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- My first steps! :)
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- Hello world!
My first steps! :)
September 10th, 2012 by michelle153
I had the most awesome Sunday yesterday. After a great lunch and relaxing under shades of coconut trees on our trampoline on a hot summers day in the South Pacific, we decided to go for a swim in the ocean. So we did, my partner carried me to a deep sandy area where i could stand on my left (ATR) foot! The water level was just above my bellybutton and my partner stood by for support should i need it. At first i was so hesitant, as would be expected for first steps. It felt like a baby taking her first clumsy steps toward someone awaiting a big hug 2 metres away, only i was in water. IT WAS EXHILARATING! To be able to stand on that foot was amazing and just made my year 
After a few worrisome steps, i felt confident in myself and trusted my foot to hold. The soft sand cushioned my heel as i walked by, i stood on a few stones which shocked me but i suppose I’d need to get used to that. The current made it a little challenging but i found that it made my entire leg work to balance my body since there was only a small patch of sand in a sea full of huge coral.
A couple of days ago my ATR foot felt so tight and sore at times. After my triumphant day my ATR feels fantastic, more flexible, no pain at all when stretching, and a lot stronger. However, i would not recommend this to anyone that isn’t familiar with the waters and tides and no-one around to support if need be. The most challenging part was getting out of the water, my partner had to help as the sand on the shore is very soft, crutches would sink half way through. although crawling was easy and fun; i wouldn’t dare hop around on the sand.
Best of luck to us all in future endeavors.
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3 Responses to ' My first steps! :) '
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ATR Timeline
- Name: michelle153
Location: Cook Islands
Injured during: Netball
Which Leg: L
Status: PWB
705 wks 2 days Post-ATR
704 wks 4 days
Since start of treatment
Michelle 153
- michelle153 has completed the grueling 26.2 ATR miles to full recovery!
Goal: 160 days from the surgery date.
Click here for the Group Marathon Tracker
on September 10th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Great progress Michelle; and a big step (so to speak). I don’t have a beach here, but found that the pool was a great place for early re-hab. I taught myself to walk again in the pool; starting out with the water up to my chin. Waves, sand, and rocks would have made me pretty nervous, but at 9 weeks, it sounds like you’re ready to handle it all!
on September 10th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Michelle,
That sounds like such a great experience compared to how my physical therapy sessions went. No coconut trees, nor sandy tropical beach, just a Bosu ball and a tilt platform. I am so jealous.
on September 11th, 2012 at 6:53 am
Awesome Michelle ! I was in Samoa for a holiday during week 11, and that was the first time that I had been in the water and had stood up independently on my recovering foot alone, with a ‘heel raise’. What a feeling it was ! I’m still working hard in week 15 to do the single heel raise ‘out of water’, but that feeling of being able to do it in the water certainly drives me on ! Good luck, and all the very best with your healing and recovery !