Driving to Barwis, my legs felt really relaxed. They felt good, even. It had been SO long since my legs felt this good. I was even wiggling my toes. The weather was finally breaking and it felt REALLY good! I even had my back windows down a bit. But then I pull up to Barwis. I don’t know what happened but as soon as I pull into the parking space, my quads tighten up. I get my chair down and get set to stand and transfer and it is a no go. I try 5 or 6 times but I can’t fully straighten my legs to stand up. I didn’t want to risk it and end up on the ground outside so I call Dusty. He doesn’t answer so I text Phil. He told me that he couldn’t come out to get me just as Grady comes over to my car. Grady offered to help me. Great! ANOTHER person is going to know how much I weigh! So Grady helped me get into my chair and he brings me in. NOTa good sign for “Walking Wednesday.”
Phil stretches me out and my right leg really didn’t want to cooperate. I told Phil that I miss Jesse. I looks at me and says “OH?!” As if I miss Jesse so he’s not good enough. That’s not the case at all and I tell Phil that I didn’t give Jesse a nick name (Phil smiled a little at this). I just miss him. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him and I would like to get his take on my progress. I was only able to do 4 *BINK*ing stands before we head to the turf. Again, NOT a good sign for “Walking Wednesday.”
My first down, I couldn’t get anything. My right foot did NOT want to join the party so I sat down again. Phil stretched me out a bit more and for my 2nd down, I got 5 yards and then collapsed to the turf. Phil stretches me some more than for my 3rd down I get 3 more and then collapsed. Phil said it was time to end and I protest that I only got 3 downs. He gives me one more (I swore I was going to get those 2 yards that I needed for the conversion). I didn’t. I was denied. I only got 1 more. Phil had someone after me so Mike was taking me out, we were still on the turf and he put his fist out. This was my opportunity so I took it, grabbed his fist, and yelled, “Joystick!” He smiled and pulled his hand away. I KNEW I’d get him eventually! We talked some more and then I was deciding if I was going to put my fist out or not and Phil just grabbed my hand and shook it saying “joystick” and walked away. That DIDN”T count!
Mike took me out to my car and I told him that I was denied and I only got 9 yards. He asked how many yards I got when Jesse was here. Jesse’s last day, I was at 101 yards. Then he asked where I was at now. I told him 239 and 2 steps. He was amazed and told me that even those 9 yards were a lot farther than I had walked before. He put me in my car and we said our goodbyes.
I drove home thinking about why I was NOT satisfied with 9 yards. I think it was just because I had come off of my last “Walking Wednesday” getting 35 yards. I KNOW that walking IS possible for me. I just have to wait for it and that is SO frustrating! I thought about a tweet I retweeted and Jesse favorited not too long ago.
Jennifer Rios“@Vuible: Little by little, a little becomes A LOT. -Tanzanian Proverb http://Vuible.com/?p=438 ” 230 yards and 2 steps, baby! & counting…
I guess my “little” is in the process of becoming “A LOT.” I’m grateful for it and I KNOW more is on the horizon. I just have to get there. Maybe next “Walking Wednesday”…
TOTAL YARDAGE = 239 AND 2 STEPS.