Win Some, Lose Some

If you have followed my blog, you may remember my post about my snowboard trip to Montana in February 2023.  I was still on my medication for Leukemia so would become tired easily.  The first day there, I snowboarded my heart out from the top of the mountain and was tired the next day.  A few weeks ago, Jason and I went to Steamboat Springs, Colorado with our friends.  I really wanted this trip to be my “comeback” trip where I would be able to snowboard for 3-4 days without tiring out.

We had a great winter vacation even though I didn’t get to snowboard as much as I planned.  On our first day of snowboarding on the mountain, I experienced a knee injury while trying to maneuver out of a flat spot.  I suddenly felt two pops and lots of pain so I just sat down on the ground.  It’s pretty crazy how the simplest movements can take a toll when I had just enjoyed riding down half the mountain on steep blues.  

People were so nice in CO with helping me to the Emergency Room, being patient with me being slow to get on the shuttle busses, telling me their stories of overcoming injuries much worse than mine, and even making sure I had a wheelchair at the airport.  While I’m writing this, I’m thinking how much it really does not sound like a vacation at all.  

I did get to share some sweet time with our friends and my husband.  Everyone worked together to help make sure I was comfortable the rest of our trip with plenty of ice packs, ibuprofen, and places to prop my leg.  I still went out to eat every evening and even ventured out in town one day while moving slowly using my crutches.  

After visits to an orthopedic doctor and a physical therapist, I have been instructed to move my knee and do specific exercises which have helped tremendously.  I have had lots of improvement over the last 2 weeks going from hobbling with crutches and unable to get dressed myself to almost walking normal with little to no pain.  I can even put my own shoes on now!  I am still using a fancy knee brace for stability and struggle with lots of stiffness.  The next goal is to ditch the brace which I am making progress daily.  

After an MRI, I have been diagnosed with a pretty bad knee sprain caused by my knee cap dislocating and relocating.  Yes, it felt exactly how it sounds, painful.  Thankfully, no ligaments are torn so no surgery is needed.  My entire leg swelled for a week right after the injury which was very uncomfortable and painful as well.  Once a lot of the swelling went down, I was able to walk better, complete my exercises and even normal activities of daily living in my home.

I know this story is not directly related to my CLL journey but is still part of my story and my journey.  This part of my story does relate to my vacation from last year in that things do not always go as planned.  We have wins in life sometimes as well as losses.  I do plan to be back on the mountain in time to enjoy the beauty of the snow and the fun of snowboarding.

“Do not fear (anything), for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;  I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand (a hand of justice, power, of victory, of salvation.) Isaiah 41:10

“And not only this, but (with joy) let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character; and proven character, hope and confident assurance (of eternal salvation.) Romans 5:3-4