Exosym Dream

All good, but just plain too tired to write much. Independence evening was *magical* on Wollochet Bay where our first Airbnb hosts invited us back for their party. Most residents in the cove purchase probably thousands of dollars of pyrotechnics and try to outdo one another. Never seen anything like it in my life!

Walked up and down a really steep hill today - one I’d be afraid of even before I got my injury!

So so tired. Much love to you all. I still cry when I tell my story of your love and kindness to me!!
Soli Deo Gloria!

(And Michael made it home safe!♥️)

A touch of Gig Harbor, WA ... refreshment for both my body and soul ♥️

Here is a video about the clinic and what they do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlqel7udvEI

Hanger Clinic - ExoSym™ Kinetic Orthosis Overview The ExoSym™ Kinetic Orthosis, available exclusively at Hanger Clinic in Gig Harbor, WA, is a medical device that restores function and independence for peopl...

New England -- REPRESENT! (For some reason, not a real popular jersey in Seattle area 🤣)

*Hard Work*

Spent a few hours at the clinic today (Hanger Clinic in Gig Harbor, WA), working with a physical therapist. I learned “loading techniques,” walked up and down stairs and ramps, went outside — walked short, unpaved trails with roots/rocks and both mild and a bit more severe inclines. I have been so surprised to realize I actually feel most natural walking up and down the inclines than I do walking level. I think it is because I find it similar to walking in ski boots (boy, was THAT a long time ago!). Learning how to keep all muscles and tendons in my foot completely unengaged is quite a challenge, but the more I learn about it, the more I am figuring out what it feels like when I am doing it correctly. There are so many things to remember with each step, but I believe them when they say that eventually it will feel like second nature. Ryan made a few adjustments to my device, then encouraged me get lunch, rest and then take another walk.

We had been planning to take a ferry ride later in the afternoon, but when I rested after lunch I actually fell asleep for a few hours! Took another walk after that, and now we’re heading down to the waterfront with our hosts and have a fire as we watch the sun go down behind the Mt. Rainier. So incredibly gorgeous! How blessed am I?? My goodness. God is so Kind…

The Scooter can go back into storage!

I received my Exosym this evening and spent some time in training for stairs and ramps.

It’s amazing! The thing that first blew me away was that I comfortably stood up straight for probably the first time in 10 years. I’ve always been shifting weight away from the foot, even placing my knee at an angle and balancing my foot onto my knee, essentially standing like an ostrich on one foot. I can stand straight and am STABLE! Truly astounding.

There is a learning curve I’ll be working through but even the twinges of pain I felt are because I’m not yet strong enough to let other muscles do the work. Ryan says: 3 elements are essential - the Device, the Technique and the Strength to make the device work. Drop any one of those and I’ll wind up in pain. It’ll take lots of effort but I can already see that it works. Absolutely amazing!🎉🙏🏻🎉

Inside the shoes are heel cushions to support the device within the shoe, and to lift the other foot to the same height. (The angled position of the foot within the device is part of what makes the device effective.)

Afterwards we took a short walk in downtown Gig Harbor -- a walk, a walk -- I took a walk!

*Sandy’s Exo-SUCCESS!*

A few months back, my friend Janet introduced me to her friend and co-worker, Sandy, which is how I heard about the Exosym device. After 100 surgeries (yes, that is not a typo — ONE HUNDRED!), Sandy received her Exo device 4 years ago and went from disabled to un-STOP-able! Here she is this past weekend, having completed an **84 MILE** bike ride in New York’s “Discover Hudson Valley” ride. You can see the device on her right leg.

You probably won't see me on a bike 🚴🏼‍♀️ anytime soon🤣. I do love the idea of getting back to running 🏃🏼‍♀️, hiking🧗🏼‍♀️ and dancing 💃🏼-- but I'll settle for WALKING!🚶🏼‍♀️

*Tuesday — Mock Device*

We had a lovely morning relaxing on the deck overlooking beautiful Wollochet Bay: sailboats yachts, tree-perched chickadees, sky-dancing herons, all surrounded by infinite iterations of forest-green and topped off with large-volume mugs of coffee — Paradise!

My emotions have been all over the place and tears never far away since I learned I was eligible for this device, and especially with all the kindness offered to us by so many. Anticipating the receipt of the practice device was no different. Every ankle is different, and this was the moment when we would find out if the device would actually work for me… and — IT DID!

