The problems started one September night when Mary Pinkham’s foot caught on the carpet in her kitchen and she fell hard on her left knee. Within a couple of days, it was black and blue and swollen.

When the swelling didn’t go down in a few weeks, she went to her primary care provider who removed the fluid. After a few days, however the swelling returned, and kept returning even after Mary had surgery on the knee.

For the 68-year-old Pinkham, the child librarian at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library for almost 28 years, what started with a fall in her kitchen had become a life-altering problem. The softball-size lump made it impossible to wear pants and or do many things she had previously taken for granted. Walking for any distance caused a burning sensation. Shopping and even driving her car were impossible.

Although she loved her job and couldn’t imagine staying home, she found herself thinking about retirement. A long-planned trip to Scotland with friends now seemed impossible.

“It was not a good situation,” said Pinkham. “I missed the library and I missed all the people.”

Finally, after surgery, she began going to the LincolnHealth Wound Care Center.

From the first visit, she noticed a difference. There was an extra level of expertise and a focus on wound care that Pinkham could feel.

“It was 100 percent different, it was just night and day,” said Pinkham.

One of the things she liked best about the center was the atmosphere, the attention to clinical details and the way everyone greeted her by her first name when she walked in.

“It was such a joy to go there because they were always so welcoming and they always told me every move they were going to make” said Pinkham. “They were like angels to me. I was scared the first time because I didn’t know it was going to be so drastically different.”

Within about three weeks there was definite progress and in about eight, the swelling was almost gone.

When the knee brace was removed, however, she discovered that she couldn’t walk normally. With only a few months before the planned trip to Scotland, she began going to physical therapy at the LincolnHealth Wellness Center on the St. Andrews Campus.

With their expertise and encouragement and her own persistence, it all came together.

“I just kept my faith and I knew every day they made progress. They made me feel like it was going to happen and it did happen. It was wonderful,” said Pinkham.

Scotland was the best thing ever, she said.