I am a healthy individual. I walk 3 miles several times a week. I walk across campus and love walking around downtown on date night with my husband. I watch what I eat and sleep very well. My physical goal is to lose 20 pounds by Christmas. I plan on joining a Zumba class to meet my goal.

Then one sunny day, I was taking a photograph with my iPad, focusing on my subject. My feet were on their own. After all I have trusted them for more than half a century. Come to find out, they could not be trusted to function on auto pilot while I focused on taking that great photo. I fell and landed on my left knee. After retrieving my iPad from the water I clutched my knee with both hands and under some insignificant skin scrapes, I could feel the pieces of my shattered patella. Cringe.

After a trip to the ER and lots of painkillers, I am now at home. And I am disabled. I cannot bend my leg and cannot put any weight on it. I await surgery. I must depend on the good heart of my loved ones to get simple tasks done. Going to the bathroom. Eating. Sitting down. Getting up. Getting in bed.

Meanwhile, I am enrolled in two courses this semester. I have become a college student with a physical disability. I want to quit. Just couldn’t see how this will work out. Too much pain. It’s just so easy to fall using those silly crutches. I cry easily. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Several wonderful people have encouraged me to finish the semester. How will I manage?

First things first.
• I contacted my professors and let them know what happened.
• Second, I contacted my classmates and asked if anyone would be willing to help me out.
• Third, I contacted Disabilities Student Services on my campus.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress and whether I can finish my semester as a three-legged student.