Marylu Wade used obstacles as motivators in fight against disability
By LUELLA DOW
Contributor
Marylu Wade had hip replacement surgery in February of 2002. She was a teacher. At that time, she said, “I could hardly walk from one end of the school to the other. I was born with a congenital dislocated hip, which is more common in girls. I didn't walk until age two. I wore a cast for six months, and later, a brace.”
Even with her disability, as a girl Wade participated in the marching band at school, rode horses and bicycled.
Wade's hip socket deteriorated as time went by. Nine years ago she had surgery. The surgeon told Wade there was no guarantee of success. One possibility was the complete loss of her leg. Recovery entailed an extended time away from her career as a teacher. She said, “I had a titanium ball on my leg bone.”
Healing was slow. Wade began to doubt her decision to have surgery. She said, “At the seven months milestone I could walk an eighth of a mile. My husband Ed helped me. The church ladies helped me.” It was almost a year before she could go back to teaching.
“At my one year anniversary from surgery Ed bought me a bike,” Wade said. “At one and a half years I began to ride horses again.” The doctor had warned her that falling off a horse would be a disaster. She said, “I went from hot-blooded Arabs to very calm horses.”
Participating in Bloomsday was a family tradition. In the spring of 2004 Wade said, “If I can walk twice around Medical Lake, which is one of my favorite places to walk, I can do Bloomsday.” She achieved that goal, time: two hours, 49 minutes.
Bloomsday of 2005 Wade prayed for her son Mathew in Kuwait as she walked. Time: 2:45. She walked Bloomsday again in 2006. Bursitis in the hip joint waylayed her in 2007, with six months in physical therapy. Bloomsday went ahead without her in 2008.
Back in Bloomsday in 2010 Wade timed herself at 2:47 pushing a stroller. This year she met a goal of 2:20. She said, “It was my tribute to God for healing me and thankfulness for my hip.”
A talented poet, Marylu Wade wrote “The Wonder Of walking” to commemorate her experiences. Here is a small portion of that poem:
What a thrill, a joy, pure delight:
Muscles expanding and contracting,
Nerves sensing, responding,
Joints gliding smoothly,
Heart pumping, blood pulsing,
Emotions soaring, laughing, crying,
Frightening, awesome, amazing.
Walking has never produced
Such sheer pleasure, exhilaration.
……I'm walking! Praise God!
Luella Dow is a Cheney-area author who can be reached at lotsaplots1@aol.com.
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