Yesterday at work, I was nervous how “Walking Wednesday” would go for me. I felt extremely tight in my legs and my hips were turning in oddly – making it hard to stand. I didn’t think it would go well. I asked Phil to “warm it up, Kris” (I always say that to him). He stretched out my legs while I sat in my chair. Then it was, “go time.”
I told him that I get 4 downs regardless of yardage. After 4 downs I usually am exhausted! Phil and an intern named Lindsay were working with me. I stood on my own and they handed me my crutches. I was able to get 7 yards. I sat and rested and Phil asked how it was feeling. My left leg felt strong but my right leg (I call that one my “poop” leg) didn’t feel very well or strong at first but it was slowly feeling better.
My second down, I was able to get enough yardage for my conversion but Phil and Lindsay had to pick me up from out of my chair. I talked with Phil about “technique” and standing tall. He told me to get my butt underneath me and to push my hips forward. He said to put a lot of my weight on him and just to get steps off. I’m not sure of the yards I got on each down after that but the biggest thing that sticks in my mind is that even when I could not get any more steps off; I remained standing. I didn’t collapse on the turf or into my chair. It wasn’t because I wasn’t tired, because I was! With Phil coaching me and encouraging me to continue to remain standing until my chair was pushed up behind me; I was able to do it. I was standing tall! That felt REALLY good!
This “Walking Wednesday” wasn’t the MOST yards I have clocked but it felt the BEST so far!
TOTAL YARDAGE = 84 YARDS!!!