I went back to physical therapy today after being gone for approximately two weeks.  I set a personal record today while walking with the quad cane.  My previous maximum distance was 35 feet.  Today I walked 100 feet!  Oh yeah!  Throw ya hands up!!!  HaHa!!

I also did rather well performing squats in the parallel bars.  I did deeper squats and I feel as if I have better control of my knees and that I am gaining strength when pushing myself back up into the standing position.

It was good to see the West Point crew today.   I didn’t realize that I missed their interaction as much.  They are a great group of people and are all so full of good energy and encouragement.  Thanks Darlene, John, Brian, Crystal, Marissa – I love you guys!!!

One of the problems caused by the Transverse Myelitis attack in September 2010 is that my bladder no longer functions properly.

A urologist from UCLA told me last year that I would need to have a bladder augmentation done.  This procedure is major surgery in which a part of the intestine is removed and used to increase the size of the bladder.  It requires a two week hospital stay and many post surgery adjustments.

At that time, I chose to continue to believe in God for full restoration of my entire body and declined to have the procedure done.

Several weeks ago, a Loma Linda University urologist told me that it was probably time to consider having the augmentation done.  I was mildly devastated and wondering why my bladder wasn’t cooperating.

I had a good cry over it and prayed to God and reminded him that I wanted to receive his promise to me of full restoration.   So I prayed and waited for his wisdom to direct my path.  I did not think about it any further and decided to take my head out of the sand and just go see what the surgeon would say.

I went for several tests that would give the surgeon an analysis of the current functionality of my bladder.   After the final test today, the surgeon told me that he does not recommend  surgery at this time and that we have other options to explore before we get to that point.

I just had to say thank you God for using that surgeon today to remind me who is in control.  God reinforced to me, thru that surgeon, that I didn’t need the surgery, he told me to wait and explore other options.

So I choose to “WAIT ON THE LORD”.

Over the past few days I have experienced a marked increase in the strength of my leg muscles.   This is evidenced by my ability to transition from sitting to standing more easily.  Several days ago, when attempting this task I had to rely on the upward momentum when trying to stand.  I found that I was using the chair as a support to the back of my calves to help to to get into a full standing position.

Today, I am no longer doing this.  I am using the muscles in my legs for support.  I am still not performing this perfectly as I am still trying to figure out the proper motion/process.  It is so weird to have to think about the process of standing up.  After all, I’d previously did this for almost half a century without giving it a second thought.  I find that I watch people quite a bit just to see how they perform simple things like standing or sitting or shifting their position is a chair, etc.  The things that we don’t think about.  Our involuntary movements are quite spectacular when you analyze what has to happen in order to perform such simple tasks.  For me, these things are not so simple.

Add to that, the fact that I still have not found my center of gravity.  This means that I do not have balance.  I am still not able to “feel my space in time.”   If I stood up and closed my eyes, I would instantly lose my already shaky balance and probably end up on the floor.

I have to honestly say that recovery is exhausting but it is well worth every bit of effort that I experience.

I praise God for my progress and the peace that I’ve received from him throughout this trial.

I’m feeling really good today in spite of the tasks that I’ve had to deal with over the past several days.   All I am going to say is that dealing with health insurance matters is certainly enough to make you sick and/or push you off the edge!

I’m not going to focus on those stressful matters.  I choose to stay positive and keep it moving.   Scott Pruitt from TM Folk says “work with what ya got” and that is becoming my mantra.  Thanks Scott!

I have not been to physical therapy this week because I am waiting for my insurance to approve additional visits.  In the interim, I do what I can do at home without risking injury.  Yesterday, my Auntie and Victor came over and I practiced using the quad-cane while victor spotted me.  I actually exceeded my personal best and walked about 40 feet.  Now I know that is not too far for most of the general population but for me that was like running a marathon.

Another thing that makes me feel good this week is that I heard from a friend that I had not spoken to in a very long time.  In fact, I thought that I had lost this friendship forever.  But as it turns out that was not true. Its funny that I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders that I didn’t even realize that I was carrying around.  Life sure is funny that way.  🙂

I had such a hard time falling to sleep last night.  Typically, I’ve been reading until I can no longer keep my eyes open but last night, I simply got bored with my book and decided to watch movies on TCM.   Movies shown on this channel are older movies from the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and on.  The story lines had so much more substance back then and even though they lack the technology of today’s movies, I truly enjoy the older movies much more.  It was truly a simpler time back then.  I mean we had the same challenges then as we do today but it seems that we held ourselves to a higher standard of behavior back then.  At least that is what is depicted in the movies.  Anyway, I watched two great movies so if you are restless like I was and cant fall to sleep try TCM for a refreshing change.

Well, the new year is off and running.  I have not made any resolutions to do anything profound or even ordinary.  I continue to focus on my recovery.  The day that I walk again, without assistance from people or equipment, is getting closer and closer.  I daydream about doing simple things like walking to my mailbox or walking into the backyard to sit on the patio.  I am so excited.  At times I get anxious because I tend to put time lines on when I should be walking or when I will be completely restored.   I will stop creating deadlines and begin to document my milestones.

