I have spent the last few months mending from surgery on my left ankle and learning how to walk again. It stemmed from a “slide in tumble, slide in stumble” I had late last December and it hasn’t been easy. It has given me a deeper understanding of what life must be like for someone who is permanently disabled, but finds a way to cope in the world.
For all practical purposes, I am temporarily disabled. I learned how to adjust my routine to enjoy life and found innovative ways to work with mobility devices. However, the reality is I knew that in the back of my mind I would be walking again. I think it’s having the knowledge of being temporary versus permanent is the key difference.