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Pugwash's peg-leg

pugwash said:
There again, I live on a street of 20 homes, all of which are aware of my changed circumstances, yet only 2 have even asked me how I'm doing.
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I ran into the same thing when I lost a couple of fingers. I think people are afraid they will offend you. The funny thing, from my perspective and from other amputees I've spoken with, is that we welcome the opportunity to talk about it. In fact, we would much rather talk about it than to endure the sidelong glances you get from people who want to see the injury, but don't want us to see them trying to look. Believe me, we see them!

When I was in the hospital after my accident, with my hand all bandaged up from surgery, I didn't yet know the outcome of the surgery. The Admiral tearfully told me that I had lost my index finger, half of my pinkie and any meaningful use of the other two fingers was still in question. I took it in, smiled, and said, "You know, I've always wanted a 3D printer. I'm going to get one and make myself a finger!" And so I did. Not only did I make a moveable finger, but I made it in nice, bright colors so people would have to notice it. I don't wear it much any more because it really just gets in the way, but it was a good exercise and something to keep me occupied as I recovered. Besides, I got a 3D printer out of it without any complaints from the Admiral! ROTF

Pugwash, I think you feel the same way I do. We're not happy or proud of our injury, but we do need someone to talk about it with us from time to time. If, for no other reason, than to tell our story and possibly help keep someone else from doing the same thing. The rest of you - don't feel like you have to tippy-toe around someone with an injury or deformity and for goodness sakes, PLEASE don't ignore them because you don't know what to say!


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RussF said:
I'm going to get one and make myself a finger!
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Russ. I think that's brilliant. My wife has had operations on her legs since she was very, very young. Still needs them as and when. I said to her once I could run my model trains up and down the scares on her legs. She thinks it's great I don't see them as ugly. So many people look and pretend they don't as you said. She finds it a little hurtful. I find her beautiful from top to bottom, inside and out and the way she walks is the walk of my darling walks and I love her all the more for it..
 
Pugwash, three men who lost their legs have inspired me. Douglas Bader, a WWII ace who lost both legs in 1931 and was credited with 22 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.

The next is Terry Fox, a young Canadian who lost a leg to cancer and tried running across Canada with a prosthetic leg in 1980. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the disease before he finished his run but the annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$900 million has been raised in his name through the Terry Fox Research Institute as of September 2024. I've taught school here in Canada for the past 35 years and most schools in Canada have a Terry Fox run every spring, raising thousands of dollars for cancer research. Every child in this country knows who Terry Fox is.

You sir, are the third. Your grit and determination are great to see. I hope all goes well as you learn your newfound mobility.

Cheers,

Todd
 
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tossedman said:
Pugwash, three men who lost their legs have inspired me. Douglas Bader, a WWII ace who lost both legs in 1931 and was credited with 22 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.

The next is Terry Fox, a young Canadian who lost a let to cancer and tried running across Canada with a prosthetic leg in 1980. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the disease before he finished his run but the annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$900 million has been raised in his name through the Terry Fox Research Institute as of September 2024. I've taught school here in Canada for the past 35 years and most schools in Canada have a Terry Fox run every spring, raising thousands of dollars for cancer research. Every child in this country knows who Terry Fox is.

You sir, are the third. Your grit and determination are great to see. I hope all goes well as you learn your newfound mobility.

Cheers,

Todd
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No pressure, Pugwash! ROTF
 
pugwash said:
Thanks to all of you for your encouraging support.

This process has changed my life, but at the same time it gave me a new one.
3 months in hospital opened my eyes; oh how true is the glib rejoinder '' there's always someone worse off than yourself''.

Today's physio was another winner, as I was expecting an introduction to a zimmer frame.
Instead I graduated to crutches successfully, and was told after next weeks session I can bring them home, which means I won't be entirely dependent on the wheelchair.
Incrementally my world is finally getting bigger.

