A few months after I began working at Barwis Methods, Jesse chose to leave. He was taking a jab elsewhere closer to his family. He had already been priming Adam to begin working with me after he left. On the last day we worked together, I told him I would miss him and he told me that I will always be there because, “[I’m] a lifer.” He meant that I would be working out there forever.
Today marks six years to the day since I began going there. It will be three years since I have been there this October. October 20, 2016 was the last day I worked out there and I was injured on October 21, 2016. Yesterday, Sean, my Mom, and I went to the fifth annual First Step Foundation golf outing and luncheon. We have gone to every single outing! We don’t play golf but we go for the lunch. I guess I am, “A Lifer.”
We ended up getting there a little bit late but we were there in time to see the video they put together of all of the First Steppers. As I watched, I began to cry. I could smell the gym seeing these people working out. I miss that place SO MUCH!!!
All of the major players came to speak to us. We saw and talked to Alex Callahan and her family as soon as we came in, Brock (My Mickey Mouse), Tom Biljan, and Deb and Claudia Tasha with me after the program. I loved seeing all of them! Before we left, my Mom and Sean waited with me to talk to Mike. He gives the BEST hugs!
I not only got one a hug but I got two! His hug is so tight and firm and I feel his good intention every time he hugs me! I went there in my motorized chair and he asked when I would be back at Barwis.
He looked unphased when I told them that I have lost all of my core muscle strength since being in my motorized chair but the knee pain is insane! He looked at me matter-of-factly and told me with conviction, “We’ll get them back!“ Then he added that, “We’ve done it before!”
Hearing him say this to me with such conviction made me feel so much better! I still haven’t quite figured out how I am going to get back there with my knee hurting so badly after the injury and I am having a hard time recovering from surgery but I was hopeful! For the first time in a long time!
He hugged me again as we were parting and my mind started working on how to get back there! I can’t wait to be, “A Lifer” again!