It is 1 year 9 months and 1 day POST-PAO. It feels like my surgery should be a distant memory but it's not. The experience still lives with me every day. The struggles, the accomplishments, and everything in between. I can run (and walk for that matter) without pain! I don't think of my hip every second of every day but I do still think of it often. I plan on celebrating my 2 year hipiversary by finally getting my dream tattoo. It will be a rose vine growing out of my scar. I want it to represent how much I have grown and blossomed since my initial diagnosis. There are certain moments over my journey that still stick out to me so to show how far I've come I'd like to share them here:
-I remember waking up in pain from my hip years ago not even knowing why.
-I remember hanging out with friends in 8th grade while on crutches because I couldn't walk on my hip. My friend carried me on her back across a busy intersection.
-I remember the day I got my stress fracture in my hip and how long 1 mile felt while walking back to the car.
-I remember the moment I was diagnosed and the feeling of a mix between disbelief, fear, anger, sadness and relief.
-I remember the feeling of happiness and accomplishment completely overwhelming me when I ran for the first time after surgery.
-But for whatever reason this sticks out the most...I remember one very definite moment where I finally accepted my diagnosis. I was walking down a hallway at CSU and realized I couldn't walk from my classroom to my car. Before this moment I was in denial. When this happened though, I realized how serious everything was and I was finally able to truly prepare for my surgery.
I have come so extremely far since these memories. I am so thankful to have gone through this experience with such support from family and friends. I wouldn't have been able to get to where I am without them.
