Being Thankful

Dear Readers,

This week has been an easy one for me; yet, I have trouble being thankful. Here I am, coming off the greatest accomplishment of my life in a couple of years and I don't feel anything. ( For those that are new readers, my latest accomplishment is being able to drive my wheelchair). Believe me, I am blessed and I know it-logically. But I'm just not feeling it. It's frustrating, because I see my friends having a lot more struggles and difficulties. But they're dealing with it with grace and peace.
Why can't I be like that? What's holding me back? That's the question I keep asking myself.

D Day

Welcome back~

I reached another milestone today-I am driving my wheelchair again! Not without a few adjustments of course. The doul is back doing its job, keeping my arm in line with the joystick. The joystick was repositioned on the inside of my armrest so that I don't have to stretch out so far. Everyone is ecstatic though, with the progress I've made thus far. But it feels good.. I still need some practice with my right turns though: it seems like going out is much easier than going in with my arms these days

Pics to follow soon

The Real Monday Post

Okay~
Since my last post was that of a personal nature, I don't really think it qualifies for my disability entry for the day. But this certainly does. I first became aware of the story because I happened to be watching Dr. Phil today. It involves the father of a 12-year-old girl getting arrested for defending her against bullies. Granted, a father should go through the appropriate channels (like the school, authorities) but from what I understand he didn't get results.. For more information, I have included the article below.
http://thefreshxpress.com/2010/09/father-defends-disabled-daughter-against-bullies/

On the one hand, I applaud the father for defending his daughter. But he took it way too far and even he acknowledges that.

.

Personal reflection: two steps forward, one step back

Dear Readers & Friends:


It's been approximately three months since my surgery: since then, I have seen positive outcomes of my left arm. (an increase my range as well as beginning to to using my joystick) Lately, though, I can't help but feel my progress is slowing. Not only do I have what feels like electric pulses going through my arm on a daily basis, but it has become increasingly difficult for me to wear my night splint at night. But still, I persevere. Doctors told me to expect that eventually my arm would want to return to their original position, I can only assume that's what's my muscles are trying to accomplish. I know I probably have nothing to worry about since I'm going to therapy and doing practically everything I'm told and more..

I've come so far and I don't want to think about going back. It's just hard feeling things you haven't been accustomed to and not knowing what they mean. Either way, I will bring it up with the OT when I see her on Wednesday.

Until then please keep me in your prayers.

Debbie

PS. I'm sorry if I worried any of my readers by writing this, but I just needed to get my feelings off my chest. Acknowledge them and I hoped that I would feel better
It's just weird, when you know your arm didn't feel like this at the beginning

The Wisdom of the Christian Youth

Welcome back~

In preparing for today's post, I came across the blog of a 16-year-old girl named Maddie. Her writings really speak of her commitment to Jesus as well as sharing her testimony with others. Her story reminded me of the verse in 1st Timothy 4: 12. It states, " Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

You can follow her journey of growth here:
Http://www.sweetteaandme.com/

Encouragement: A Different Way Of Looking at Therapy

Okay,
So as most of you know, I have been going to occupational therapy two times a week over the last couple of months . I have documented my progress in my previous posts. But today, I would like you to join me as I look at my therapy in a different way. I've often heard PT and OT referred to as the "lemonade factory"-a place they turn "lemons" (a negative situation) into "lemonade" (something positive). This can be something as simple as a change of perspective to receiving a positive outcome in therapy.

I have been reminded of this several times throughout my own experience in OT. Not only that, but in one of my favorite episodes of Highway to Heaven entitled "A Fresh Batch Of Lemonade" starring Ken Olandt and Bart Conner along with others. In this episode, baseball hopeful (Ken) dreams are dashed when he is paralyzed in a car accident. As a result, he has trouble adjusting to his new life as a disabled person. But his friends show that there is life beyond his disability. I have included two of my favorite clips below. The first being, the people should never use their disability as a crutch for not achieving their dreams.


the second one is one that I also refer to in the previous posts about making yourself a promise and keeping it.

Music and CP aren't supposed to mix, but don't tell Chris Hendrick or my friend that.

Okay, 

So I'm caught up with my blog post and I was searching through my website list and came across this article. It's quite interesting, really, because most people don't equate music and CP going well together because of the usual speech impairments that go along with the disability. But don't tell guitarist Chris Hendrick that.

Take a look

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/20/540431/singer-chris-hendricks-is-living.html#storylink=addthis

Or for that matter, don't tell my friend Lauren that who is a speech pathologist as well as a music minor back in college