Boundless Love

Round Two

Levi's POV...

            So far January has been uneventful. We've developed a good routine though. Sarah helps me work with my crutches every morning for an hour, then Nate takes over and does core exercises and weight training with Jake and I, and after lunch I'm with Charlotte for the afternoon.

I still can't stand for more than a few seconds on my left leg without my brace locked, only when I'm in the pool or hooked up to the harness, so Charlotte decided it's best I keep my knee locked straight while I focus on my balance. She also doesn't want me walking with my crutches all the time because she says it discourages my natural walking posture and leaning over on my crutches when I walk hinders my progress of keeping my stance upright and balancing correctly.

At first I'd get upset with her when she refused to let me use the crutches in the afternoon or even at night at her apartment, but when I pushed my stubborn pride aside and realized she'd have to constantly hold onto me if I used my crutches, I decided it would be in my best interest to follow her advice.

Charlotte mostly works with me in the pool. She recently had me wear my left leg brace in the water too. When we walked I would stand straight up and we would face each other, she would walk backwards when I would take a step forward while gripping onto each other's outstretched arms.

Walking this way was much easier with the surrounding water and my leg brace helping to keep me upright. When I felt my hips sway, I would grab onto her arms tighter and she would pull me back into the direction of my normal stance. It was all very frustrating to me. I hate the way my body's unable to move all together in one fluid motion. When I pick up my right leg, my upper body sways to the left and vice versa. I feel very uncoordinated.

After the pool Charlotte would take me to the gym to work on standing. Keeping my left brace on, I would either practice standing with Charlotte facing me with my hands on her shoulders for support, or she would stand with her hands by my hips while I support myself on the parallel bars. And that's all she had me practice, standing on my own until my hips gave way, then do it all over again.

I made it through the entire month doing the same therapy each day and I wasn't gaining any more control of my left leg or balance. My previous mood swings were coming back, and they also proved to be hard for me to control. Charlotte I noticed, was also getting frequent headaches in the evenings which could only be from the same stress and frustration I was feeling.

"I spoke with Dr. Lee this morning and he thinks you should try another round of stem-cell treatments," she informs me while we're practicing standing together in the gym.

"Oh? What do you think I should do?" I question her.

"Well, even though you nearly worried me to death the first time around, I think its your best chance of gaining more core strength," she confidently tells me.

"Jake and his girlfriend are coming this time too, he's also going through with the treatment," she surprises me.

She notices me half smiling, yet half in my thoughts with my head down. She places her hands on the side of my face and lifts my head to face hers then rubs her thumbs across my cheeks. Her expression is so calm, and her eyes are so hopeful for me. I wish I could be hopeful for myself as well.

"What do you think about this?" She cautiously asks me.

I grab the back of her neck with my right hand and pull her lips to mine before I tell her, "I'll do it again if it will give me any chance of getting better, and only if Jake decides not to react like I did with high fevers and take all of your attention away from me," I add a little humor to try to keep my lack of confidence at bay.