NEWS FLASH - Horses, Balance, Dogs, Balance and Making the Rounds

[Gawain 0]

Hello again. I'm crawling out of the Speakers Corner to share some sunshine with everyone.

Life goes on, and therefore, so do I. My recovery and rehabilitation is going very, very well. I am walking every day and am now working with a mechanical knee (versus the microchip C-Leg). I like the new knee just fine, the foot is really neat (I don't have a picture yet). My ankle is getting stronger, though it still swells sometimes (which goes away overnight). There's no more real pain with it.

Speaking of pain, and phantom pain, with my "stump", it is pretty much contained, subdued and very distant in nature. The only challenge now is fatigue.

Ayako and I are still getting out of the "hotel" regularly and the USO has a few neat events going on every now and again. Recently, we attended a BBQ at the US Naval Observatory, hosted by Lynne Cheney. As "chance" would have it, her husband showed up. It was a very nice time.

Back to rehab -- the physical rehabilitation clinic has two new elliptical machines which I use daily for about 45 minutes at a time. It's nice to abuse myself on that, then do some PT, where my therapist abuses me some more. So, about three hours a day, I'm in physical therapy and then I am fortunate to have enough latitude to attend other appointments if needed.

As usual, the care I continue to receive at Walter Reed Army Medical Center continues to be astonishing. The good news is that I'm not the only "good news" story. I see so many guys put it together every day.

So, it didn't happen without a picture, right? So, here are the stories with the pics...

The first one, is me doing a balance exercise with a "body blade" while my knee is in "free swing", a zero-resistance mode setting.

The second one is me walking the therapy dog in the PT clinic. His name is Troy. He'e trained to be a therapy dog, supposedly able to help people walk. However, because of all the people in and around the clinic, he's really become a total-love-puppy-dog. He's cool.

The horseback riding was a pilot program, allowing us to ride the Honor Guard's horses (Caissons) at Ft. Myer. It will resume again soon, I hope where I will be able to ride Wiley, a full Percheron horse (almost the size of a Clydesdale), with only one eye.

The fourth pic is of me getting ready to go through the gait lab at WRAMC. They attach reflectors (glowing in the pic) all over your body and 8 cameras with high-power LEDs track the reflections, helping the prosthetists to fine tune the alignment of the leg, knee and foot.

The fifth pic is my lovely wife, me and... ...I want this thread to stay in the Bonfire. It was great to meet him naturally, a very subdued, yet sincere presence.

So far, so good. Stay tuned and thanks for the support, everyone!

Blue skies,
Max

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[waltappel 1]

Thanks for the update. You are truly amazing.Walt

[guppie01 0]

Max,

Your progress and eternal smile is spectacular!!!!

~amazing~

Thanks for sharing, g

"Let's do something romantic this Saturday... how bout we bust out the restraints?"
Raddest Ho this side of Jersey #1 - MISS YOU
OMG, is she okay?

[NWFlyer 2]

What? No new links to articles/TV clips for our resident media whore?

Sounds like things are going along swimmingly and that you've got a great team helping you. Rock on!

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Gawain 0]

Quote

What? No new links to articles/TV clips for our resident media whore?

Well, now that you mention it, I was on CNN live last Friday afternoon. ...really.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Darius11 12]

Just seeing you with a big ass smile is an inspiration. You rock bro. I wish you the best.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[QuickDraw 0]

Troy looks a total attention whore.. give his ears a rub for me.

As for yourself, take it easy & one day at a time.

Your an inspiration to a lot of people right now.. and in the future.

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[skymama 37]

Quote

The fifth pic is my lovely wife, me and... ...I want this thread to stay in the Bonfire. It was great to meet him naturally, a very subdued, yet sincere presence.

I don't think it matters which side of politics you are on, getting your pic taken with the VP is pretty awesome!

If you get a chance, you should go see the Friday night Marine Corp parade at the barracks. It is amazing, especially the silent drill team. I went to DC as a teenager and it was the event that was the most memorable thing for me. Here's info that I found:

Marine Barracks
8th & I Streets SE

8:45PM
Come out on Friday evenings to enjoy a concert by the U.S. Marine Band, Silent Drill Team & Bugle Corps. Reservations must be made in writing three weeks in advance to:

The adjutant, Marine Barracks
8th & Eye Streets, SE
Washington, D.C. 20390-5000

(Unclaimed seating will be available at 8:15 p.m. for non-tickets holders). General public seating is available starting at 8 p.m. You may park at Washington Navy Yard and take the shuttle to parade.

Call 202.433.6060 for more information.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[monkycndo 0]

Max, great to see that you are doing well. Troy looks like a real love bucket. Maybe we can meet up when you head to California.

will be on me.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[weegegirl 2]

Great pictures! Glad to see you moving around and enjoying yourself! Right the hell on!

[JohnRich 4]

It's great to see your recovery coming along well, and you enjoying different adventures.

So... tell us about the knockout blonde therapy babe in the blue Mickey Mouse shirt.

[ImGunnaJump 0]

Great to see you outof S.C. - it gets scarry in there for me, I don't have the nerve to stay there long!

Also great to see you still progressing well! I saw a picture of you and Wiley in another thread last week (?) from the USA Today story - you look good up there on his back! I love horses and dogs - Troy reminds me of Icon's dog Karma.

All the best to you!

"...I've learned that while the "needs" in life are important (food, water, shelter), it's the "wants" in life (ice cream, chocolate, sex) that make it worth the effort." Kbordson

[Gawain 0]

Quote

So... tell us about the knockout blonde therapy babe in the blue Mickey Mouse shirt.

That would be Laura, my physical therapist. Don't let her beauty deceive you...I'll leave it at that. She's way cool, evil sometimes, but cool.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[kbordson 8]

Who ever said that the world of medicine (pt, nurses, doctors) wasn't filled with evil.... as well as the angelic

Seriously though, I'm glad she's watching over you and "encouraging" you (evil or otherwise) to keep moving forward.

Your courage and spirit is so inspiring!

Karen

[slug 1]

Quote

Quote

So... tell us about the knockout blonde therapy babe in the blue Mickey Mouse shirt.

That would be Laura, my physical therapist. Don't let her beauty deceive you...I'll leave it at that. She's way cool, evil sometimes, but cool.

Hi G

"No pain, no gain".

Ditto on what everyone else said.
thanks
R.I.P.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

HOORAY FOR MAX!!!

Congrats on doing SO WELL on adaptation and recovery. WOO-HOO!





Edit 'cause I misspelled my 'hooray'!!

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

Quote

So... tell us about the knockout blonde therapy babe in the blue Mickey Mouse shirt.

That would be Laura, my physical therapist. Don't let her beauty deceive you...I'll leave it at that. She's way cool, evil sometimes, but cool.

So, you're surrounded by beautiful women everywhere you go, with your wife, and your therapist. Gosh, the VA hospitals have come a long way...

[matthewcline 0]

Right on MAx!

Kepp up the good work your rig and gear is here in the office waiting on Ya when your ready!

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[sartre 0]

That would be Laura, my physical terrorist. Don't let her beauty deceive you...I'll leave it at that. She's way cool, evil sometimes, but cool.


Fixed your typo for you.

• Quote