ability to walk.
God has taught me a lot during this strange summer in my life. First, I didn't realize how much of my identity was in my ability to move, work, and stay busy. This injury caused me to have to quit my summer coaching job, which has made me slow down tremendously and has freed up tons of time. During this time God has taught me a lot about solitude, spending time meditating on his truths, and seeking him even when discouraged. I have had friends around, but I have also had more alone time this summer than I have ever had. This is tough for an extrovert like me, but this summer has been a great lesson in learning to wait and listen.
Over the past month and a half I have been able to read some great stuff, I have learned a bunch through some interesting documentaries, I have written a ton, I have gone on many great dates with my now girlfriend Sarah, and I have painted a bit. Here are a couple of 20x16 inch paintings I have done so far.
This is Sarah on the left and Heather on the right.
These are my roommates for the summer. Kelsey and Corey "Goose" Gheesling.
So this blog is not supposed to be about painting, but adventures. Without functioning legs, however, painting can be a pretty great adventure. But I was cleared to walk with a boot on August 5. I knew that my leg was seriously weak, but when I heard I could walk I wanted to go climb a mountain...so I did.
Sarah suprised me from Kentucky for my birthday on August 8. On the 9th we decided to embark on my first true "adventure", besides kayaking, since I was injured. We drove up to Brevard, NC to check out the town and find some mountain waterfalls in the area. Brevard is in Transylvania County, which is the county with the most waterfalls in the USA. I was pumped about walking around to the waterfalls but I was terribly afraid that Dracula, or one of those vampires that all the teenage girls in the country have pictures of hanging from their walls, was going to jump out from behind a tree and suck my blood. Soon after those fears came, I decided that it would be awesome if Count Chocula jumped out from behind a tree and gave me some tasty cereal. Then I remembered that the Transylvania where vampires live is in Romania. I was instantly relieved that I wouldn't have to battle any fierce vampires, but I still wanted some chocolatey cereal. Oh well. At least I was hiking around with an awesome lady.
We hiked about 3 miles and found 4 waterfalls!
Conestee Falls
Triple Falls
High Falls
Hooker Falls
This day was incredible! Beautiful weather, great conversations, walking, and great stuff that God made! "Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me." -Psalm 42:7
Everybody who passed us on the trail this day had something to say about my leg. It was either along the lines of "You're a nut, kid!", "Wow, now that's dedication!", "What did you do to make her hurt you like that?", or "She should really be carrying you up this mountain!" Ha. It was ridiculous and funny...and even though my foot got a bit swolen, it was definitely worth it.
Life is good. God is better. :)
