Mom and Bailie are on the road again running 124 days after Mom slipped and fell on a patch of ice, breaking her ankle. It hasn’t been an easy road since that dreadful morning of January 30th, but I think we are finally, completely back to normal!
If you know Bailie, you know she loves to give hugs! When Mom was sitting in the snow on the sidewalk crying after her fall in January, Bailie, her running buddy, came over and hugged her tight. They hobbled home together, and Bailie gave her more hugs. It was fitting for Mom to get another hug from Bailie prior to their first run since Mom broke her ankle.
For many, a broken ankle is a bummer, but not life changing. For Mom and our family, it was a disaster! We don’t have depression issues around here but the first two weeks with the broken ankle, Mom fell into depression. Thankfully, we dogs were able to help cheer her up and we had lots of help from friends and neighbors who walked us, and brought Mom Culver’s Concrete Mixers. Our whole active lifestyle came to a screeching halt, Mom had an appointment with a really bad doctor who pretty much scared her to death, and simple tasks became so hard for her. After going to another doctor at TRIA, life started to improve. She found an orthopedic doctor who was willing to listen and help. Mom was given the okay to walk a couple blocks at a time, and we started putting life back together.
Despite the boot, Mom took us to all our classes – nose work, obedience, and agility. It was hard, but we didn’t give up and Mom refused to let the ankle change our lives. We were fortunate to have a driver to Appleton, WI for Bailie’s element trials! Not even a boot can stop a dog from getting a title, and Mom wanted a photo to prove it!
The boot came off on March 10, and Mom was cleared to run two weeks later, but she was afraid. For a while, lots of walking was good enough, but she wanted to run. Mom has been a runner since she was a little girl. No matter how young she was, she always wanted to run. May 30 was four months since she broke her ankle and the day she decided to start running, but it didn’t happen. She was afraid. June 1 was the next deadline, but that also didn’t happen. Finally, yesterday, 124 days after the fall, Mom laced up her running shoes, put on her Umbilical Belt, hooked up Bailie, and they got back to running. It was just a two mile run, and they will ease into it for a couple weeks, but they are both so happy to be on the road again!
Now life is officially, back to normal around here! Mom says nothing beats a morning run with a dog!
Congratulations. Happy for you and the girls.
We are all super happy. Running was the last piece to put back together and we have it too now.
Hooray for your mom!! Hooray for you girls for getting mom through such a tough time. Hooray!!! have a great day Emma! your doodle friend Dash
We considered wrapping Mom in bubble wrap to keep her safe all the time, but that just wouldn’t work too well. Hopefully she will stay in one piece for a long time.
Yeah! I know that feeling 100%. I went through forced non running for medical a few times over the years.
Not running doesn’t sit well with Mom at all. She is very happy to be back at it.
Run, Joy, Run! Run, Bailie, Run! So happy your lives are getting back to your normal. .XOXO, Sparkle
We are happy to be back to normal around here. It’s amazing how one injury can change life so much!
Glad to see you have her active again. Keep a good eye on her she is the one with the kibble
Lily & Edward
I’m glad your mom accepted the challenge and she won it with flying colors. Congrats!!!! and I’m glad that the ankle healed up very well so she can run again with you…. my mama ist not as brave as yours, she still fights with her fears and tries to beat it…
We will see what happens when winter comes.
YEAH!!!!!
I know you all must be thrilled to have that part of normal back in your lives!
Bailie and Mom sure are, the rest of us who don’t run aren’t as thrilled, but it makes Mom happy.
I know that had to be TORTURE for your Mom and we are so happy she is as good as new!
It was really tough, but we all survived. Where there is a will, there is a way.
So glad to hear that you are running again, mom can so understand giving up what you love, the end of this month is her 3 year anniversary of her back surgeries. Lucky for her though, her love, swimming and walking was something she could do to help her recovery, not like yours. She set a goal to be back in the water after Labor Day less than 2 months after the surgery and she was. But boy did it hurt and it took a long time since then to really get her strength and endurance back. So we are totally impressed that you did 2 miles your first time! And that will be the hardest!
We thought a lot about all the people we know with different health issues, including your mom and her back. Mom wanted to help herself to know it could be worse. That’s great that your mom is doing so well too!
I like how you call it “just” a 2 mile run. Mom calls that OMG – A TWO MILE RUN!!!!! Anyway, our old age, slacker behavior, and laziness aside, that’s awesome for your mom and for all of you as well. Congratulations for getting back on the horse. Have fun.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Mom’s short runs are always 3 1/2 miles, then up to 5 or 6. She isn’t doing marathons anymore, so 6 is the max. 2 seems real short, and she wanted to keep going but knows she should not overdo it!
