I tore my ACL about a month into my Peace Corps service. I was med evacted 5 months after I tore it partly because the med officers at post didn’t belive something was actually wrong with my knee and a bigger reason was because I wanted to finish my integration before I left for this significant amount of time. I was flown to my home of record for 45 days, recovered, and successfully returned my post. Peace corps paid for my flights, surgery, physical therapy, a good knee brace and a daily stipend of $35 USD. MANY people, blogs and doctors told me there was a very good chance I wouldn’t be able to recover in 45 days but I’m happy to say it’s possible. Everyone’s healing and posts are different, but I just wanted to put a success story out there so when PCV’s nervously google “ACL tear in Peace Corps” there can be a positive outlook.
My life has been a bit hectic the last few months. On January 11th I arrived home and got my surgery within 17 hours. From there I had PT three times a week and unlimited care from my lovely parents. I got back to site just over three weeks ago and my first thought was “why did I want to come back so badly?”. All though recovery there was not a single doubt in my mind that I was coming back. All I wanted when I was home was to be back in Swaziland and when I arrived back it was definitely a shock to my system. My parents babied me for 6 whole weeks and now I had to take care of myself again?! How dare them!
After 50 HOURS of traveling.. A Peace Corps driver picked me up from the Swaziland airport (yes there is one!). We pulled into my family’s homestead just as they were slaughtering a cow for a funeral. Something I wouldn’t in a million years see in Michigan. I don’t know if I had culture shock but I didn’t do much of anything for the first three days except for sleep. I missed my family after being in such close quarters with them. Even though I lived here for 6 months prior going home leaving really did skrew with my emotions and made me question why I was here. From that I have found new motivation and new ideas for my community.
I have my dog Tjani back and I still absolutely hate doing my own laundry. My projects are coming along; little by little.
I traveled to Tofo, Mozambique for New Years and in a few days I’ll be leaving for Madagascar!
Glad to hear everything went well and that you made it back safely. Praying you’d be continually encouraged by the little things God is doing!
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Thanks Colin!
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