Just Take Off Your Leg!

I saw Dr. Bellino for my last visit on December 15 2006. I complained about my stamina and how I had tried to bicycle but because my right foot turned out so much, it wouldn’t stay on a pedal. Most of my aerobic type exercise is walking, and nowadays I can’t do much of that since I am waiting for a new prosthetis that will fit better so I can walk longer without pain. I am easily winded after walking a block.
He listened to me patiently and then said. “Why don’t you swim?”
“How can I?” I blurted out. ” I don’t have a water leg yet to go into a pool.”
“Just take your leg off and go in.” He replied the obvious.
“Oh, okay,” I said thinking about it in my head. In fact I have been thinking about it for months and finally took action. I found a warm water therapy pool in San Jose called the Timpany Center. I went there and signed up for Saturday morning classes.
I walked up to the registration desk and looked around as I waited for someone to respond to me. There were big windows showing a large pool in an L shape. There were lanes for walking and classes, and a shallow area for kids. People were doing laps, some were in a water aerobics class. Some kids and their parents were just splashing around. There were all kinds of ways to get in– steps, ramp, and bars. Somehow I still couldn’t imagine how I would get in. My right side isn’t strong enough to bear my weight and hop down the ramp, and I couldn’t figure out how I would get down the stairs with only one leg. Mmmm. I thought. Maybe I am making a big mistake. Maybe I shouldn’t have listened to Bellino. I talked to Joseph about it and he encouraged me to go and that he would help me.
When we got there for our first class, our paperwork got misplaced and they had to find it. I now had less than fifteen minutes to get ready for class and get into the pool. The pressure was on. The young man took his time. Finally, I spoke up- “You know I haven’t been in a pool since my accident over three years ago and I’m kinda nervous, and I want to get to this class on time.”
He smiled, and handed me my membership card and pointed to the area of the pool where the class would be held. Joseph and I left our stuff in the family changing area and headed for the pool. The class was held in the deep area. I went over by the steps there. Joseph then suggested that I get in by the shallow area. But there was a crowd of people near there and I would have to go the entire distance of the pool and cross lap lanes to get to the class. I didn’t want to make a scene by doing that. The stress of not knowing what to do and the consequences of getting hurt and the pressure of time was mounting so much–I just broke down and cried. That’s usually what I do to stop the action and get some clarity about what has to happen next. I notice that it also helps others to forget about what they want you to do and focus on how they can help you instead. Weird, huh?
Well, I got into the pool and it was warm and wonderful and I love the class- kind of like pilates but in the water. I am much better at getting in and out of the pool now after three classes. But “just take your leg off”….well, it’s not as easy as it sounds.
I remember the Timpany Center. I gave a talk there early in my career to a group of potential donors. I talked about the advantage of a charitable remainder trust and ways to give stock and real estate to the Timpany Center. The Executive Director there was a very kind and gentle man who had tears in his eyes as he gave me a tour of the facility and talked about its history. It’s a little worn down since I had visited then but still a great resource for families, patients, and the disabled to enjoy a swim.