by J. H., Elementary - Spring 2014 Homeschool Writing Contest
For years my right foot and hips have been hurting. My hips would feel like they would lock up, then I wouldn’t be able to move. It was terrible. Soon, it got so bad, that I had to start going to doctor appointments more often. Soon after many doctor appointments, I ended up with five different doctors.
One of the doctors found two bones fusing together in my right foot. He said that I had it all my life and now it was turning into bone. He said that surgery would be the only way for it to be fixed. I was surprised to hear that because I never imagined that I would ever get surgery. I was sort of scared, but also curious.
On the day of my surgery, my dad and I woke up really early, and drove to the hospital. After some time in the waiting room, a nurse called me in to get ready. My doctor came in, and marked which foot to do surgery on, and confirmed with me what was going to happen during the surgery and after. Then my foot was cleaned with a special chemical soap. After the surgeon left, Dad prayed for me that God would protect me and that He would guide the surgeons while they worked. They came back in, and put me on a gurney, and moved me into the operation room. A surgeon gave me gas. I started to feel really tired. Soon, I was asleep.
I woke up, feeling really drowsy. I could hardly lift my head! I looked at dad, then my foot. My foot had a big splint with a bandage. Then I laid back down and fell back asleep. Finally, after a lot of waking up and then falling back asleep, I felt awake enough to change into my clothes and get into a wheelchair. A nurse rolled me outside and helped me into the car. Then the nurse gave me some crackers and handed me a blue bag, just in case I vomited on the way home. Thankfully, I didn’t.
Recovery took a lot more time than I thought it would. I rented a wheelchair with a special attachment to keep my foot elevated. Always keeping my foot elevated was a hassle.
Two weeks later, I was able to use crutches. Even during this time, I still had to elevate my foot because it would swell.
About three weeks later, I was able to get around without my foot swelling. It was nice.
Two weeks after that, the doctor gave me a boot. It was really clunky, and extremely big and heavy. I was told to put twenty to thirty pounds on my foot with the boot.
Anyways, as soon as I could put all my weight on my foot, I didn’t have to use my crutches! Soon, I was walking on my bare foot. It got easier and easier every day. In about one or two more weeks, I was walking without a boot, and without crutches!
Now I’m able to walk normal, but I still can’t skip or run very easily. Having surgery was not easy, because I wasn’t able to do what I wanted, like get up or go grab something. It was hard, but I think God wanted me to have surgery so that when I see others in a condition like I had, I might know how they feel, and what could help encourage them. Earlier, I used to look at people that had crutches or wheelchairs, as if they were strange. But now, I want to know their story and see what we have in common. I would like them to know this: God is with you, by your side, through every step of the way, even through the pain. He loves you!