Wednesday

Carol was fitted with her new appliance. She cried when she was unable to lift the leg more than a couple degrees. She remembered how Denise had lifted it the whole way and only was unable to hold it long. Denise went out with the tech when he left and came back and held her hand. “I asked the tech about that. He said you would take longer. You haven’t really used those muscles in years. It will come. It will take time. You will make it.”

“I know that but I.”

“I think I understand. This means a lot to you. I promise to try to help. We will make it together.”

Susan and Debbie were fitted with their new appliances. Debbie was unable to lift the leg more than ten degrees. Denise was there for the whole procedure encouraging her. Susan’s modified stump had one large hole and four smaller ones. They attached the appliance to the center one. The tech locked her ankle and had her walk.

“This is so good, the control, the stability, and no pressure on the stump.”

“Just limit walking and be careful for about a week. We don’t want you to dislodge the internal appliance till it knits to the bone.”

“I will. This is so much better.”

“Let’s see if we can do more. Sit down a minute. They found four muscles that may be usable to move your ankle. I’m attaching them. Tell me what you feel when I tighten it.”

“Let me show you. It feels like the muscle that turns my foot like this.” She moved her other foot.

“Great. That is what the doctor expected. You may be able to move your foot with it. Try rolling your foot.”

She tried the movements. Her foot went up and down. “It moved.”

“We are going to need to help you reprogram your mind.”

“So I get better contact and a muscle to move my foot?”

“Yes. Are you disappointed?”

“The contact was more than I expected. I.” She started to cry. “I didn’t. I was afraid to think there would be more.” The tech explained the exercises to them and left.

Later in the day the four women spent four hours in training classes. At the end of the classes Fritz called and asked Barbara to put the phone on speaker.

“I want no bravado, no heroics, just the truth. How soon can you four be on the road?”