I got to Barwis and Nick warmed my legs up in my chair (that’s how I’m going to say he loosened them up). He helped me onto the table and Steven (I don’t know if it’s an ”v’ or a ‘ph’ but my brother spells it with a ‘v’ so that’s how I’m going to spell it) brought over a wedge for me to lay back on and Nick worked my legs. Steven sat on the table next to me and asked what I had. I told him that I had Multiple Sclerosis.
Nick found how far to stretch my legs by asking me and once that was set, Steven asked almost sheepishly what it was. I told him I would explain it to him how it was explained to me 15 years ago. I explained the broken up coating of the extension cord that is my nervous system. Then I added the story of my internal civil war between my immune system and my nervous system and how my immune system is kicking my nervous system’s butt. I also explained that my brain has lost communication with my legs because of this civil war.
I explained how I’ve been coming to Barwis almost 3 years and then I started enumerating my progress: my cold bathroom floor, I can now sleep on my stomach, and the necessity to shave my legs again. I told him about my 35 yards walking, squats, and killing it on the shuttle. I was just going on and on; I’m a talker, always have been. Nick was pretty quiet as he worked other than asking me how far to stretch my legs. My time was winding down.
I looked at him at told him that it was awesome walking my 35 yard stretch. It’s awesome doing squats or killing it on the shuttle. I paused a second and kind of stared at the ceiling and took a breath and willed myself not to cry and added, “but this (referring to his stretching) is pretty awesome.” He smiled and then we were finished. He helped me back into my chair and into my car and my legs felt loose and warm and good and I knew I would sleep well and that too, is pretty awesome!