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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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“Aunt Laurie, you make all my dreams come true!” The look on Zoe’s face was priceless. Her smile beaming from ear to ear as she arrived at my condo in the back seat of my sister’s SUV. What mighty expectations coming from my 6 year old niece. I felt undeservingly blessed that such overwhelming joy was being directed squarely towards
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