I was feeling alright until I got to Barwis and had difficulty transferring from my car to my wheelchair. I texted Phil to come out and get me. Once my time started, Phil stretched my legs at the Keiser machine. Once I was a bit loosened up, I attempted to stand 3 times. I stood more straight each time but was unable to stand up fully. Phil told me to head over to the stander. I rolled down the ramp with my hands up and let out a “Woo-Hoo!!” at the same time Eric was mimicking me. I told him it was a BAD day if I DIDN’T do that. Once we got over to the standers, Phil gave me a choice of which stander I was going to use. Either the Easy Stand Evolv or the Easy Stand Evolv with Glider Option. I chose the Easy Stand Evolv. I told him that I was going with the OG stander (the one they had first). Once he lifted me into the stander and was strapping my feet in, I practiced my line of, “Do your worst!” from The Count of Monte Cristo repeatedly to which Phil responded “Shut-up!” He crawled around the stander getting me strapped in answering my, “Do your worst!” with, “Shut-up!” After a while, I stopped saying anything and looked at Phil is silence but laughing with my eyes.
We were ready. I was all strapped in and Phil began cranking the stander up. It did NOT hurt!!! He put his hand between my shoulder blades and reminded me to squeeze his fingers and keep my shoulders back. I did with ease. I told him that I could stand for days! Because I could. After 3 minutes he uncranked the machine to which I was disappointed because I had much more in me. He let me rest and came around to my other side and sat in my wheelchair. He put his fist out that I bumped and then grabbed his fist, shook it, and yelled, “Joystick!” Ha-ha! Got him! (or he LET me get him). My 2nd time standing, I stood for 5 minutes! I looked at Phil and exclaimed, “Shut-up! That was 5 minutes?!” Eric cranked me up the 3rd time. This time I grunted and gasped. I stood for 6 minutes this time.
We went back to the Keiser machine and attempted to stand twice more and didn’t stand fully. I have clocked a total of 52 minutes in the stander so far. On my drive home my butt started to hurt and that felt good. This morning, it was a trifecta of pain: my butt, quads, and hamstrings are KILLING me but it hurts SO good!!!
Way to go, Jen! Keep it up!! Praying for you!