I got to ATI and I entered through the Barwis doors as is my habit. I miss going there where I can feel like I am actively working toward walking. I didn’t anticipate it being such a long road filled with setbacks in the form of torn muscles but I just have to deal with what comes and going to Barwis gives me hope. Mike Barwis is surrounded by good people (Dr. Frush) who led me to ATI. I appreciate going there because Luba knows that I work at Barwis and knowing that she knows that makes me feel comfortable.
I laid on the table and she rubbed my leg for a long time with some cold goop. She was able to get a further stretch out of my leg. She was able to get it over her shoulder. She pulled my leg outward and back in methodically and asked if Mike Barwis had given me a prognosis for walking. I shook my head and recounted the first evaluation I had with him over two and a half years ago. He told me that all of my muscle groups were firing and I took that to mean something positive.
She hooked me up for some stim and I thought about my first weeks at Barwis and how EVERYONE had faith that I would walk again. Jesse’s response was an adamant, “No question!” I remember I asked Jon and Adam and they both said that I would. I also thought about Dr. Frush telling me that my muscles look good and that I am an excellent candidate for the work that Mike does with the First Step Foundation. It’s been a LONG road and not an easy one and one that is far from over but I have to believe in ME too; torn muscles and all. As Luba took the patches off of my leg, she told me that next time we would work on getting some activation as she patted my “poop leg” that has torn muscles.