With two kinds of muscular dystrophy and connective tissue disorder that makes my ligaments like overstretched rubber bands I know ankle breaks and sprains all too well. I know casts and surgeries and missing out on life. I also know bad doctors, and I’d be in a wheelchair today if it weren’t for one very smart doctor. Falling is the main reason I’ve got to live at home, no way could I care for the Li’s without help, or myself when I’m hurt. Your mom seems incredibly independent, so I’m glad she accepted help, and Culver’s, when you all needed it most!
I also know the fear of trusting the healing process! I’m so glad you’re running again! I bet Bailie is over the moon happy too!
I like your Brooks Joy, what kind are they and do you think they offer good ankle support? I currently wear Launch 3s, but since I under pronate (my ankles roll outward), I need to replace them when they start getting loose on the outer edges.
We know a broken ankle is a small thing compared to so many with really big issues like yours, but still it was tough. Mom is real independent, but that was sure challenged at first. She learned to always get a second opinion because not everyone sees things the same. As for the shoes, none of the running shoes have real ankle support. Mom always goes to the running store to have them professionally fitted so she has the right shoes for her way of walking and running. Mom does pronate too, but these help roll the other way. They are the shoes she was wearing the day she broke her ankle, but she really likes them and they work great…just no traction on ice! You are awesome and have great spirit to keep going and do all you can do!
Yowsa….same shoes!! I will give it to your mom that almost nothing can stop ice, but anytime I sprain something, or hurt myself, I never wear the shoes again. Obviously they have little to do with my numerous reasons for falling but I still think they have bad juju! ?
As your mom learned, missing out stinks, I spent 2.5 years in bed recovering from the surgeries that keep me walking, so I do as much as possible because there is such a likelihood I’ll be in that situation again. What your mom also probably learned, as did I, that you puppers will be around through thick and thin, and even if you couldn’t do ALL your activities, it wasn’t so bad hanging around the house with each other. ?You girls, like mine, help with pain and sadness just by being yourselves, no idea what I’d do without you!
It was a lot harder on Mom than it was on us. She didn’t even think about the shoe thing until she read your comment. Still wearing and loving the shoes. We hope you don’t end up stuck in bed again, but if you do, you have your buddies.
We wish your Mom hadn’t had to go through that difficult time, but love that she didn’t not let it keep her down for long, and did all that she could with help to keep going as much as she could (and it’s impressive how much she did!).
I’m so glad she overcame her fear and she and Bailie got out there again. It’s obvious how much they both love it!
Bailie really likes running with her and the Umbilical Belt. That is the best thing ever! The whole event was a good reminder to be happy with what you have because everything really can change in an instant without warning.
WAHOO!! Congrats to Bailie and your Mama for getting out and conquering yet another obstacle! We are so glad things are back to status quo at your place, Emma!
We are all happy. Mom needs to run for her body and her mind. She is like an angry hornet when she can’t get her runs in.
I’m so happy that you are back to running again. I know how much you love it. Be careful out there ♥
I know Mom is more careful in general, but one can only be so careful too. Hopefully she will never break anything again.
So glad to see the happy news! Nothing like a bad injury to help you appreciate when things are going well.
Hope getting back to old routines makes everyone feel better around the house.
It was a real eye opener for how easily life can change, even if it was just a few months. One has to be prepared.
Glad your momma are back to runnin. Mine would go nuts wif a broken ankle – she exercises for about 2 hours a day (plus an hour walk wif us) and would go crazy if she couldn’t.
My mom is the same way which is why she fell into a bit of depression those first two weeks.
Kudos! Sometimes running ghosts are terrible partners but it sounds like your mum has chased them away. Way to go!
It was scary to give it a try, but it felt so good and normal, the fear was gone almost immediately.
That is such good news! Sometimes the mental scars are harder to get past then the physical ones are. I’m glad mom managed to get through it.
For now things are pretty good, but she still worries about the ankle.
I’m so happy for your mom, Emma. I don’t know which photo I love more: the one of Bailie hugging your mom or the one of both of your mom’s feet in running shoes. 🙂
Mom says running with a dog is a natural thing that is the best way to run ever.
3 bum swings! 3 more!
Wooftastic!
So happy for you both.
3 bum swings! 3 more!
You must be very proud of your mom.
Nose nudges,
CEO Olivia
We are happy she seems to be back up to speed now. Hopefully the worst is behind us.
So glad your all healed up and back at it.
Mom’s ankle still feels different, but we figure it just takes time and we aren’t going to spend $300 so see a dr. to ask if it is normal or not. Our dog insurance has better coverage than the non-afforable human plans!
Glad you are back at it!