Friday marked the last day of my 21st school year, and my 8th year at the American Collegiate Institute. While my colleagues and fellow educator friends are off for two months of summer holiday spent traveling and relaxing in the sea and sun (featured photo above was from my last beach day a couple weeks ago), these last few weekends were all that I will enjoy of those elements of summer as I will have surgery tomorrow.
I can no longer delay the ankle arthrodesis surgery. Tomorrow will be Day One of my ankle fusion journey. I had to cancel my trip to the U.S. to see family and friends. I will spend the next two months–my summer break from school–laid up at home here in İzmir doing my best to heal and recover as quickly as possible. For at least 6-8 weeks I will be unable to bear any weight on my left ankle and foot. I will be home with my leg elevated above my heart as much as possible (to decrease pain and swelling) while I wait for my body to do it’s job. If you have any interest in the details for the surgery approach and recovery plans, please visit this google document. I like my doctor and have put together a team of friends that are my “family” here in Türkiye.
This will be my first time to have surgery outside of the U.S., and so far away from family. While I am, of course, nervous about the surgery and the long recovery period, I also have faith that things will work out. I know I will need to take it one day at a time. My last major surgery (emergency gall bladder removal in April of 2014) was a surprise and I had no opportunity to plan or prepare for that week spent in the hospital and the subsequent two weeks spent recovering at home.
For this surgery I have had time to plan and prepare. I have purchased the necessary assistive equipment to use during the recovery process, such at this fancy knee scooter (below). I have rearranged my furniture to create open avenues for movement, and I’ve practiced getting up the 24 cm step into my bathroom, and back down again.
While I am not thrilled about having to do this, the hardest part to swallow has been the reality that my private insurance has declined coverage claiming that I have a pre-existing condition (I broke my left tibia/fibula when I was 18 and serving in the Army). But it is what it is, and I must journey onward. One upside of healthcare here is that patients have direct lines of communication with their doctors. I have mine on Whatsapp and he and his assistant have done an excellent job preparing me and keeping me informed every step of the way.
After 2-3 nights spent in the hospital post-surgery, I will come home to heal. I have a stack of books to read. I have Netflix and HBO Max to watch. And I’ve signed up for a Memoir Writing course through Gotham Writers Workshop (out of NYC) that begins July 7. Here’s hoping that my body heals quickly so that I can move on to the physical therapy stage. That I will adapt to my new ankle and return to a life filled with good times with friends, a pain-free life exploring the next adventure that awaits me.
I’ll sign off with this picture from a boat trip in Dalyan in late May. I’m grateful to have had a small trip to Dalyan before embarking on this summer event. I will be sad to not spend time there this summer, but look forward to visiting again just as soon as I am well enough to do so. All thoughts and prayers are appreciated and I’ll do my best to share a progress report soon.