Meet this month’s patient in the spotlight Gail Tucker!
When COVID hit in March of 2020, Gail and her husband Dale (like many others) found themselves with a lot of extra time on their hands. Instead of going to the Northeast Branch YMCA, 4-5 times a week for the fitness center and water aerobics classes, they decided to walk. After a few weeks, their daily 3 mile walk turned into 5 miles. Little did they know they would hit over 3,000 miles in their effort to keep walking throughout the pandemic.
“Initially, we took our walks here in our neighborhood and then started venturing further out. Dale wore a pedometer and everyday I would record our distance.”
“We had plans in the summer of 2020 to visit both sons and their wives in Philly & DC, but because of the lockdowns we decided we would walk to them virtually instead. I always have to have a purpose and each activity is best when it accomplishes at least two things. So, in July of 2020, we arrived “virtually” at our son’s and wife’s door in DC (596 miles). Then because we “love our children equally,” we went on to Philly (664 miles) and got there the next month. We were so disappointed to not see them and this was a way to think about them daily! We didn’t end up seeing the “kids” for 1 1/2 years and that was so hard. I hope I never take that for granted again.”
As a patient of Dr. Grossfeld, Gail has received injections into her knee, gearing her up for these long walks, including hills. Dale (who has also had two gel shots, one in each knee) walked every single mile of the journey with her. It was a Team Tucker experience!
In a continued effort to give structure to otherwise long and lonely days, #TeamTucker virtually participated in the Triple Crown Races, and explored parks previously unknown to them! The Parklands and Bernheim Forest being among some of their favorites.
“When we started venturing out of the county, we would scream when we crossed a county line like we were on a European exploration. We met lots of new people on our walks and lost some additional weight on the journey. We went through several pairs of running shoes and all in all, the walking was the highlight of these difficult years. Now we have returned to the Y, but we don’t go as often. On the days we don’t go, we walk at least 4 miles. We have an exercise DVD we use at home and a big garage in our condo where we walk on unpleasant days.”
We hope you’ll join all of us at Orthopaedic Specialists in continuing to cheer on Team Tucker as they explore all of the “unknown roads ahead.”
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