Looking back at 2003, I’m almost overwhelmed by the amount of change in such a short period.
On retiring from the mining industry early in 2003, I
prepared for the leisure to do the things that I most enjoy - a bit of
Lake Superior cruising on Skipper Sam II, spending time in our
fine local eateries conversing with other retired friends and
definitely touring on that “two-wheeled contrivance” that I wrote about
- and took up as a beneficial pastime - a few years ago.
My loyal readers might recall how a conversation in the
Pickwick with Dr. Tom Dougherty sparked my interest in the bicycle. The
good doctor mentioned that he’d ridden 130 miles training for a bike
race.
“How many weeks did that take you, Tom?” I naively inquired, fully expecting a multiple week answer.
“Oh, I started early this morning …” came the reply.
I was dumbfounded and smitten all at the same time.
Now, with more time available in 2003, bicycling was firmly set on my personal agenda.
Little did I realize that after a lifetime of doing what I
wanted to do as far as hiking, travel and exploration, the failure and
subsequent rebuilding of my left knee would totally stop personal
travel - on or off a bicycle - for weeks.
It should be noted that this change of lifestyle did not come
easily. Thanks be to the good Lord, I have never had a hospital stay,
until now, and did not know what to expect from surgery and a long
recovery. In fact, I surprised the anesthesiologist when he asked if I
had any problems with anesthesia. “I don’t know,” I had to admit. “I’ve
never had it.”
So it was that the rehabilitation unit on the eighth floor of
St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth came to be my new temporary home … with a
team of incredible medical people committed to getting me evicted!
The whole medical adventure began with Dr. Mark J. Carlson,
who helped me to decide that I needed a knee replaced and then,
in a word, did a beautiful job on that October morning. In what is a
minor medical miracle, something taken completely for granted in our
times, I got a new knee installed. Imagine!
As I awoke from the anesthesia, it was comforting to realize
that I wasn’t alone. Especially now when it came time to begin recovery.
 The size of our Lake Superior cities does not measure the
skill of our medical practitioners. These are top-drawer professionals.
In my case, a whole team of wonderful people - who I honestly had to
admit I’d never even known existed - went to work on getting me through
the recovery and reuse process. Doctors, nurses, physical therapists
always returned a greeting with at least a smile.
The author discovered the joys of biking beside Lake Superior … and with a new knee plans to pedal again.
Their positive attitudes helped immensely because motivation
isn’t always easy, especially with the additional challenge of
significant pain that accompanied this radical change in lifestyle.
The idea of ever pedaling a bicycle again almost eluded me - although that would be my goal.
With this physical change came insight as I gained understanding of
the daily trials of simply getting from one place to another for those
limited by physical problems.
Meanwhile, my post-surgery days filled with basic exercises,
gradual movement and the constant feeling of regaining just a bit more
of the abilities that I used to take for granted. In fact, after a few
days, the incredible knee pains that had created this whole
circumstance were gone! Oh yes, those new pains were very real, but
were not like those that had haunted my every action.
After a knee surgery, motivation to mobility means a lot,
says the author. Positive support like this “Award” helps to keep a
go-ahead attitude for a recovery patient.
Finally I didn’t need the pain pills that had started my days for
many months. And even though the left leg at first wouldn’t fully
straighten, I could walk with the tools and the care that St. Luke’s
lavished upon me.
One of my personal triumphs in this process came on a familiar
piece of equipment. How glorious the day that my new knee completed a
full circle with the pedal of my stationary bicycle.
These days I’m driving and walking again and have big plans for
2004. Look for me again on Park Point and the trails in and around
Duluth. Come spring, I intend to savor the joy once again of bicycle
exploration outside of the confines of my house.
A selection of Jim Marshall’s columns of lake lore and his inland sea voyages
has been published as Lake Superior Journal: Views from the Bridge
by Lake Superior Port Cities Inc. Follow this link
for more information.
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