Page 12 - Life's Outtakes 8

to my ankle. I had bolts, staples, and pins throughout
most of my leg. Then, after the surgery, I had some
complications from infections and anesthesia. I nearly
had to have my leg amputated to save my life.

When I was finally stabilized, my dream of going
to the Olympics was gone. Instead, the doctor informed
me that it might be all I could do to be able to walk
again.

He said, “It will depend upon you and how much
you can endure in physical therapy.”

After almost eight weeks the cast came off, and I
found my leg had almost no muscle at all. It had
atrophied and locked into the slightly bent position of
the cast. I can remember that, after scratching and
scratching, I finally attempted my first step. I fell onto
my crutches, dizzy with pain, and the doctor and the
nurse kept me from tipping over.

I can well remember that first physical therapy
session when my leg felt like a solid board, and the
different things the therapist was doing felt like he was
trying to break that board. The pain was excruciating,
and I doubted whether I could bear it.

After I had had about a half hour of this, a little

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