Attitude Makes the Difference

The diagnosis was synovial sarcoma of the right ankle. Very rare for a female senior adult. The surgery option was knowingly 85 percent clean margins at best versus amputation. I opted for the 85 percent clean margins. Two years later, the cancer returned. My dear husband had already done the research, including finding a Boise amputee support group that was hosting a picnic the next week. We interviewed surgeons, a physiatrist, physical therapists and prosthetists, knowing the decision was about relationships as much as health technicalities. Admittedly, I had advantages of the amputation being somewhat elective and didn’t have other health complications. It only made sense to go with the amputation versus limb salvage, which would likely leave me with a drop foot and still room for cancer to return. My church community supported my spirit along with my husband, who was my “case manager” of all things medical and insurance. Without the pressure of the disease and decisions, I went into everything knowing I was looking at being healed. Keeping a positive attitude was complementary to the faith I had in God’s plan for me. Because of that, I believe my accelerated healing and nominal pain has been my result. Life has changed, but not by what I can’t do, but what I can do in new ways.