Once upon a time, there was a dirty little fur ball scampering the ominous streets of Farmers Branch, Texas. After being hit by a car and breaking her leg, the dog catcher brought her to the shelter. The shelter brought her to their vet, Dr. Terry Ford. They showed him the leg and asked him to amputate. Dr. Ford refused.
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As Anthony Bolner and I hightailed it to Fort Worth one January day, his contagious smile and bright blue eyes greeted me with a question, “What if we held a dinner to thank all of your drivers?” I loved that idea! A great way to express my love and gratitude towards those who made my Neurokinetix attendance possible. We could
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The greatest gift a person can give another is just to show up. And they did! The majority I knew, some I had not seen in decades, and others I didn’t know at all! Over 29 people have shown up since June 20, 2022… Not just once, but most over and over again. When I first started at Neurokinetix, for
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“Never been one to ask for help. Need a mountain moved, I moved it myself….”, are the first couple lines to one of my favorite country songs by Matt Stell. Asking for help is difficult. The last thing you want to do is to inconvenience or bother someone at the risk of setting yourself up for rejection or seeming selfish.
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A mixture of enthusiasm, nervousness, impatience, and readiness gently awoke me from my slumber on June 20, 2022 at 5:30 AM. My first day, EVER, of physical rehabilitation was about to begin at Neurokinetix. After months of waiting for this day to come, its arrival was hard to believe. Like a student on the first day of school, the angst
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How could the holy grail of neurological rehab and recovery be in my own backyard? A hidden gem tucked away in west Fort Worth. Upon its discovery, I was amazed at the vast services they provide under one roof: Physical therapy, robotic therapy, aquatic therapy, neuro rehab VR, and HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy). It was everything I ever wished for
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When God closes a door, He opens a window. I’m a firm believer. Sometimes it opens immediately and seamlessly, other times the window requires an abundance of patience, the right size Allen wrench and a touch of W-D 40 to loosen its grip. And, sometimes He creates a beautiful and pristine window that one never knew existed. Once the window
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Results are in! And, if the traditional game of Pin the Tail on the,.. well, in this case COW, reflects my general health, I would have missed the targeted hindquarters, and slapped the tail on the utter. At least I hit the right end of that ol’ heifer! My hope is to scoot the tail closer to its God given
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After cutting a small lock of hair off the back of my head, it was placed inside a Ziploc baggie, tucked into a conventional, white envelope, and shipped to Loveland, Colorado. A town akin to Breckenridge; a place reminiscent of fond Rocky Mountain ski trips. Memories came flooding back. Here, I mastered adaptive snow skiing with new friends, while also
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Scraped knees, scabbed elbows, and bruised toes were hazards of walking as a child. Falling was normal. As birthdays passed, walking became more difficult. Occasionally, my dad would hold my hand when walking. Not only a sign of affection, but a source of balance and stability. His large hand would instinctively clinch my tiny one upon the buckling of my
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No more piggies, and chickens, and cows. Oh, my! That’s right, this born and raised Texas COW-girl is no longer eating meat. As of mid January 2020, I am a clean, plant-based vegan. Never in my wildest dreams did I predict those words would come out of my mouth, much less pivot into a lifestyle. I guess you could say
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Unbridled curiosity ramped up my reading and research in order to better understand the scientific side of my genetically confirmed Charcot Marie Tooth type 2A diagnosis, in March, 2019. Never did I dream that months of casual, yet steadfast Google searches would lead me to stumble upon informational gold. A diagram in the Journal of Clinical Investigation caught my eye.
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Wii what??? Around ten years ago, one of the fourth grade students in my class enthusiastically educated his clueless teacher on his new Wii gaming system. I had no idea what he was talking about, but it sounded really cool. I remember being left thinking, “I wonder if this device would allow me to play sports, especially tennis?” After a
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The news of Charcot Marie Tooth type 2A was not earth shattering. After 50 years of uncertainty, advanced genetic testing confirmed the definitive truth about what had been “inconveniencing” my body for 5 decades. Finally, loose ends were tying up and years of unanswered questions were being answered. The quest was over, and in my mind, slowly coming to a
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The last time I visited Margaritaville was Jimmy Buffett’s concert circa summer 1995. Of course, attending with my dear friend and partner in crime, Liz, made it one of the elite memories spanning our 30 year friendship. And, we’ve had a lot of them! It’s so rare to have a friend that you can move forward in time with, experiencing
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My neuromuscular disease had always taken a backseat in my life. Lately, it was riding shotgun; up front, next to me. An unwanted passenger; a Thelma to my Louise. At times, I’ve come to a foggy impasse on the best direction to navigate my health. Thankfully, the refusal to have it drive me over the cliff is in my DNA.
