Follow Ramesh's Journey

Ever since I was given the braces and crutches that allow me to walk, I’ve believed I can do anything if I put my mind to it. I have never let my disability overshadow my ability to share life with others.

Yesterday was a busy day.  There was the school visit, the mayoral meetings, and even a horse ride later in the evening. If there were to be an accident, one would probably assume it would have something to do with the horse. Well, that’s not the case.

Last night, I slipped on a throw rug and twisted my left ankle. As the night progressed, the swelling, bruising, and pain increased. After examinations both last night and today at Battlefords Union Hospital, doctors determined the injury is a soft tissue sprain, rather than a fracture. It’s nice to know that even when there’s bad news, it’s good news if you look at it the right way. Thank-you to all of the doctors, the hospital staff, Jody Studney, Doug Ebach, and the Cycle to Walk en-route team for taking such good care of me.

Accidents are bound to happen during the Cycle to Walk campaign - it’s six months long. As I have always done in my life, when I fall, I pick myself up and focus on what needs to be done. The doctors cleared me to continue with the cycling schedule, and so I’ll continue to help spread the message of polio eradication, education, and rehabilitation.

After my little visit at Battlefords Union Hospital, I’m now sporting a red and blue cast on my left leg and ankle.  I’m walking a bit slower now, but I’m still walking.  Bad ankle or not, I wouldn’t be able to walk without the assistance of braces and crutches. There are 10 to 20 million polio survivors around our world who are doomed to crawl in the dirt because they don’t have the braces and crutches necessary to stand up on their own two feet. What’s frustrating is that their plight was preventable in the first place.

The team will leave North Battleford tomorrow morning at 8 am. I will hand-cycle until about lunchtime and then we’ll pack up and drive the rest of the way into Saskatoon to participate in a few scheduled activities. I will return to tomorrow’s endpoint and complete the hand cycle into Saskatoon in the coming days.

I’ll be just fine soon enough. these things happen.

We’ll see you on the road!