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Every Step Forward (Revised)
“It certainly hasn’t been easy.” Natalie acknowledged, looking down at her prosthetic leg. She was still adjusting to it. It had been three months since that tree branch had fallen on her, crushing her leg so badly they had no choice but to amputate. As a result of the severe damage, the intensity of the pain, amputation brought relief, but the phantom pain hadn’t gone, and was debilitating. It brought tears to her eyes, and Natalie was not one to cry even as she faced amputation, perhaps it was her denial, but she had never been one to feel sorry for herself or become overly emotional.
“I didn’t think so.” Vikki replied. “But I can honestly say I have never known anyone as strong as you.”
“Honestly, Vikki, every step forward has been a struggle, and there are times when things seem overwhelming.”
“We all have bad days, Natalie. That’s not unique to you.”
She would have become angry if she had been speaking with anyone other than Vikki, but Vikki understood her pain like no other. Vikki, who had been seriously injured in a car accident when she was seven, was permanently paralyzed from the waist down due to the accident. Natalie would walk again.
“Vicki, you really are selling yourself short, it isn’t like you haven’t struggled.”
