New Knees

“Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, and to humble.” — Yehuda Berg.

I’ve only been here three days, but yesterday (Friday) was a banner day!? Actually it happened at 11:15 PM last night when the nurse came into my room and asked, “Do you need to use the bathroom?”? I responded to the negative and she said with a smile, “I think you want to use the bathroom so I can sign-off.”? ?I had totally forgotten, but was elated. She had reminded me that I had only one last test to pass; demonstrate my ability to get out of the bed, use the walker to transport myself to the bathroom and return to the bed without help.? Hers would be the last signature I needed to achieve “Unassisted”?status.? Now I would be able to get in and out of bed or a chair without asking for help.? I would even be able to leave the confines of my room and use the walker on my own.? It was the best bathroom trip I’ve had in a long time.? To paraphrase astronaut Neil Armstrong, “A small step for mankind, but a giant leap for me.”

These past few days have been eye-opening.? It’s probably the first time I’ve felt entirely dependent upon others, and it's given me a much different perspective on things, especially personal independence; something we all too often take for granted .? As I reflect, I can’t think of a time that I’ve been more dependent on others, as evidenced by my milestone accomplishment last evening.? I can’t think of a time I’ve felt so helpless, and most important, I can’t think of a time when the supportive words of others have meant so much to me.

I’m fortunate, my prognosis is positive.? My present could best be described by those words I remember seeing at construction sites along the turnpike, “Temporary Inconvenience for a Permanent Improvement” .? But it has been the words of my health care providers, family and friends that have helped the most.

Who would have thought that words alone can be so powerful.? A 2018 study at Stanford University showed that kind and encouraging words from a doctor reduced the recovery time of patients.? Significant research has been performed on the “placebo effect” and how words, especially from a healthcare professional, can actually make a patient feel better.? Placebos work because a patient expects them to.

Likewise, outside of the healthcare arena, using words to express empathy, not only conveys our understanding of the challenges to be faced by another, but those same words have the power to lift spirits and promote physical health.? We must always remember that what we say significantly affects the emotional and physical state of others. ?

I’m hoping to be discharged this coming Thursday.? Until then I will keep embracing the words shared with me over the past few weeks.?

• “You’ve got this!
• “New knees, new life!”
• Two at once?? You can do anything!”
• “All you need now is a cape!”

These and many other kind words have sustained me through this challenge.? Now it becomes my responsibility to share?my words and permit them to become a source of comfort and a catalyst for another’s healing.

Embrace the Challenge