I was excited that on the whole ride to Barwis Methods my legs did not tighten up once! They tightened up as soon as I arrived to Barwis. I tried to get out of my car myself and I had time so I sat in my car with my legs outside of it and my chair in front of me. Dan came over and asked if I needed any help. It took him up on it but first warned him that I’m hefty. He told me that he didn’t care how much I weigh and that he’s strong. He put me in my chair. I told him that I could do the rest and he should get back in there to train the athletes. He laughed a bit as he went back inside.
I wheeled into the center and Lexie came up to me and asked if I was Jen. (I’m kind of hard to mistake in an athletic facility). We have spoken (Lexie and I) on the phone and through email so it was nice to put a face with the voice. She had Phil take our picture. Since Phil is my official Barwis Methods photog, it seemed fitting.
Phil stretched me out at the Keiser machine (my legs were TIGHT) and then he had a student athlete get one of the half popcorn ball things and bring it over because we were going to stand. He called it by its real name but I missed what he said so I am just going to refer to it as the half popcorn ball. I told him to have her get purple and he just kind of shrugged and shook his head. She brought back a purple one. SCORE! I smiled and pumped my fist. (Purple is my FAVORITE color). I stood and fought for it the entire way up to a *BINK* and Phil had me do a squat and I fought to stand back up the entire way with his encouragement. I think we did it one more time before he told me to go to the turf.
Once on the turf, Lauren and Kenny helped us. Lauren to grab my right arm and Kenny to push my chair behind us. I got nothing on my first two downs and I was a bit discouraged. Phil stretched my legs and we were going to try again. For my 3rd down, I got 12 yards. I asked Phil if we were counting that as my 3rd down or my first down? He replied after he looked at the clock on his phone something along the lines of., “We’ll see,” or, “Maybe.” I guess we’re still in “Phil’s World” but for my next down, I got 10 yards. I was definitely slowing down because I was getting tired so for what would be my last down, I got 7 more yards. I got a total of 29 yards yesterday. I guess we’re REALLY in “Phil’s World” because I get 4 downs both at Barwis AND in the NFL!
i told Phil as he pushed me back to the chairs that was the BEST walking I’ve done. It felt the BEST. My right foot was the “good foot” this time and steps with my right foot felt sturdy and sure. Steps with my left foot felt less sure but still stronger than my right foot is normally. He was glad to hear it and told me that Lauren was going to have to take me out because he had a 6 o’clock appointment. Lauren carried my crutches out and we talked as we put everything into the car. As I got ready and positioned myself to “Stand. Grab. Turn. Sit.” (The process that Phil tells me to get in my car). As I told Lauren the process and what I was going to do, I see Phil walk out of the door. He picked me up, put me in my car, and walked back into Barwis. Lauren helped me get my chair stowed away and put my feet in the car. 29 yards today; I guess I can dig this “Walking Friday” thing!
TOTAL YARDAGE = 376 yards and 2 steps.
I think I smell a #DaisyandPhil #3 pic at 400 yards. Phil doesn’t think so.