Yesterday, I was getting my things together to leave work and my friend Erin texted me. We went to high school together and then our sons both played football for the Dearborn Lions two years ago. She was recently diagnosed with MS and we have text conversations (my primary form of communication) occasionally. Texts ended up speaking of my blog. I told her that “I’m not walking yet but I really feel that it’s coming.” She texted that “It will come you just have to be persistent but patient at the same time. Easier said than done right?” I kind of laughed at that text. I KNOW that that is my BIGGEST problem! Jesse always would tell me that I was my own worst enemy. Phil told me last night to “get out of my head.” So, it’s NOT easy for me to do this as Erin’s text told me. But, I AM persistent. I go to training every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Eventually, the patience will come OR I’ll be walking and won’t NEED to be patient in this regard.
I pack up all of the things I need to take home with me and leave the building. As I am unloading all of the things I am taking home with me onto the passenger’s seat of my car, my water bottle falls off of my lap to the asphalt and shatters. I use glass water bottles (BPA’s and all that stuff) with a silicone sleeve on it with holes in it. So I guess the bottle hit the asphalt in such a way that the glass was the first to hit and it broke and water trickled out all over. A colleague saw me and disposed of the remaining silicone sleeve for me. That was one of my FAVORITE bottles too! I shook it off and told myself that it would be okay anyway. I will just have to go to Barwis WITHOUT my water. I get in to Barwis and go in the pocket of my bag to grab my chapstick only to find that it is NOT there! I check other pockets and sure enough, it is NOT anywhere. I ALWAYS put my chapstick on before I begin work at Barwis. So, I’m without water AND chapstick AND it’s “Walking Wednesday!!!” This is TERRIBLE!!!
Phil comes over to stretch me and I tell him my unfortunate “tale of woe.” I tell him that I am a creature of habit and I repeatedly say that “my mojo is off.” He is stretching my out and tells me that I am really tight. No wonder! I AM FREAKING OUT BECAUSE MY MOJO IS OFF! He tells me to relax and I tell him that I can’t and remind him that my mojo is off. He looks at me and kind of smiles and tell me to” “F” my mojo! Just “f-ing” walk!” He said that repeatedly, probably as many times that I told him that my mojo was off. Maybe more. I told him that he was saying the “F” word A LOT and we laughed and headed to the Keiser machine. In spite of my mojo being off, I wanted to put on a good show. I stood up quickly at the bar. My right leg was hesitant to join the party but it ended up coming around. Phil had me sit and he adjusted the bar lower so it was the same height as my crutches would be. I practiced raising my legs a few times like my legs move when I am taking steps. Then it was “Go Time” Let’s do this thing!
Lindsay was able to help us out yesterday so she and Phil got me standing. Phil coached each step. I put my crutch down on Lindsay’s foot which I KNOW hurts even though she said it didn’t. I was able to get 10 yards. Phil told me to remain standing and he didn’t let me go as Lindsay got my wheelchair. I sat and Phil stretched my legs out again. I rested for a bit and then it was time for my second down which really was ANOTHER 1st down because I converted. Lindsay and Phil got me standing again and I *BINK*ed. It was slower progress this time but Phil and Lindsay were patient with me and I was able to get another 10 yards. A SECOND conversion! I was again able to stand after it’s completion with Phil holding me up. I sat once Lindsay brought my chair. I was tired! I was excited! Phil smiled and told me that I was still a “sock knock-er off-er” as he knelt to stretch me again. I was going for it again. I wanted to get a third 1st down. My body thought otherwise. I got two yards and collapsed. Phil stretched me again and then it was my last attempt. I got one more yard. Then that was it. But I went “until fatigue” those last two times – I went until I could go no longer. The first two downs I was able to remain standing with Phil helping. I told Phil I got a total of 23 yards today and two steps last week. He told me that those two steps were a yard but I told him that they were VERY IMPORTANT steps so I have to keep them separate.
He walked me out to my car and I was able to stand and get into my car on my own. He told me that it was a “helluva job, Dais” (the guys at Barwis call me Daisy – a name that originated 4 or 5 months ago by Dan, Dusty, and Jesse). I smiled and texted a group of friends, Jesse, and Mike. I drove home smiling. Jesse told me that “it was a hell of a day” and when I texted him about my standing 1st and 2nd downs and “going until fatigue” for my 3rd and 4th downs. He texted back that “that is how it should be.” Mike thought it was “Awesome!!!” and I responded that “IT WAS!!!” My friends were happy for me and proud of my hard work.
I went to bed early last night and it was the first time in a LONG time that my right leg did NOT “boing” up. I’m a back-sleeper and it has been doing that for a while. I told Phil that I was “officially Jessie Spano excited” and sent him this link. He told me that “that makes him happy, to keep being relaxed, and that I worked hard today.” I texted back that “it makes me happy too!” Because it does!!!
TOTAL YARDAGE = 139 and 2 steps!!!