I’m finally back home after my stay in the rehabilitation fa..

I’m finally back home after my stay in the rehabilitation facility, and let me just say… holyshitfuckgoddamn… being home has never felt so good. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, but they’ve been full of progress, milestones, and some much-needed lessons in  patience.

Rehab went by faster than I expected. Most of my time was spent focusing on PT, building on what the hospital showed me, and pushing myself to hit new milestones. I’m still not weight-bearing on my left leg and cycling through different ambulatory devices, primarily my wheelchair and walker, but I even managed to "walk" a total of 30 feet one day in PT—20 of them consecutively! It’s always been the little wins that really keep me going.

There were some unexpected milestones, too. Like the sheer joy of my first shower after surgery (with unlimited hot water, no less!! Can a girl get any luckier?!). Or finally being able to lower myself onto the toilet with no assistance using just the grab bars and my walker! Also, a shout out to my detective skills for figuring out it was the naproxen causing my nausea and not my pain meds. Nurses, take notes please!!

Now that I’m home, I’ve been enjoying time with my partners and loved ones. It’s been amazing having more freedom to manage my routine, even if I still rely a lot on their support. I’m learning to navigate this phase of recovery with gratitude and a sense of humor because, honestly, what else can you do when life keeps handing you PAOs?

One of the most unexpected highlights of rehab was my roommate. She didn’t know a single thing about my life, yet she managed to give me the paradigm shift I didn’t know I needed. She taught me that no matter what, there’s always room to grow and change—and getting older doesn’t mean you stop evolving. Her wisdom and kindness are things I’ll carry with me forever.

If you’d like to support me during this recovery journey, I’ve set up a fundraiser on both my OF pages to help with medical expenses and living costs while I focus on healing. Every bit helps, whether it’s covering the costs of transportation to appointments (my surgeon is 3 hours away!), medical equipment, or just making it possible for me to keep the lights on while I navigate this recovery. Your kindness means the world to me. I’m endlessly grateful for any support you can give.

As always, thank you for following along on this wild orthopedic adventure. Your support means everything to me. 

And if you’re looking for a reason to be a badass, don’t forget to punch an ableist today.

Love,
Sarah