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The “deer in the headlights” look was actually more disappointing than surprising after requesting a prescription for a a standing frame, during my annual visit to the Muscular Dystrophy clinic at UT Southwestern Medical Center in March 29, 2018. Being a clinic of neurology, I expected the accessory of a standing frame to be common knowledge, a basic no-brainer. The
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For now, stem cell therapy was on the back burner, simmering on a very diminished flame. I felt God was, momentarily, guiding me in a different direction. His message serenely revealing,” Not now, but not never.” The brakes on stem cell therapy were being halted for a reason. My heart felt this to be true which helped me take this
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Safe to say, it usually takes a state of crisis in order to spark a change. I was guilty as charged!, the last half of 2017. This pivotal predicament snuck up on me at the end of August 2017. I never saw it coming. The warm water therapy pool allowed me a place to walk and push my body, more
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The pool has always provided freedom of movement, removing the shackles of gravity. I love how my body flows effortlessly through the waves. A considerably strong swimmer as a youngster, endurance always trumped speed. I took swim lessons, yet the Olympics never came calling. Conquering my Junior Life Saving test, at the age of 12, was a grueling accomplishment, and
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A revitalized strength energized my body in early 2017. Inctuitively, I felt it needed to be challenged with new exercises, beyond my usual training and swimming routine. A doctor suggested a referral to a physiatrist. “Psychiatrist?”, I thought to myself. No, not a psychiatrist. Although, some people might argue otherwise. A physiatrist is a doctor of physical therapy. I was
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This playful, bordering on silly, Easter photo mirrors the lightheartedness I currently sense inside and out. A blessed “rebirth” that truly reflects the joy of the Easter season. For the first time in a while, I relished a holiday outing instead of fixating on getting home and getting through it. Every morning when I open my eyes, I am greeted
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“I never want you to be comfortable…” . WHAT??? Were these words really rolling off Dr. Cris’ tongue? I was stunned. Ever since I entered her office, my main mission was to be pain free, comfortable, and get my life back. Isn’t it human nature to strive for a minimalistic status of comfortable, and beyond? When this whole thing first
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Debilitating cramps in my lower torso were relentlessly pushing my bones out of alignment for months, preventing any forward progress as far as trying to rehab my body. Dr. Cris mentioned magnesium as a supplement to assist in relieving leg cramps. After experimenting with a few different brands, there was NO good path which led to discovering that magnesium was
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Grateful that the rhythms of life were finally boomeranging back to me, I was still far from the imperfectly perfect body I had always appreciated. I knew my body wasn’t fully recovered even after five, long years of a diet overhaul and a strict training regiment. But, hope filled my heart as I was eagerly moving in the right direction.
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The body performs it’s best when upright and weight bearing. Duh, this sounds so simple. However, it’s a lesson that took me a long time to learn. Not out of personal apathy, but more of lack of holistic body training within the general medical community, especially when I was growing up. I was introduced to the standing frame via a
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Shockingly, subjecting my body with moderate volts of electricity is something I anticipate as much as I dread. The FES bike (Function Electrical Stimulation) is 60 minutes of bearable, on-the-edge torture which has exponentially increased my ability to build muscle in a shorter period of time. This unique, restorative therapy bike provides the function of a bike combined with an
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Life’s unforeseen turns often unfold God’s biggest blessings! While brainstorming ideas on how to raise funds in order to achieve my financially lofty goal of entering REACT’s gait training program, an unanticipated e-mail from Kendell, director of REACT, popped up in my in-box. Hope filled me, lifting a self perceived iron veil which seemed to be creating a barrier between
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April Fool’s day is one of my favorites. I just can’t resist! Since March resulted in my best monthly evaluation of all, I had to play it up! After 3 plus years, Bob is more than just my trainer. He’s more like a trainer/ friend/ therapist, and when it comes to my health, I tell him everything! Bob’s expression was
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Application… Check! Bone density scan… Check! Fundraiser …??? Well, two out of three completed items isn’t bad! Yet, all three are required in order to join REACT (neuroreaction.org), a highly specialized gym which aides in recovery for people with spinal cord injuries or neuromuscular diseases. Filling out the application was a cinch, especially since I am so eager to start
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Watching Saturday morning television at 7am is not my forte, but this particular Saturday was different. Early to rise, meant flipping on the tv while doing my morning stretches in bed. God must have choreographed the moment I hit the remote’s “ON” button with the timing of Fox 4 News. My eyes and ears could not believe the story playing
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Most people consider 21 as one of life’s great markers. In Texas, it’s a legal right of passage which officially marks adulthood. Sadly, I have surpassed this milestone (by only a few years, of course!). Nevertheless, 21 still maintains to be a monumental milestone in my life. It celebrates the number of continuous, consecutive days without needing a chiropractic adjustment!
