Crutches (again)...

Yesterday in therapy I tried forearm crutches for the first time since one of the last days as an inpatient.  It went way better.  I don’t know if it was my increased strength or moving from KAFOs to AFOs.  Either way, it’s still very hard, but now doable.  I’ve gotten pretty good with the walker but the walker doesn’t mimic a regular gait very well.  Hopefully moving towards crutches will make my gait better and also allow me more flexibility with where I go.  For instance, STAIRS!  I also practiced stepping up and down a 4” block in therapy.  And up to a 6” block.  A regular step is 8” so I am getting close.  I think I could probably do it - it would just be extremely hard and slow going.  Chances are I’ll get my shot at it in Kentucky when I go home in a few weeks.

I met with Peggy after therapy.  She’s on the board of the RIC.  We had talked a few times before and I had expressed my interest in getting involved however I can.  It looks like there’s a chance I can give a talk to current inpatients about what it’s like a couple months after leaving the RIC.  Also I’ll hopefully be joining the associate board which raises awareness and funds for spinal cord injuries and the RIC.  Pretty excited about both aspects of that!

Work in the afternoon, then small group at night.  That’s about it.  My dad headed back to KY for the weekend this morning.

Today was interesting.  I had an ultrasound done at the request of Dr. Anschel to learn more about my bladder and kidneys.  I’ll find out Monday.  They let me know it would be about $500 out of my pocket.  Yay!  Hopefully the estimate is overblown. 

After that I worked out at the RIC gym for a bit.  I met a couple new guys that are my age.  One guy I thought was recently injured since he was an inpatient at the same time as me.  Just on a different floor.  His name is Ali.  It turns out he was injured 10 years ago and is just now gaining some walking function.  Kind of threw me that he had been struggling for so long…

Dear Lord, thank You for giving me strength.  Please give me more strength.  Dear Lord, thank You for giving me wisdom.  Please give me more wisdom.  Dear Lord, thank You for healing me.  Please keep healing me.  Do the same for those that seek you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

G’night, 

Chip