...now they close the trail...

We made a pilgrimage to "THE TRAIL"... interestingly it's now closed for "maintenance"... a day late and a $ short... none the less, my personal therapist (Pam) had me walk a mile! At the end my legs were spasming etc.. etc... but it was a fun "milestone" to cross!

rws

... more walking...

Nothing too exciting on the medical front this week...

incremental progress...

great to visit with local & global friends, virtual and in person!(Shiva. CS and Steffen, thx for bringing the P&G world to my doorstep and congrats on your IHPM success)

rws

Clear the roads, i drove short distances this week;-{)

Warrior of Light

A number of you have asked "what are you reading" and/or "what's inspiring you"? Earlier this year I discovered the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. He writes eloquently about life's journey (becoming a "Warrior of Light") and our "intentionality."

In his most popular book the Alchemist, Paulo writes: "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself, and that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a seconds encounter with God and with eternity."

Checkout Paulo's blog at http://www.paulocoelhoblog.com

rws

Just Kidding?

Yesterday I was at my local Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Iams dog chow for my loyal pet, Buddy, the Wonder Dog and was in the checkout line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had, an elephant?

So since I'm crippled and have little else to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Iams Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Iams kibbles and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionallycomplete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in the checkout line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dogfood poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's behind and a car hit us both. I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

Wal-Mart won't let me shop there anymore.

Better watch what you ask crippled people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.

Richard's Slick Bridge Dance

Oct...It is Sabbath morning and I got up early to add a quick post. Life is very busy here since Ron has come home. We have established a morning routine of all the ADL's. He is doing so much more on his own. I am just there for the neck brace etc. I will also be taking the shower chair out of the shower. More progress Yah!! At physical therapy, they are working on his gait technique to walk more smooth and on his left hand and arm. He is moving a little more all the time but it is baby steps and those of you who know Ron, they need to be bigger steps..... I am back to working about 12 hours a week, a few days of a few hours at a time. Is working out ok. The kids finished their first quarter of school on Friday and both ended up doing well. We are lucky to have such great kids. This all has been tough on them in their own ways. Well, once again thank you all for the cards and food that keeps coming our way. Wow, your kindness has been so great. Have a great Sabbath. Pam

ELECTRIC!

Now walk... like this...

Ortho & "schemes"

Ortho: Got my shoulder injected and the initial pain relief from the lidocaine, lets me know the steroids are in the right place. Surgery "Febuaryish" (post cervical surgery). The surgeon is an old friend (we did sports medicine together a decade ago at Kettering), but had the same disbelief that I've seen from most medical acquaintances... "this can't happen to one of us". Ah... the thin veneer of invincibility we all happily (and perhaps necessarily) live with.

Scheme: I'm going to try and get the doctors and P&G to let me work a couple of hours a day from home, with an occasional site visit to the office. I hope to begin this in "early November". Hopefully, this will not only be helpful to P&G, give me some mental "stimulation" and still leave enough time and energy for therapy.

Cheers!

rws

Etc...

We had a terrific weekend with visits from our great Chicago friends the Livelys and Papa Stout from Andrews. Classic fall weather, a quick visit with John at Miami wonderful...

On the medical front, the left thumb doesn't work so well because... it's broke... add that to the broken ribs, separated shoulder, rotator cuff tear... luckily I've got a pretty good warranty (thanks P&G)...

Oh... and the spinal injury thing, I had my second opinion... looks like I can't avoid surgery... at least three levels will need repair and fusion. Perhaps worse news, they don't think I'll be ready for surgery until "Januaryish"...

Ortho (rotator cuff thing) consult Thursday...

Positives: Legs continue to get stronger, arms improve on a pace all their own (slower).... spasticity a problem but manageable with current activity... Therapy is WORK

Ya'll continue to be terrific... the continued notes, flowers, food and affection exceed expectations and what I deserve... Thank you

rws

Scary...

No Halloween mask, but scary none the less! I took a drive (down the drive way and across the pasture) in two of our SUVs yesterday. The GMC is much easier to turn than the BMW, but neither is ready for me to pilot them in the real world. (We'll keep doing the upper body exercise and try again in a couple of weeks.)

A shout out to Ashley (my neice, who is attending Andrews Academy, my alma mater) and her freshman highschool class, who blessed me with a large packet of cards!

Best-
rws

Oct. 7. It is so wonderful having Ron home. Things are so much easier and faster than having to drive that 45 min drive one way 2 and 3 times a day. He is walking with trying to help me get things around the house ready for winter. I use dressing, eating, writing, taking the trash out, etc all as physical therapy :) I am proud of how far he is coming. We drive to MVH every Tue and Thurs for Therapy for 3 hours each day. They are really working on his Lt hand, it has a long way to go. (see picture). Again thanks to you all for your continual prayers, cards, blue cards, meals etc. I can not say thank you enough. How lucky we are!

"Firsts"

Another "first"... steriods blew me up to Michelan man proportions, Ted hose and compression devices irritated my skin for the month in the hospital... so I got a Pedicure... ahhh... watch out P&G team, we'll do it as a team building exercise!0

rws

One Flight Up...

We moved upstairs and I slept in my "own" bed for the first time since 1 Sept. Great, except that all that "down" bedding sort of "grabs" me and says "you ain't moving... gimp." Ahh well, another decade of Pilates (yes, they have me attempting Pilates) and I'll have enough core strength to move around in bed!

I enjoyed several "excursions" this weekend, (brief visit to church, WalMart, etc...) everything is "therapy." While out and about, I look at the cars steering wheel and wonder when I'll get to try and drive again (apparently the left hand needs to be able to hold onto the steering wheel, before they begin the training and testing.)

Enjoy the day!

rws

WORLD...WEAK

It's terrific to be out of the hospital...AND the "real world" emphasizes my areas of "weakness" in ways the hospital didn't. None the less, progress continues!

Little milestones entertain and frustrate... I'm typing this with both hands (slowly and mistake ridden), buttoned my shirt this morning, but struggled with the snap on the jeans.

In public, I'm often wheelchair bound and find it interesting how the appearance of disability brings out the best in some and avoidance in others. (This middle age, white male has finally added an area of diveristy... fascinating perspective from which to view the world.)

Kind regards-
rws

Homestyle

Foods great, beds comfortable, family is fantastic (dog still stincks and slobers), what's not to like.

Here at home the difference between "can and can't" is more obvious... it's obvious that theres lot's of work to do to get back in shape! I walked more yesterday than in the previous week (Walmart excursion was "fun" secondary to electric wheelchair) and was happy to crawl in bed last night.

On the day prior to discharge, after complaining about my shoulder for the past month, I looked at myself in the mirror and noted an obvious AC difformity in my right shoulder. The grinding and clicking coupled with deformity led to my 'insisting" on an MRI. Results: 3 degree AC seperation, rotator cuff tear (supraspinatus) with some impingment. (At least I know why it hurts).

Spirits are excellent (except that Elle passed her driving test and got her license, watch out Warren County)!

rws