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Looking back in 2014’s rear view mirror, my life reflects powerful, yet necessary, growth accompanied at times with restless stagnancy. Whether I’m powering forward or in a short holding pattern, there is a formidable common thread: GRATITUDE . My heart is so appreciative for small miracles which strengthen my body daily, and for the people God has put in my
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As a kid, I remember watching ABC’s Wide World of Sports. One line in particular, by announcer Jim McKay, has been imbedded in my brain since 1978. “…the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!” To this day, I can hear the tone and conviction in which these words were stated, but lacked a personal connection. As an enthusiastic
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Hard to believe, but I’ve been with Elect Wellness for three years. In those three years, I’ve gained muscle in places I never new possible and watched my body make shocking transformations, little by little. Elect Wellness taught me the only way to be truly healthy, physically challenged or able bodied, is to balance nutritious food with exercise. You can’t
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Bed rest was not on the menu for this trip! Just like ol’ times, I was ready for some fun and ready to keep up with Liz’s high-spirited energy ! The only question …was my back? After three months of anticipation, my best friend Liz was arriving on a Friday for a long weekend in Big D. We met in
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At first glance, I thought I’d drifted back to the Middle Ages where the acceptence of torture chambers was more common place. Instead, the modern, massive, machine hovering in front of me was no form of punishment, but actually a gentle giant who would assist me in straightening my spine. I excitedly, and nervously, awaited my first round of
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NO FEAR! … my motto in 2013, and blazing on in 2014! Vulnerability takes courage. This is Brene Brown’s main message in her book Daring Greatly. Opening yourself up to the judgement of others is one of the most difficult things a human can do. Self doubt often prevents people from presenting their authentic selves and acheiving their goals. NO
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Today’s workout with Bob was on land. Each workout gets minutely better and better. But, every now and then, I’ll have a break out day, helping progress to the next phase of walking. Today was one of those days! I started with 20 minutes on the exercise ball , then held a stationary crawl position for a new time of
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My adventurous spirit often gets trumped by a more practical side of life…BORING! I find myself wanting to be a naturally inclined risk taker, but physical challenges often make spontaneity difficult. As a graduate, Texas A&M University holds special memories steeped with traditions and friendships. Even after many years, my longest lasting and closest connections have been with my Aggie
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Today, I got dunked! As bad as it sounds, it was in the continuance of good health. Once a month, the owner of Elect Wellness, Tom, and their nutritionist, Kelsey, obtain detailed measurements of my body to evaluate my progress. An important measurement is BMI which measures the body’s muscle/fat ratio. This is a simple test…for anyone with a grip.
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Wood paneling walls and a glossy, wooden floor reflected multi-colored lights, strobe lights, and a spectacular disco ball. Entering the building was like taking a time machine back to 1976. The live DJ played deafening music ranging from Prince, ABBA and K.C.and the Sunshine band. I didn’t think it could get any better until I was told that wheelchairs were
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Sundays are pool days at the local gym. As my dad and I entered the gym doors dragging two bags of pool paraphernalia, the guy behind the desk greets us with,” The therapy pool is closed today.” “Urrgh…you kidding?” I thought. Frustration briefly clouded my mind. Not so much with the non-chalant greeter who could care less if I got
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My entire life I spent more attention to food than I did nutrition. Nutrition has had little value or ever been a priority, until now. My generation was raised on processed foods so, as kids, we rarely gave them a second thought. When it came to breakfast, wasn’t all cereal supposed to be healthy? I guess titles which included “Super
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God’s testing us with every challenge. How we respond to any negative or unfavorable circumstance is a choice. There only 2 reactive choices; love or fear. Love has always been easy for me to choose when faced with small or consistent challenges because my world would rock a little , but then return to it’s routine. These past 3 years,
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Today was a day of unexpected strength. It wasn’t an average Monday to begin with since I decided to ditch my usual pool workout with my trainer, Bob, and start back to working out on land. Yes, this means battling gravity! On my 2nd office visit, the goal of my chiropractor, Dr. Cris, was to get me to walk which
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Exiting the gym after a challenging, yet invigorating workout, the sun hit my face as I drank in the 80 degree December day. Life was great! Until, I glanced up. My eyes were glaring at one of my all time pet peeves…a car parked in handicapped parking without a disabled tag. This sighting was extremely unusual, almost Chupacabraish. Over the
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