Well as Christmas is fast approaching I thought some of you might like an update on my progress.
Over the last few weeks I have been noting down my achievements as I made them. Here is a list:
Standing up while taking a shower
Standing while brushing my teeth / applying make up -
king a meal in the kitchen
Walking to the car without my walking stick
50 metre swim
Walking around the office without walking stick
Carrying 2 loads of washing out to the communal washing area
Taking rubbish out to the bins
200 metre swim (25 metres freestyle)
Forgetting my walking stick and leaving it in the office
Walking over to the shop near the office without my walking stick
450 metre swim
06.10.09 - One full day without walking stick
440 metre walk in 6 minutes unaided
Walk around business park unaided
Carrying my laptop bag around and up stairs
600 metre swim
800 metre swim (200 metres freestyle)
And yesterday at physio - 555 metre walk in 6 minutes unaided.
I saw all my doctors a few weeks ago and I have been given the all clear to get back to life and up the cardio. I think wrestling and Rugby are out of the equation - but swimming and stationary cycling are in.
I am still seeing Rod at physio but it is more sporadic now. I still have laborious and boring exercises to do to strengthen muscle groups but I can do so much more now - no more excuses!
I am attending a focus group through the social services department in a couple of weeks to air ideas on how better to support people with spinal cord injuries when they have left hospital. And whether or not a mentor or support person who has been through the same thing could be beneficial. I would feel a bit of cheat mentoring someone with a more severe injury as it is all becoming a distant memory now and it's only my slightly flat footed walk and poor cardio ability that reminds me these days. Saying that, maybe even them reading my blog might help someone. So I'll keep you posted.
I have big plans for next year...but let's wait for next year to arrive first. . .
I went to Hamilton at the weekend and more specifically the Dunkeld Races - Here's a lovely pic of us lovely girls on a lovely hot day. Chris, Gib, Nat, Marie, Mia and Rach
