“My new motto is ‘stay off ladders’,” Medi-Share member Alicia says with a rueful laugh, “especially when you’re not with someone!” And after nine long months of recovery, she’s got a story to back it up.
Alicia and her husband joined Medi-Share thanks to the recommendation of a friend. She’s a self-employed realtor, and he works for a small company that doesn’t offer health benefits. Medi-Share made sense for them financially, and they loved the faith-based sharing model.
In January of this year, Alicia was home alone, cleaning the garage and putting boxes on shelves. Suddenly, the ladder beneath her shifted. She lost her balance and fell to the concrete floor, shattering her heel on impact.
“It could have been so much worse,” Alicia recalls, grateful for the Lord’s protection. “I’m glad that’s all that happened.”
Thankfully, Alicia’s phone was nearby. With her husband out of the country, she called her neighbor, who quickly came to her aid and rushed her to the hospital. There, they assessed the damage; the shattering was extensive. Medical professionals told her she needed to have reconstructive surgery as soon as possible. They waited four days to let the swelling subside, then went in to rebuild Alicia’s heel with a plate and eleven screws.
But surgery was just the beginning, and recovery has brought its own set of challenges. Alicia had to be non-weight-bearing for twelve weeks, and she couldn’t drive for several months. This added stress to her situation, especially since she’s independently employed.
“I couldn’t work for a while,” she says. “Medi-Share has been very helpful, because this has been overwhelming.”
Today, Alicia is still on the road to recovery, though she notes a big improvement in her condition, even when compared to three months ago. Her heel is still sore, but she sees progress and knows that full recovery may still take several more months.
Prior to her fall, Alicia was very active, having done health coaching when she first joined Medi-Share. She had lost a lot of weight and was physically fit. Now, it’s difficult to stand or walk for long distances, but she’s tried to adapt her routine with biking, swimming, and plenty of stretching, as prescribed by her physical therapist.
“I’m still on that road,” Alicia says. “It’s been a trial.”
However, Alicia takes comfort in her faith and in her Christian community. With her husband’s help, she’s been able to prioritize church and Bible study, even during the earlier stages of recovery. Getting out and being around people has been pivotal in keeping her spirit strong while her heel and leg continue to get stronger.
We’re so glad that Alicia is a part of our Medi-Share community, and we pray complete healing and full recovery over her. And we’ll echo Alicia’s advice: Stay off ladders when you’re by yourself!