The long, hard road to recovery

Published May 5, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Campbell
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- (Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a four part series about my recovery from shoulder surgeries)

Destiny, according to dictionary.com, as a noun is: something that is to happen or has happened to a particular person or thing; lot or fortune.

I know that my destiny is to be on a road running into the sunset both realistically and figuratively.

I have persevered through lots and lots of pain and frustration so that I could get back on the road and do what I enjoy: run long distances--as sadistic as it sounds ...

My mother always told me, "there isn't anything that you can't do Chrissy. As long as you have faith and you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything."

I know it's corny and some people would not believe that, but whatever I have wanted to truly accomplish I have. I wanted to run a half marathon, skydive, mountain climb, rock climb, white water raft, rappel, live in England, be an actor, get married and have a family. I can check all of those off my list.

I have a goal to run in the Air Force marathon. I am not sure I will be able to go to this year's marathon, because I am moving this summer. However, I am shooting for next year's and I have my wife's support--that is needed when you are taking time away from the family.

She tells me, "I will support you in just about everything, I will not run with you, but if this is something you really want to do then go for it." This is one reason why I love her so much.

Don't get me wrong, I have been able to do other things again since my surgeries, I still experience some bouts of pain, but I am almost 41 years old now so aches and pains are what I get to look forward to.

I am gradually working back into push-up shape as well. I am not sure if I will get back to my prime--200 pushups a day--but with patience, anything is possible.

I asked my daughter, what she enjoys the most about my recovery. She said, "I like riding on your shoulders again. I missed doing that, it's a lot of fun being up there."

She wasn't the only one who missed that, I did too. Often times, people say it's the little things you do for your children that count the most. I couldn't agree more. Having my daughter on my shoulders brings a lot of enjoyment to me as well.

William Shakespeare once said, "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."

As I said before, my life is about running, and I will continue and possibly run all the way to the sunset and touch the sun ... it is in MY stars.