Gloria Johnson was ready for her hip replacement but not what came next. She had nerve damage that created a "drop foot," resulting in the loss of the flexor. She couldn't bring her foot up by herself and had to wear a brace to stabilize her foot. When she was working on exercises to strengthen her foot, the foot buckeled and she ended up on the bathroom floor. The femor broke and a rod was placed in her leg. It was seven weeks before she could walk on a walker. She later was able to join NM Orthopedics and two months later graduated to the Y. "My first visit was with a cane and I had to take the elevator, I remember it well." President and CEO Doug Nakashima, a longtime Y Fitness Expert, worked with Gloria to make sure her Y FitStart Personal Program was right for her. "I remember Gloria well. She was so determined. She wanted to be strong again. It was a joy to work with her."
The Y Staff helped her set goals that would help her get stronger but also would prevent any further nerve damage. "They were so supportive on my journey. I started going 3-4 times a week and I started meeting my goals." She was able to put the cane away, which was a huge milestone. "I was also doing exercises at home that the Y Staff had taught me." She was diligent in consistantly working out and staying positive. She missed her job and set a goal to get back to work part-time. "As I kept working out, getting stronger, I felt more confident and more like me." It was a matter of time before she got back to her beloved job at Weems. "I was able to get back to a more normal life, the active life I am intended to live." Doug Nakashima said it well, "Gloria is a super star, we are blessed to have her as a member and will encourage her every step of the way!"
The YMCA of Central New Mexico will help you meet your personal goals through our FitStart Personal Evaluation Program. Call today and schedule an appointment that could change your life!
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