fusion( a climbers story) | Keith Davidson Rock climbing

'Fusion!' "what worried me?" there was no guarantee this would work, would I walk again? never mind climb. Mr Kumar my surgeon, one of the top ankle men in the country, was confident. my ankle was in such a mess I wanted my foot amputated at least I could climb with a prosthetic. 'Kumar' assured me he could fix it.

Two years earlier i suffered what was initially described as benign fractures to my left ankle which with hindsight, endless x-rays, i should glow in the dark and at least a dozen scans had now I wish i could recount the tale of how i fell from the impossible crux of an improbable route, but in a heartbeat a 5metre fall from an indoor wall brought my somewhat impressive tally of fractures to forty five, what's the odds, almost one a year, its a like the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs its not if it will happen again but when!

Nine months after my surgery, I was writing, painting and contemplating a return to climbing . Pain is an old companion it's been around for as long as i can remember I've been known as the 'comeback kid' returning from injury time after time, there was no illusion however this was without doubt my toughest test yet . I tentatively embarked on what I suppose could be described as 'arc' training, there was instantly something familiar, there was a feeling of contentment, a joy, it had been such a massive part of my life. 'Yes' things were going to be different my ankle was completely fused, but although I had lost ankle mobility I had regained the use of my foot something that had been sorely lacking before the procedure.

"Have I become the very thing I hate!" not quite perhaps, although some of my actions being described as 'mildly controversial' in the latest 'Lowland Outcrops' guide made me smile.