The past several months have been full of milestones both great and small.

Core Strength – I am considerably stronger in my core.  I can bend completely over in the wheelchair and touch the ground and/or pick up something heavy and not fall out of the chair.  (It’s ok… you can laugh!)

Balance – I can stand for longer periods of time without teetering to the left or the right.  I don’t have to use my arms so much (keeping them out like a wire-walker uses a pole) to keep my balance.

Sittting/Squats – I have much more control when going from a standing to sitting position.  I no longer just flop into the chair but am gaining increased strength in my glutes and quads which allows me greater control.  I have much more work to do on these muscle groups but I’m getting there.  I told my therapist that he’ll be able to bounce a quarter off my butt by the time this is all over and done!

Walking with Quad Cane – When I first began to use the quad cane months ago, I was thrilled that I walked 5 feet with assistance.   Last week at therapy, I walked 25 feet with the quad cane.  Yesterday, I walked 35 feet.   I did lose my balance several times but that is perfectly ok with me.   Darlene was shadowing me closely so that I would not fall.  Today, while my Auntie and Victor were here, I walked 33 feet with their assistance.

There are other markers that I notice daily as I go through my daily routine.  Simple tasks that previously zapped me of so much energy are becoming less strenuous.  As an example it takes me less time to cook my meals or wash the dishes.   So, needless to say, I continue to be on the mend and I am so grateful for all the help of my friends and family that continue to encourage me daily.

I want to give a personal thank you to all the people at West Point Physical Therapy Center that are so instrumental in my physical progress.  I want to thank them so much for actively sharing in my goals for total recovery.

The pics you see below are not all inclusive of the entire team Cathedral City team.  (John and Fran, I need your photo.  Jenna, I have not forgotten about you – send me a pic)

It has been a month since I last posted anything.  Time has just gotten away from me and it is not because I am doing anything so time consuming that has made the days go by faster.  I typically steer away from writing when I am feeling a little down int he dumps but I haven’t even been feeling down lately.  (My mother always told me sister and I that if we didn’t have anything nice to say then we shouldn’t say anything at all.)

I guess that I just have not had much to say.  I have been feeling good and strong and every day I feel the Lord’s restoration physically and spiritually.  I am so grateful for my life and excited about the direction that I am headed.   Now I have to say that I don’t exactly know where I am headed but I know for sure that I’m not headed back from whence I came!

NR:  Physical therapy is going great!  Starting next week, I will be going three days a week instead of two days a week.  Last week, we began something new.  I stand up between the parallel  bars (just for safety sake) and instead of holding on to the bars to walk, I use one quad cane and take steps.   The first time we tried it (October 29th) was great.  I really felt as if I was ready to push past the exercises that we were doing.  While holding the quad cane in my right hand, it was very challenging to take a step with my left leg because it still tends to drag just a little.  Then when taking a step with my right leg, it is challenging because it seems that my right leg wants to cave in at the hip or knee.  I cant really tell what the heck is going on.  I told Darlene that if I could just start walking and then take off into a full sprint that I think I would be ok from there – lol.    The second time we did the exercise (November 1st) I was working with John.  For some reason, (that had nothing to do with John) it was so much harder to execute this exercise and I was on the verge of tears and I felt like giving up BUT I didn’t give up.  Something deep down inside said that I have come to far to give up now so suck it up and work it out.  I may not have done the exercise any better than I did it the first time but I still did it and my body will build on it all the same.

Victor always tells me “patience-patience” (said with French accent) and I have to remember that this slow growth is the best growth.

I started back at PT a week ago this Monday.  I can really start to feel the progress.  My back is more sore than normal in areas that I were able to feel previously.  I did new exercises where I was on my hands and knees and then extended my arms and legs outward.  This was very difficult but I could feel the core muscles engaging.   I’m also working on the Total Gym piece of equipment where I am performing squats on an incline. On this particular machine the resistance comes from my own body weight.   I remember the first time I used that machine… I had to be helped into it and my cousin Raymond actually had to pick me up out of the machine because I had no strength in my legs to maneuver on my own.

Today, we practiced stepping up and stepping down.  There is progress here as well.  Although the process is still “rough” it is still much better than when I attempted this previously.

I am so glad that God loves me and has promised to never stop doing me good……

Jeremiah 32: 40-41 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good but I will put my fear in their hearts so they will not depart from me.  Yes I will rejoice over them to do them good and I will assuredly plant them in this land……

Hello all….  Sorry I haven’t posted anything in the last several days.  I am writing today to share with you what I know to be a fact today.

This morning when I woke up I had a word from God on my heart.  As of today, my healing is complete and now I have to do the work to get to the finish line….  Its funny that I thought, awww man, Lord, aren’t you just gonna raise me up and make me walk like nothing ever happened.  Haha, he said “No – Do the Work”

My confirmation came later today when I went to church and the message was about receiving God’s best and what we must do to receive his best…..

Have unwavering Faith.. Be Passionate with our Faith….Be Courageous…. Don’t give up!

I stood up today at church during prayer and held up my hand to God with praise and thanksgiving.

Alright then, I need to go do my exercise and work passionately to get to the finish line….