My sister found this picture of me and put it up. I am lying on the mat in the therapy room at St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids , Iowa. I spent a lot of time there. I was about seven in this picture. I was in the hospital for many months. After a while the nurses , doctors, and therapists became like family in a sense. In this picture I was hamming it up. Trying to avoid my therapy session i'm thinking. The expression on my face is like, "I don't think so", "I'm not doing that again". I never really liked my therapy sessions. After I started back to school they even had a bus come and get me to take me to therapy. I could not get away from it. I think I even pretended to be sick once.
Even though I never much cared for my therapy It helped me to get to where I am today. I do not go to therapy anymore. I belong to the YMCA and go to walk the track. That is my therapy. I try to walk a mile. I will go and start walking and others who start at the same time as I do are finished before me. They will say things to me like, "You go girl" or "your doing great hon". I enjoy the words of encouragement. Some people come and just take off running. I always want to stop them and ask them to carry me along with them. I started out to where It took me 2 hours. I am now down to 45 minutes. It is very calming and stress relieving to walk the track.
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I would have been three at this time. I remember going with you to therapy and wanting so bad to have the attention from the perky staff working with you. I thought some of it looked like fun. Of course after your stroke I did not realize how hard all of this therapy was for you to do.
I never remember hearing you complain and I don't ever hear you complain now!
I do think physical therapy would be a benefit to you now but....as you know getting coverage for it seems to be impossible.
I love the picture on the header because you have such a happy grin on your face. Your little dress and shoes are just too cute.
Also, I know mom and us had to travel a lot to take you to Iowa City for therapy and appointments. I thought this was taken in IA City Hospital but I must be wrong. You went through a lot as a kid.
It is apparent that you were a well cared for child. Your mother dressed you all well.
I went to therapy as a small child. I did not walk until I was three. No one really knows why-there was nothing wrong with me-or so says my medical file. I have read it meticulously. I remember learning to walk in PT.
I run now. At the ripe old age of 37 I started running. I have never been a runner. My doc checked me out and gave me some advice-go slow, if it hurts stop.
I had terrible coordination as a child-I was not allowed to do regular gym because I could not catch or hit anything. My neurologist thinks it was procipriation and my brain needs more stimulus to know where my body is.
So I now run a 10 minute mile. It helps my coordination, mood, and I can eat like a pig. Pretty good for a kid who could not walk on her own.
And in many ways in this life..... we do carry each other.
Because being lonely is not the same as being alone.
~Sarah
Going to therapy so much, at that age must have been hard. I would have tried to get out of it too, at that age there are so many more fun things to do. Yet, I'm sure it helped you so much today. I LOVE the picture, your so cute, full of spirit.
I admire that you walk to much today. I need to get off my butt and walk. I always feel so much bettr when I do, both physically and emotionally. Now if I would JUST DO IT!!!
Have a great Sunday! We actually have a frost warning here for tonight.
At least you are doing something :). Walking is so great for the mind and your time shows how great it is for your body too. I see those runners too and wish they would carry me along. It must be like flying :)
I, too, love that picture.
It's amazing that you have made so much progress.
My son's soccer season is ending soon and I have promised myself that we will begin walking then, both because I need it desperately and because he will drive me crazy if he doesn't get the excersize.
You go girl :) i think you are amazing, as I always have since I was a little girl :)
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