Ryan started off this time by telling me that everything I have heretofore known about walking will have to be set aside — that my body has come up with pain-generated coping techniques that have to be unlearned in order to be successful in the Exosym. He guided me through taking my first steps, slowly walking back and forth the length of the balance rails, advancing to walking with ski poles, then one pole, and finally “free hand,” all while giving me tips and reminders of which muscles need to be engaged and which need to be relaxed. I think I’ve heard that it will be about 6 months of training before it will become second nature for me to reach maximum benefit and ease with the device. Handing back the mock device and going back to walking with just my regular shoes was quite an experience, as though it highlighted my areas of challenge within the ankle. Next comes the hand-creation of the custom-device and it will be ready tomorrow at 4pm!

Afterwards we stumbled upon the best seafood meal we've had in years at Anthony's right on the waterfont. From the house-made warm sourdough bread, to the marcona-almond-encrusted rainbow trout -- just spectacular! (And it was an early-bird special, Mom! ;) )

Exosym Dream updated their website address.

*Monday — Arrived and more examples of God's Kindness!*

So excited, I’m beside myself. Ryan Blanck, inventor, made a cast of my foot and leg. From that he’ll make the mock-up device from plastic which I’ll try on Tuesday. From there, he’ll make adjustments and create the real device — for delivery on Wednesday evening.

God has shown so many kindnesses to me that I don’t know why I keep wearing mascara - ha! When I couldn’t sleep the night before i left, I decided to check the Airbnb site again to see if I could find a cheaper place to stay before my current reservation would be irrevocable. Lo and behold — there was a new guesthouse offered for my dates — absolutely lovely, better met our needs, and I saved hundreds of dollars!

But it gets even better … when I checked in, I chatted with the host for quite some time and I shared about how blessed I’ve been — how our church family, and our family and friends have made it possible for me to receive this device … and she responded — “The Body of Christ does it again!” She’s a believer! How precious that God granted me this extra special dose of encouragement from a sweet Sister.

Michael’s flight into SeaTac went without issue (even arrived 20 minutes early!). I am so grateful he can be here with me as I go through this life-changing process.

*Sunday/Monday* - *Travel*
First leg of travel to Minnesota was “On-Time” … until we got on the tarmac, then delayed an hour … a nail-biter, but the wheelchair guy zoomed me over to the connecting flight just before they closed the doors — whew!

Pastor Kevin and his sweet wife, Cindy, picked me up, gave me a lovely place to sleep, yummy breakfast — and a CAR to borrow!

The Back Story (especially for those who appreciate a few medical details :) )

I sustained a hard fall at a water park in 2012, leaving me with persistent pain after exhausting all conservative measures. 9 months later I underwent surgery to repair the ligament sheath that held my two peroneal tendons in place behind the malleolus (the outer ankle bump), as well as remove torn cartilage and scar tissue within the ankle joint. As I began physical therapy 3 months later, some of the interior stitches let loose and I was left with what we eventually came to understand was an intrasheath subluxation of the peroneal tendons. Instability also remained in my ATFL. The pain I experienced was manageable so long as all I did was the very basics — anything more would usually leave me deeply limited and take a week+ to recover.

Ups and downs through the years…in November of 2020, I fell again and sustained a Jones fracture, a deeper tear of the ATFL, re-injury of the peroneals, and small fractures in several ankle bones. I underwent surgery the next month, including a groove-deepening procedure, repair of the ATFL, a screw placed in the 5th metatarsal and removal of more cartilage and scar tissue in the ankle joint. 10 months later, the screw was causing problems and was removed. Physical therapy helped some, but pain and instability persisted (and worsening). Imaging studies confirmed arthritis setting in. The doctors said that, though I didn’t need them yet, the only options for my future would be ankle fusion, and/or ankle replacement, neither of which have stellar success rates in returning patients to pain-free mobility. This Spring, my condition worsened. After doing something where I’d pushed myself a bit, I was finding myself the next day unable to walk at all. It was back to the scooter and crutches for 2-3 weeks after each of these episodes.

Then… I applied for the Exosym.

Ryan Blanck, inventor of the device, reviewed my medical records and history, and confirmed I was a candidate to be helped by the Exosym Device. Here is where the rest of my story begins!