Keep on Keeping on

It is a great feeling to have something positive to say everytime I sit down to write a blog post. I just want to start by saying I feel great! I have been going to the gym almost everyday biking and lifting. I have started to do leg presses, leg curls, and calf raises with minimum weight. It is encouarging to look down at my right leg and see some definition in my leg!

The doc has cleared me to walk around without the brace and he says I'm doing great. I only have to wear the brace in crowded areas, just to be safe. My Physical Therapist, Dan, said now they have to start slowing me down. That's tough since I just want to keep pushing forward, but I understand that the way my knee heals will effect me for the rest of my life. I'll leave it up to the experts.

I have almost all my range in motion back and can walk without a limp. Some of my friends at school who suffered the same injury can't even believe I only had the surgery a month ago. I just tell them that they didn't have two Physcial Therapists for parents!

All the positive results are encouraging but it is becoming more frustrating. I tried to make a  running motion the other day, only to be stopped by a weak leg and a quick, sharp pain in my knee saying, "Can't run yet Steve." I just want to be playing center field in intramural softball, not waving my teammates to go home as the third base coach. I want to take the ball to the rim and fire up three point shots. Now the only time i see the court is to shake hands with the other team after the game. It sucks, I'd be lying if I said otherwise. 

My 6th grade recreational baseball team finished last in the regular season. It was the first time in my life that i was on a losing team and I was frustrated. My dad, and the head coach of that team, had one word to say to me: Perseverance. Life presents you with obstacles all the time such as an injury, a bad teacher, or teammates that couldn't field a ball! Well, to make a long story short, our team won the world series that year, winning more games in the playoffs than we did all year. I've tried to compare that team to the situation I'm in now. There are positives but in the end I'm still not even close to 100%. I'm frustrated like I was then, but it is time to persevere and keep pushing forward. It seems impossible that I'll reach the finish, like it seemed impossible that we could win a championship. But with the right attitude and perseverance, I know the hard work will pay off.

It is 10:07 PM. Most kids are winding down from a long weekend, but not me. It's gym time now. Time to work even harder.