What's Been Keeping me Busy?

Lately I’ve been busy with the ABLE program at Courage Kenny. It’s going great so far, and I am learning a whole new way of exercising when I’m unable to move. It has been challenging and exhausting, but beneficial to my health and healing. I spend 2 ½ hours, twice a week doing a nonstop workout, which includes transfers from the bike, the mat and to my chair. This doesn’t include drivetime there and back. I’m grateful that I started and can’t wait to see what results may come of it. I know one thing for sure is that I have already gained an improvement in strength, and I’ve only gone five times so far.

Aside from this, I have been getting outside when the weather is tolerable. It’s been hot and humid here, which makes it difficult to take Brody for a walk and roll. I try to stick to the shade as much as possible so that the pavement isn’t hot on his paws and the sun isn’t hot on me. Not only is it much cooler he seems to enjoy his walk more without overheating. When the weather is like this, I need to take him in to get his haircut more often.

Along with exercising and getting outside, I’ve been having Dr. appointments and going shopping at the mall. Now that restrictions on masks in public have been lifted, I have felt more comfortable getting out in the public. Although they are still required in clinics, including Courage Kenny, it feels good to not have to wear them all the time. Since I didn’t go out too often in the last year and ½, I’m not used to the masks as much as other people. I’m still a little skeptical of other people, because lifting the restrictions may give even those who haven’t been vaccinated an excuse to not wear a mask.

When I am inside, I’ve been playing games, painting, watching movies and going on my computer etc. To pass the time by, I like to play games with my nurses. Depending on which nurse works, depends on which game I decide to play. I don’t watch movies all that often, but when I do, I usually pick out ones that are most popular. Between my sister and I, we have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney plus, Discovery plus and cable. Also, because of lack of movement, I don’t check my phone as much as others, except texting and phone calls. I use my computer for emails, writing blog posts and other things.

I’ve also been spending time with my sister and two nieces. I enjoy watching them grow up and spoiling them at the same time. Since I don’t have kids of my own to spend money on, I end up buying things for them. This includes clothes, toys and other things they may need or want. Avery will be eight in August and Madilyn will be one in October. I usually see them one or two times a week and is always a highlight.

Jenni

Showcasing Abilities

I remember this video like it was yesterday. Even though it was almost 7 years ago, I still feel the same to this day. I talk about showcasing the abilities of people with "dis"abilities. It's a concept that I've been sharing with others since my accident, especially during my public speeches. Also, a constant reminder to those around that there are misconceptions about those with disabilities. It’s about what disability means to me.  

Jenni

First Session at ABLE Program

I had my first session at ABLE yesterday. My mom was able to drive me in our van and pick me up. Sometimes I will use transportation, but for the first session it was good getting the feel for how much time I needed, including drive, transfer and session. When I got there, I saw that there were two physical therapists that would work with me at a time. Then the main PT talked to me about which two exercises I was going to do, and then went through a plan of the order and how long each one would take I would do. 

Using the Bicycle

The first exercise I did was called guided exercise. They transferred me to a bench and laid me down on my back. Then they strapped my feet to pedals like on a bicycle, although my legs were bent upwards. The therapists stood on each side of me and moved my legs simultaneously like I was peddling. After about 10 minutes, they strapped my arms up and as they moved my legs, my arms moved at the same time as my legs. Overall, I did it about 17 minutes, although in the future the goal is 20-30 minutes.

After this, they transferred me back to my chair and I repositioned it alongside a table mat. Then moved me to the mat so I could use electrical stimulation. They put electrodes on my abs, obliques, lower back and between my shoulder blades. After hooking them up to a machine that made them stimulate, the PT started with firing each spot separately until I could feel it. Then made them all go simultaneously, which made me spasm and worked my muscles. I did this for about 40 minutes, but the goal is 60 minutes total.

At the end of the session, my nurse said that before I went, she was nervous about how everything was going to work out. Then, the PT admitted that he was too, especially because the center had never had someone on a ventilator do any of the exercises before. I was excited but also a little bit nervous. Mainly for the fact that I wasn’t sure if everything would work out okay and if I would have the stamina to complete everything.

I’m glad I started and stuck with it, because everything worked out great! It took a while for me to get situated with each exercise. Next time, I’m planning on getting to Courage Kenny about ½ an hour earlier so that I have time to get through every exercise goal. After everything, I was very tired, and was exhausted as soon as I got back in bed. I slept while doing range of motion and even 30 minutes after. Usually, after I transfer into bed, I start range and it takes about half an hour and then I sit up and go on my computer for about an hour in half.

I am very hopeful that after the first six weeks session that I will have improvements in overall health, fitness, strength and possible feeling. One of the biggest goals is to gain movement. Although I may have a while until I get to that goal, I know with some hard work and dedication, that day will come.

Jenni

“Strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on but you keep going anyway.”

-Anonymous

Using my Knowledge to help Others in Need

I've always been a kind, generous, giving person and put others before myself. Although more so now that I know what it’s like from a perspective of someone with a disability, more specifically a spinal cord injury. I need constant help and support from those around in order to live a happy, meaningful and fulfilling life.

I’ve seen firsthand others in similar situations who need support and guidance in their life in order to get through tough times. I have been there before. I’ve struggled to find my place in a world that has a difficult time accepting those who are different from them. When it comes to people with disabilities, I had to unpack a lifetime of negative messages.

One thing that’s unique about my situation is that I never had any anger after my accident. I’ve figured, what kind of life would I be living if I went around being mad at everything that happened to me. I find it fatiguing to go over tireless circumstances, feeling like a victim of something, and self-pitying because I don’t feel it gets me anywhere. Although, I know there are those who have had similar things happen who may struggle with a different way of living and do question things constantly.

Through the last 18 ½ years, my accident has brought me many positives-including great friends, increased empathy, strength, forgiveness, appreciation, openness and a brand-new perspective on life itself. The thing that keeps me going is knowing that I can be there for those in need, along with the people who I care about most in my life. It has always been a part of my self-serving nature, even before my injury.

There are thousands of individuals and families affected each year who have encountered an SCI, and I believe throughout all the different types of disabilities, it’s amongst the most shocking life events one can experience. It often falls under that person’s friends and family to assist them on the hard road ahead to rehabilitation. Also, after this big of significant change, life is usually never the same again. One thing that’s most important is that those affected never give up hope.

This brings me to my next endeavor in my life, assisting others in need of someone who can understand the emotional and physical consequences of an SCI. There’s no doubt that the Internet has a lot of information, although it’s not always the most accurate and there is only so much aid those around can offer. So that’s where help and stories from someone in that same position come in and offer support. Within this is the expectation that they can show some sympathetic and kindness where it’s needed most.

I’m very proud of all the things I’ve been able to do to help out others in my current situation.  I know from past speeches, mentoring, my blog and volunteering that my accomplishments and achievements have not gone unnoticed.  I’m going to continue expanding my knowledge and helping people in need. I reached out to a few different mentoring programs and am in the process of becoming a peer mentor for a couple of different organizations. 

If you know someone who is in need of a mentor or you are interested, please let me know by emailing me at: jtic20@gmail.com.

 Jenni

“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.