no matter what you call them, we all need to have them!
Friday, September 8, 2023, I had tendon surgery on my left ankle. This surgery comes with a two-week, non-weight-bearing period. As I am a woman that looks like this…
when I try to use crutches, Brett and I decide that a knee scooter is what works best for me. The problem with knee scooters is that although insurance will pay for crutches, they consider a knee scooter a luxury and they will not pay for them.
Here’s where having a community is important.
Alice (name changed to avoid any issues), a member of my apartment community, heard me talking about how expensive knee scooters are and she said, “Do not go purchase one. My mom had to use one and I’ll see if you can borrow hers.” A few days later she calls and says, “You can borrow Dorthy (scooter) and Toto (basket).” Awesome! I tell her, “Assure your mom that Scarecrow is grateful!”
We have great neighbors! Vikkie came up and brought me a six-pack of Sprite and barkThins dark chocolate, almond, and sea salt…I’m glad it wasn’t a bigger bag because I could have eaten it all at once! Renee and Momma Ruth brought me some beautiful flowers from the local farmers market. Zoe, an amazing 20-something and soon-to-be police officer, brought me a Chick-fil-A tea, the best tea you can anywhere! Each of these ladies has checked in on me in one way or another.
Elaine is my small group leader and she messaged to see what I needed. I told her one of my biggest struggles is fixing myself lunch since I have to stand on one foot. The next day, she, Caryn, and Marta ordered Chick-fil-A and had it delivered to my house. They also had Panera delivered for dinner that night for Brett and me.
As those who know me will attest, I like being around people. I do not like being isolated, so being non-weight-bearing, in a second-floor apartment, with Brett at work messed with my head a bit. By Wednesday my body was coming off the pain meds they had put me on and I was weepy!
Thursday morning, the message came through, “Are you up for company?” My response? “Sure!” Kim, a young lady we served with in eSwatini and someone I have walked through some hard things with over the last year, drove 3 1/2 hours to come and serve me, and with her heart leading, she did. I have been known to “fuss” at Kim about not calling me when she is struggling. When I was telling her what I was like on Wednesday, she looked at me and said, “Why didn’t you call me?” I’m glad she didn’t actually make me eat crow, but in my head, I was eating crow. She wanted to be here for me like I have been there for her and I almost didn’t let her. And ya’ll, that is wrong.
Kim took me to the doctor’s office, cleaned the betadine off my legs, and lotioned my feet while saying, “I don’t do feet, but I’ll do your feet.” She cleaned my house, washed my bedding and my towels, and made sure I was drinking my water…yes, I need somebody to remind me!
Mom and Dad call daily to discuss school and church. Hannah calls every morning to see how I’m doing. Melissa sends me songs of encouragement. John, my grandson, responds to the thankful text I send him with his own thankful text and sometimes they make me giggle and sometimes they make me tear up.
Then there is Brett. He is the best. Anything I need or want (within reason), he’s there. He cooks, cleans, makes sure I don’t get too cocky going down the steps (up is not a problem), grocery shops, and loads the dishwasher. I will say it again…He. Is. The. Best.
Finally, we were not created to do this life alone. We were meant to do it within a community of people who have our back when life gets tough. So! Whatever you call it…tribe, community, peeps, dudes, bruhs, sisters…whatever word you choose, find those people you can depend on, and remember, crow does not taste like chicken!
Wendy Roseman 