Happy Thanksgiving!

I've got many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  While I am thankful every day, the last 12 weeks has proven to be a time where I've expressed gratitude to many.

I've had two surgical procedures within this time and with both, I've had the most amazing support of family and friends to make sure I was okay.  They provided their company, time, food, sent lovely cards, texts, and left voice mails.

I'm most thankful to my mom and best friend for shuttling me to/from work daily.

Talk about counting one's blessings? I sure am.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Grateful - Hezekiah Walker

The Temporary Disabled Girl's Accessories

This broken ankle has come with lots of tools to help me get around and get back on my two feet.  Lord knows, I can't wait to walk on my own and wear two shoes.  But I truly appreciate my lovely accessories kit as I recover.  This is how it all began....

After the ER docs at Cedars put me in a splint, they sent me home with crutches.  Gosh, those things are exhausting to use.  The funny thing is while I was hobbling around LA, I got lots of advice on how to use them from compete strangers.


I return home to see my regular doctor, Dr. Spector, who cut the splint off to view my still swollen ankle, but to also inform me that he couldn't help me and that I needed an Orthopedic doc.  He is a foot/ankle specialist.  Needless to say, I was disappointed.  I thought for sure he'd put me in a cast and send me on my way.  I would later learn from my Orthopedic doc, Dr. Lundy, that surgery was needed, ASAP!  I immediately let Dr. Spector's staff know that I needed to get around in a different way.  The crutches were NOT working for me and I was so tired from using them.  I requested a 'scooter'.  Thankfully, it was covered under my medical insurance.  I got some other awesome items to help navigate my way through daily activities as I recover.   

I got so much advice on how to use these guys!

  

Got this lovely boot, pending surgery

    

The scooter that saved my life!

The lovely half splint/cast with ice-pack post-op look

 

This red lovely is nice to have when mom or my bff are shuttling me around. Front row parking!!

You try standing in the shower on ONE foot!  So thankful for this chair.

Got this awesomely fashionable shoe post-op to protect my foot.  Ironically, when I wore the thing, I hit my foot more because I couldn't gauge the depth of it around corners. 

 

 

From Ellen to Cedars Sinai

Attending a taping of the Ellen DeGeneres show has been on my list of things to do for a long while.  Every now and again, I would pop on her website to request tickets.  Oftentimes, I would see the 'no available' stamped on the month and dates I could even consider attending.  While I was home recovering, I decided to take another chance.  Low and behold! SCORE!!!  I selected a random date in October and two weeks later, I got a call from the show confirming my interest in attending a taping.

Mom and I sprang into action to book our flights to LA to meet up with my sister and attend a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres show.   I had already planned my outfit since we were going to a show in October.  Ellen is a big fundraiser for Breast Cancer awareness, so my 'big ta-tas' shirt was packed and ready to go.

Mom, my sister and I are all set to head out for breakfast and than the Ellen show.  The day started out awesome and full of laughter. 

So excited to be at the Ellen show!  Sportin my 'I heart my big ta-tas shirt'

 

Inside the studio awaiting to be seated. Oh! Halle Berry is the guest!

 We had a blast at the Ellen show, but decided to go to the Grove for shopping, dinner, and to catch the Giants play their World Series game.

And than...it happened....I fell off  the curb and heard a pop!  I was in the most pain I had ever experienced in my ENTIRE life!  So much so that I couldn't even cry.  On the ground, screaming in pain.  Lots of people came to my assistance.  I couldn't get up on my own, so.....
  

My ride to Cedars Sinai's ER is on the way

My ankle in its swollen glory!

annoyed that my ankle is 'fractured' and the LA weekend is DONE!!

Chillin on my sister's couch...in LA!

 Meanwhile, I went into panic mode because I had lots of things to figure out in a short period of time:

• Call my new boss to let her know I'm excited to start on the following Monday, but I'll be on crutches
• get a ride from the airport to drive me home in my car
• contact the airlines to get wheelchair service and change my seat
• figure out how to get to/from my new job

I get home safely thanks to a friend picking me up, my mom and best friend create a schedule to get me to/from work, and now...

  
Let the fun of hobbling around, begin.....