Spring has truly arrived to Copenhagen. In
the glasshouse in my parent’s garden I have registered the temperature to 35
degrees this past week. Though the real outside temperature is about 10 degrees
it’s wonderful. I am 3 weeks post op already, having undergone surgery April 9.
What a mess I had inside my knee: it was filled with a surprisingly amount of
scar tissue, leaks via a small hole in the knee capsule and loose items within.
I was following the operation live on a small screen witnessing firsthand the
thorough clean-up and the new suture in the meniscus we agreed on right there,
trying to save the meniscus once again. The doctor then closed the small hole
in the capsule and then she separated and removed the cyst the leak had amounted
to. 1 and a half hour and I was wheeled away to slowly recover from the
epidural. The same afternoon I went home with the entire leg wrapped in a Don
Joy set on -10 degrees (full extension) for the next 2 weeks.
I had to brusquely stop the Spring Cleansing
I was undergoing, when the doctor hospitalized me with just 1 day notice. So I
ate after just 2 days of fast when the intention was 4 days. But honestly I was
feeling very weak and dizzy so it wasn’t too bad. I was careful about what I
ate but not really following the strict regime the cleansing was dictating.
This being avoiding several foods that are considered to clog up the system
(wheat, yeast, milk products, rice etc.) Instead I was focusing on getting
energy to recover from surgery. All in all I still feel cleansed out and on top
of that I was relieved of the 5 kg I had gained during the fase of waiting.
Now I am happy to
announce that the knee will recover. It’s been 6 months of uncertainty not
really knowing whether or not I would ever be able to return to my beloved
mountains. A total of 6 months of endless
waiting that I am getting ready to leave behind me, replacing it with all the
stacked up hopes and dreams that has been trapped inside my soul. Today I am very
optimistic and obviously extremely happy about the idea of actively aid the
progress of recovery by exercising and strengthening my tooth stick-like right
leg. To be able to do something instead of nothing. Wow what a thrill…
This time however, as opposed to last time,
it seems I will have to be very patient and not progress too fast. This is
going to be my big challenge of which I am reminded daily be my mindful husband when I am walking
without the crutches for instance. It is and will be extremely difficult. I
have already made myself a rehab program that brings me to a point where I can
guide the first groups of DEFY Patagonia in January 2014. The program is a slow
and continuous advance of physical strength combined with a lot of functional
training: camping, hiking and trekking in the beloved Patagonian Mountains. I
am so excited.
The Don Joy has denied me flying back to
Chile as intended yesterday, early May. Doctor’s word. For Luis to stay here
with me until august, we have applied for an extension of the 90 days tourist
visa he is already possessing. Supposedly it’s just a formality but seeing that
the Danish immigration system is very hostile it’s not possible to believe in
anything before we get the real answer. Luis staying will mean that we can
continue the daily English classes along with the fly fishing lessons Luis is
receiving, not to mention the incredible support he is putting in my
rehabilitation. We make a very good team and it would be such a shame to break
that up at this point. Unfortunately the answer was a stunning NO to our
petition. Even acked up by a complaint accompanied by 2 different doctors assuring
that I am in a situation of limited function needing support Luis had to leave
yesterday. It’s quite shameful that the Danish system denies us being together
for a limited period of time when I honestly need him more than ever. But since
it has to be that way one just need to adjust.
Today I had a follow up with my PT, Kristian Koldsbjerg Nielsen, who sees
my progress as really good. I have received a moral boost and motivation to
carry on towards full recovery. I am halfway in wearing the Don Joy, now locked
in between full extension and 40 degrees
flexion. Its going so well as I am now to slowly fade out the use of crutches. And
the thigh muscles is gaining potency also.
I leave you with some photos of the
resistant leg/ knee of mine taken within the last 3 weeks.
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