Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25896389-20150509042358/@comment-24674051-20150514144419

That's just it, Regina is NOT altruistic. But of all the people in Storybrooke, Regina and Rumple have the oldest relationship. Mentor/Student mostly, but they have spent many years together. Regina gets mad at Rumple at times (and deservedly so), but there is always a deep respect for him as well. And Regina healing the Ankle would show the Growth of Character in Regina in that she can express the respect in Gold, and even a little of the Hope that he too can be healed emotionally as well as physically. IF Gold starts showing that he is truly willing to change, Regina will be one of the first ones in line to help (having just walked that path herself).

Although I would agree that Rumple keeping the Cane as a reminder is not a bad idea.