When Injury Meets Determination: Balancing School and Healing

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Ever wondered what recovery from a serious leg injury actually looks like? Spoiler alert: it's not the relaxing downtime people imagine! After taking a fall on my birthday, I've been navigating the strange new world of limited mobility, specialized medical equipment, and the frustrating gap between what I want to accomplish and what my body currently allows.

My newest companion is something called a Dynasplint—a massive metal contraption with pulleys designed to gradually stretch my injured leg back to normal. For someone barely five feet tall, this imposing device feels like strapping a small car to my limb! The physical therapists want me wearing it six hours daily, which seems nearly impossible when I can barely manage one hour now. Between hopping on one leg, keeping the other elevated, and trying to build tolerance for this medieval-looking stretching device, each day brings new challenges and small victories.

Despite these obstacles, life doesn't pause for recovery. I'm preparing to start online classes at Grand Canyon University on September 18th, which means scrambling to submit transcripts and coordinate with the Office of Disabilities while managing my physical therapy regimen. My podcast "She Is Her" about mental disabilities continues, though I've had to adjust my publishing schedule to accommodate my new limitations. Recovery has taught me that adaptation isn't optional—it's essential.

The journey of healing rarely follows a straight line, but I'm determined to make progress on multiple fronts simultaneously. Maybe I'll write essays while wearing my Dynasplint—killing two birds with one stone! Have you faced similar challenges balancing recovery with life's ongoing demands? I'd love to hear your stories and strategies for turning obstacles into opportunities. Subscribe to follow my recovery journey and upcoming interviews that promise plenty of the "mess beyond mess" that makes life interesting!

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