Makeda Lovelace, age 44, from Douglasville, GA, is constantly on her feet –whether it is in her role as a mother to three lively boys or working in the hospital emergency room as a medication history specialist. So when she first began experiencing severe pain in the bottom of her right foot in October 2017, Makeda tried to ignore it so that she could keep up with her busy schedule.
However, this Airforce veteran of 17 years soon found that she couldn’t ignore the pain any longer. During a motorcade parade in support of miltary women, Makeda found she was unable to walk on that foot at all. And she was no longer able to perform her job at the hospital.
Makeda’s health care providers suggested less invasive treatments to begin with –physical therapy, accupuncture, and immbolizing the foot for several weeks –but the pain continued. Then, in Spring of 2018, Makeda underwent surgery. The successful procedure required her to stay off her foot for eight weeks to recover.
“Being out on a disability claim because of my foot was so frustrating. I’m the primary income in our family of five so I was very anxious to get back to work as quickly as possible. I was surprised to learn about the support available through Cameron, one of Cigna’s vocational coaches. He helped with my recovery and getting back to work by providing insights on the types of conversations I should be having with my doctor and employer. I always looked forward to seeing Cigna’s name on my caller ID and catching Cameron up on my progress,” says Makeda.
“Cigna’s vocational coaches partner with customers like Makeda who are unable to work because of a short-term or long-term disability, and together they create a personalized program for health improvement with the primary goal of returning to work,” says Ryan Bruce, manager of the Healthy Working Life Program at Cigna.
A Cigna vocational coach helps provide access to additional rehabilitation resources, assess if assistive devices are needed to perform work, provide mentoring for improving physical strength and stamina, and give referrals for mental and emotional wellbeing support.
Cameron coached Makeda on completing her physical therapy exercises in a structured way so that it was easier for her to track her progress and focus on her return-to-work goals. He also helped her make adjustments to her physical movements once she returned to work – tips that could help reduce the amount of weight on her foot.
Cigna also offered Makeda the chance to participate in its customer referral program with Achilles International, non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities participate in athletic events. An Achilles personal trainer will provide additional support through a customized workout plan to gradually and safely increase physical activity, strength and stamina.
“For Cigna customers, participating in a race represents a healthy milestone on the road to recovery, but also independence. We believe that, as you gain physical strength, you’ll also build confidence, which can positively affect all areas of your life, including your work performance,” adds Ryan.
Eight weeks after foot surgery, Makeda was able to return to her same position at the hospital with no restrictions. To mark the health progress that Makeda has made over the course of a year with her foot and working towards weight loss goals, Cigna invited her to participate in the Walt Disney World® 5K on January 10 as a member of Team Cigna.
“When I received the invitation to participate in the Disney World 5k, I couldn’t believe it. It fuels my motivation to continue to stay on a healthy track. You never realize how important work is to your life until it is prevented. You also never realize how important support is during a disability until you receive it. It has been very comforting to me to work with Cigna and Achilles International because they understand what I’ve been dealing with,” adds Makeda.