How many of you have ever filed out a online dating and when you get to the question about "body type" on you pause and read the choices: Slim, Average, Athletic, More of Me To Love then maybe you expand or shrink the truth...? There have been times when I have expanded or shrunk the truth. I know physical attraction plays apart in dating, love, marriage, it is a natural thing to be attracted to people to not be attracted to others. Often times we here songs and see clips on youtube that talk about how important inner beauty. More often then not it is aimed at women. I would imagine that we aren't so blinded to think that men don't feel pressure to be bigger then what they are. I had a conversation with two really close friends. We were talking about dating and what we thought about the trends that are going on. We talked about all kinds of things from reasons why people don't date and different ways of communication, to attraction. We talked about how important it is to be strong in your core. The stuff that makes you, you.
I took this thought to the bare bones and really thought about who I am, what defines me, what holds me together. I asked myself if I didn't have an artificial leg who would I be. Would I treat people with the kindness I try to now? How would I see the world? What activities would I do that I don't do now? As I thought about this I saw core values and beliefs that held me together. Some of them strong and some of them weaker. This is because I chose to believe in the doctrines taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints it is the first doctrine taught: God is our loving Heavenly Father. Because I know that this is true I know that he has a plan for me. That plan doesn't change with or with out a leg. He wants me to be happy and return to live with him again.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
"Each mornin I wake up before I put on my make up"
I am going to try and describe what it is like putting on a prosthetic leg and taking it off. Here are some "technical" terms:
Stump- my little leg
Socket- the top part of my prosthesis that is hard
Liner- the little socket that goes on my stump like a thick sock and last.
"Each mornin I wake up, before I put on my make up." I have to put my leg on so I can get around. The first thing I do is put some baby powder on my stump so it lessens the friction on my skin while walking. Next I put on my liner, it is made of some kind of silicone. It is about six inches long. I have to roll it on to my stump. After that Spray the inside of the socket with a mixture of alcohol and water. I do this because the liner has baffles on it that causes suction. Next I push down inside the leg to get the air out. You could imagine putting boots that were suction and you would do the same process.
Normally I before I step into my leg I turn my leg upside down so my foot is in the air and the top of the socket or the thigh part is on the ground. Next I dress my leg I put my on pants, socks, and shoe. Then I turn it over and step in the leg. My mom said she had use her skills she learned in her childhood from playing dolls to dress my leg when I was little. Good thing she played dolls a lot. ;) Once my leg is on I can walk on with my morning and put on my make up. When my day is done I get to take my leg off, and after a long day it is one of the highlights of my day. In fact, I think I may have a look on my face like a dog does when you are scratching behind its ears. This is most likely because I scratch my stump for a few minutes when I take my leg off.
To take my leg off there is a little air valve on the side that I push and the suction is loosened and my leg comes off. Yes there has been moments when the suction doesn't work and my leg falls off. One time I was in church parking lot on my way into the build and in mid step my leg lost suction... it was awkward for me and the guy I was with. I had to a "hurry and step back into my and not flash the poor guy" ninja move. We walked silently into church. Oh dear... that is a day in the life of an amputee.
Stump- my little leg
Socket- the top part of my prosthesis that is hard
Liner- the little socket that goes on my stump like a thick sock and last.
"Each mornin I wake up, before I put on my make up." I have to put my leg on so I can get around. The first thing I do is put some baby powder on my stump so it lessens the friction on my skin while walking. Next I put on my liner, it is made of some kind of silicone. It is about six inches long. I have to roll it on to my stump. After that Spray the inside of the socket with a mixture of alcohol and water. I do this because the liner has baffles on it that causes suction. Next I push down inside the leg to get the air out. You could imagine putting boots that were suction and you would do the same process.
Normally I before I step into my leg I turn my leg upside down so my foot is in the air and the top of the socket or the thigh part is on the ground. Next I dress my leg I put my on pants, socks, and shoe. Then I turn it over and step in the leg. My mom said she had use her skills she learned in her childhood from playing dolls to dress my leg when I was little. Good thing she played dolls a lot. ;) Once my leg is on I can walk on with my morning and put on my make up. When my day is done I get to take my leg off, and after a long day it is one of the highlights of my day. In fact, I think I may have a look on my face like a dog does when you are scratching behind its ears. This is most likely because I scratch my stump for a few minutes when I take my leg off.
To take my leg off there is a little air valve on the side that I push and the suction is loosened and my leg comes off. Yes there has been moments when the suction doesn't work and my leg falls off. One time I was in church parking lot on my way into the build and in mid step my leg lost suction... it was awkward for me and the guy I was with. I had to a "hurry and step back into my and not flash the poor guy" ninja move. We walked silently into church. Oh dear... that is a day in the life of an amputee.
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