RIC day 16 - Lokomat and Pool

I hope there are people that are moved, inspired, motivated, whatever by this blog.  If not, then there’s really no point to it.  

Today was certainly a day of new experiences.  I slept great, too!  Thanks, Ambien (or 1/2 of one, actually)!  

9am - Worked out upper body to get the blood flowing so I wouldn’t pass out during lokomat.

10am - Lokomat.  Very cool.  Goal was 5-10 minutes after all the adjustments and measurements were made.  I stopped at 18.  I’ll do it again tomorrow.  Video positing shortly after this post.

11am - Lesson on rights for the disabled.  Frankly I thought it was a little over the top, but good to know they are there.  I can make any request to any employer and basically get any job anywhere, so long as I can do the work in conditions that I feel are appropriate.  If I want an elevator installed and they can afford it, they have to do it.  Seems like a lot.  I could just work downstairs.  

noon - Lunch with Ron and Ilianna.  They are awesome.  Talked a little work, too.

2pm - Pool therapy.  Really very cool.  I felt weightless between my foam brace and the foam rolls.  I tried squats at the end which was a lot of mental work.  

The least amount of pain I’ve felt since the accident.  Definitely getting in the pool again.  

So cool day!  A lot less physical work and a lot more mental work- trying to make my legs move or assist with their motions.  They want me to focus on that to stimulate reactivation.  

Prayer today goes to Liz (see below).  Liz is always smiling and is also a formidable opponent at balloon volleyball.  She has a disease I won’t attempt to name that starts with Posterior… It caused her ligaments around her spine to turn to bone - sounds like they calcified or something like that.  The hardening of her ligaments caused the communication between her legs and brain to cease, so she can’t walk, but has feeling, like me.  She had surgery on her spine, which was unsuccessful.  She is a very kind soul and today was her last day at RIC.  Please pray for Liz. Here she is (the one not wearing a Bears hat)

So that’s it.  I hope you like the lokomat video.  It made me feel like Ironman.  Simultaneously it made me acutely aware that I require a $250,000 machine to walk anywhere close to normally.  It really is a remarkable machine.  It will measure any assistance that I give it in 4 different areas.  So even if I barely help, it’ll pick it up on a graph shown in front of me. 

G’night!

Chip