I'll be back!
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Thank you for the update Pugs! Wishing you all the best and you are constanly in our thoughts.
 
Honestly, I'm overwhelmed by all your feedback, some of which leaves me extremely embarrassed. Thank you so very much, guy's.

There's a catharsis that comes from sharing our visits to the 'OK Corral of life'.

Whatever your injuries and loss, physical and mental, revealing yourselves is part of our positive ownership of where we are, what has become.

Shame should be a word we shouldn't identify with; each of us has every right to exist and find fulfillment.
Loving yourself makes a bigger space in which to love others.

First job today is my daily process of making my bed.
The second was to get out spanners and re-adjust the alignment of my chairs wheels.
Sometimes an ambulance crew cocks this up by strapping the chair down with straps through the spokes. Then the brakes don't work; not good.

I encountered recalcitrant complaints from neighbours...
At the top of my garden is a splendid towering mature Ash tree (I was there when a previous occupant planted the twig of a sapling in 1979).

A neighbor s doors away is complaining it blocks the summer evening sunlight!
I planted my front garden with wild seeds of flowers and ornamental grasses and let it run riot. Now I have over a dozen wild Orchids.

Next door is complaining about grass seed creating unnecessary 'weeding' for her.

This kind of pettiness deeply offends and frustrates me.
 
Pugs, always nice ro read your updates. Neighbours, what can one say? I would do absolutely noting about that Ash tree. It is not a health hazard. In 1979 I was in grade 11. That tree has a history. I am often surprised, perhaps not so much anymore, how people are unwiling to live with a bit of "discomfort", when that bit of "discomfort" actually makes the world a richer and better place.

We have also decided to let our well manucured lawn go wild. Mariske, my wife, sown seeds of some wildflowers and now ...? Now we cannot wait for the spring. And we have planted ten trees in our back garden, including my favourite, an Outeniqua Yellow Wood. And in 30 years time those trees will be quite tall. But hey who cares, I may not be around then ... :D. Will be 93 in thirty years time. But you know Pug, the trees brought life into our garden and the birds, now that is a sight to see. Thank you for an inspirational story and feedback. Hope you get the wheels sorted. No brakes can be a bit of a challenge indeed.
 
pugwash said:
Honestly, I'm overwhelmed by all your feedback, some of which leaves me extremely embarrassed. Thank you so very much, guy's.

There's a catharsis that comes from sharing our visits to the 'OK Corral of life'.

Whatever your injuries and loss, physical and mental, revealing yourselves is part of our positive ownership of where we are, what has become.

Shame should be a word we shouldn't identify with; each of us has every right to exist and find fulfillment.
Loving yourself makes a bigger space in which to love others.

First job today is my daily process of making my bed.
The second was to get out spanners and re-adjust the alignment of my chairs wheels.
Sometimes an ambulance crew cocks this up by strapping the chair down with straps through the spokes. Then the brakes don't work; not good.

I encountered recalcitrant complaints from neighbours...
At the top of my garden is a splendid towering mature Ash tree (I was there when a previous occupant planted the twig of a sapling in 1979).

A neighbor s doors away is complaining it blocks the summer evening sunlight!
I planted my front garden with wild seeds of flowers and ornamental grasses and let it run riot. Now I have over a dozen wild Orchids.

Next door is complaining about grass seed creating unnecessary 'weeding' for her.

This kind of pettiness deeply offends and frustrates me.
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If you cut down the ash, the same neighbor is going to complain about the lack of shade from the afternoon sun. Guaren-Fing-teed.
 
Haters always gonna hate, my friend. Keep it light and don't lose your sense of humor.

I lost my fingers on 3 Dec 2018. Three weeks later when my son, an E.R. nurse, and wife came over for Christmas, we exchanged gifts. Opening the first one from him, I pulled out a bottle of barbeque sauce. Of course, in my mind I was thinking, "What the hell is this?!?", but wanting to be polite, I said, "Oh, this is nice!", while giving him a quizzical look. He just smiled and said, "Too soon?" Looking at the bottle again, I finally saw the label - "Stubbs B-B-Que Sauce". We laughed for half an hour!

