Life After Amputation

Hello again. Six months ago I had my leg amputated (high above the knee) and stopped blogging. I'm sorry for the silence. A lot has happened in these past months. In this post, I'm going to bring you up to speed with my life's detour.

Amputation is a life-changing surgery. It often imposes drastic physical limitations accompanied by psychological trauma and emotional discomfort. A large number of amputees experience the phenomenon of phantom limb sensation and phantom pains. Unfortunately, I was no exception. The phantom limb sensation was there as soon as I opened my eyes after the amputation. The feeling that my leg was still there was almost unbearable. I remember praying to God, begging for endurance and for His mercies. Fortunately, the limb sensation has subsided substantially over time. The phantom pains are also a major challenge. It's not unusual to feel my amputated foot or knee tingling, burning and/or itching - more tingling and burning than itching. I'm on two strong medications for nerve pain. It's working well and the pain is more sporadic these days. It's a trade-off. The side effects are very strong. There is a variety of them but I'm mostly feeling these: fatigue, dry mouth, occasional drowsiness, and some cognitive challenges. 

I'll state the obvious; it's not easy to live a normal life without a leg. The adjustment is quite challenging yet not impossible. Over the last six months, I've done things using crutches that convinced me the human body is a marvelous machine with the ability to adjust and overcome any obstacle. I'm putting here a few pictures of some of my exciting accomplishments (Sand Soccer, Cycling, Ping-pong, Bowling, Weight Lifting, Preaching, Baptizing, etc.)

What's next? Thanks for asking :-) I've been patiently waiting for my next surgery, an Osseointegration, which will set me up for a prosthesis. In simple terms, an OI is an implant which will go on my femur to allow for a simple, safe and quick connection between my stump and the lower prosthesis. The approvals have been granted. Now the process moves into manufacturing the implant, then testing it before scheduling the surgery. I'm hoping to go into surgery sometime before the end of the year. 

All in all the Lord has been good to me. The road sometimes looks very bumpy and the detour hard to endure. But I'm a living testimony that in those difficult days and times Jesus' gentle and comforting presence makes all the difference. He is our "El Roi", the God who sees.

If you've been searching for answers, for peace, trying to make sense of your life's detour, I invite you to put your trust in Jesus. Remember, you are never alone, ever.

The Bible text for you this time is Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

I love a song by Kari Jobe called I Am Not Alone. I hope it blesses you as it has blessed me.

Last family picture before my amputation.

Always Together