Unexpected Surgery

Earlier this year I went up to Nauvoo for a J. Reuben Clark Society gathering.

(Brigham Young's old home. Built by him.)

While I was there, a woman stopped me and said I should get a spot on my foot checked out.

She told me she looked at cancerous spots for a job, and I really should get it checked out.

So I did, thinking it would be no big deal.

A week after seeing the doctor, I had a surgery scheduled to remove the spot.

And was told that it was 70% likely to be cancerous.

I always wondered what it would be like emotionally to go through a cancer scare.

And I think my biggest concerns were - did I live right, and does my family know I love them?

I felt I was doing okay, in my own estimation, in both areas.

Then I started thinking about the practicalities of dying.

Are things properly titled.

Have I arranged everything I need.

Do the titles on the things I own transfer to family members. Etc.

It is a weird place to be.

But so many people spend an awful long time in this space.

This is what my foot looked like after surgery.

You can walk on it - the doctor said.

The next day it looked like this.

And it hurt so bad I could not walk on it AT ALL.

Everything became a huge chore.

Showering.

Breakfast.

Getting out of bed.

My home teacher, Ben, dropped everything to get me some crutches.

Which is the only way I made it to work the next day.

My boss was gone so I absolutely needed to be there.

Isn't it crazy that such a little cut would disrupt my life so much?

I never realize how much I do until I can't do anything.

I will say, every time something like this happens

I realize just how amazing handicapped people are.

Seriously, we should be applauding the Paralympics so much more.

There is no elevator and three flights of stairs where I work.

Hopping up those stairs with my laptop and crutches was not fun.

Some nice girl offered to help me up one time,

Which I especially appreciated because the day before nobody did

and I did really need the assistance.

But, good news. No cancer.

After a month off

And no running.

I'm mostly back to normal.

Running.