Tell your tree-hater that you need the shade because direct sunlight causes intense pain in your stump and besides, you'll need a good supply of strong, sturdy wood for your pegs.

And your orchids produce a very rare and expensive topical salve necessary to heal your nerve endings and they will only grow in a very specific combination of flowers and grasses.

Use your imagination and keep loving life. Let them wallow in their own misery.
 
Ettienne said:
Pugs, always nice ro read your updates. Neighbours, what can one say? I would do absolutely noting about that Ash tree. It is not a health hazard. In 1979 I was in grade 11. That tree has a history. I am often surprised, perhaps not so much anymore, how people are unwiling to live with a bit of "discomfort", when that bit of "discomfort" actually makes the world a richer and better place.

We have also decided to let our well manucured lawn go wild. Mariske, my wife, sown seeds of some wildflowers and now ...? Now we cannot wait for the spring. And we have planted ten trees in our back garden, including my favourite, an Outeniqua Yellow Wood. And in 30 years time those trees will be quite tall. But hey who cares, I may not be around then ... :D. Will be 93 in thirty years time. But you know Pug, the trees brought life into our garden and the birds, now that is a sight to see. Thank you for an inspirational story and feedback. Hope you get the wheels sorted. No brakes can be a bit of a challenge indeed.
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Wheels already re-set, thank you.

I see me in the tree... I've seen it grow and develop and like me, it has deep roots giving nourishment and sustenance.
 
Pugwash,

I've only been a member here on SOS for a few weeks. But I wanted to let you know that I have followed your thread from the beginning.

Long ago I decided there were basically two types of people in the world: those who inspire and who we should aspire to be like; and those who's acts are warnings of what not to do. You, sir, belong to the first category.

And my own short story of how an unfortunate event affected me: Three years ago I was walking to work in the wee hours of the morning when a car came up from behind me and stopped a short distance ahead. Two thugs jumped out, pointed handguns at my head and took turns punching me in the face until I gave them my wallet and phone. After giving them my goods (and thinking to myself "Why are these stupid f**s punching me in the jaw? Don't they know that's about the toughest bone in the human body?), they looked at my non-iPhone, threw it somewhere behind me, laughed and ran back to their car and drove off. I was not seriously injured--bust lips and bruised cheeks. My pride was more injured than anything else. It took a few days for me to realize that I had been just a hair trigger's pull from death. Yet here I am. I don't think I've had a bad day since. I guess my point is that it's not so much the event that defines you. It's your attitude afterwards.
 
jsk, thank you for erudite assessment of my character.
I'm beginning to believe these compliments myself; never a good sign!

I began my thread as a catch up descriptor to my friends here, with no thought as to where it may lead.
Your appraisal makes my journey considerably more worthwhile.
Thank you once again.

Your story fills me with dread, reminding me of a similar personal event which happened to me in central London in the 1980's, walking to the 'tube' after working late.
Fortunately they were the days before knives and guns weren't part of thuggery here.
No mobile phones either, or credit cards or much cash.
I'm 5'7'' but no Rambo and reacted as you did, accepting you were, facing a situation where resistance was futile.

So I walked away with a fat lip and a black eye, less £10, which was worth it for all the drinks my work colleagues gave me next day!

Welcome aboard this fine ship, matey.
 
A little light amusement for you.

Just fitted my leg, did 20 'tap dance' steps, as instructed, then tried on a pair of trousers just delivered.

The stump cup circumference is 70+cm, so none of my leggings go over that, so these new ones zip from ankle to waist and stretch just enough to fit!

The above process took 45 mins and left me sweaty and exhausted.
Now I have to remove it all.

Wishing you all well.
 
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