Stronger

"You don’t know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." - Bob Marley

Yesterday at RIC I had my monthly assessment.  It’s hard to believe I’ve been in my apartment and an outpatient for a full month!  She retested all my muscles (different from the ASIA test) and gave me scores like 4-, 3+, etc. The best you can do is a 5, which means normal, basically.  I had lots of 3+’s and 4-’s in my right leg and 2-’s in my left leg.  All that really matters is that all but two of my muscles got stronger over the past month in BOTH legs.  So that’s really good news.  I just pray it continues.  Thank you all for your prayers.  I believe in them and I believe they are helping me.  Truly.  I’ll post a video in a sec.

After the assessment, Tiffany got me up on the treadmill again (shocker).  We focused on form and which hand to put pressure on, when to shift weight, etc.  It’s like golf in trying to focus on 10 things at the same time.  Surprising considering I’m just trying to walk right but there ya go.  

The new goal is to try out crutches in 2-3 weeks.  Crutches are more maneuverable than a walker and also helps practice a more natural gait.  She expects me to progress enough in the next few weeks to be ready for that.  I hope.  

No hands!  We practiced standing, flexing each quad (come on left leg…), and stepping.  I was exhausted when it was time to do some stretching.  That’s good.  I don’t like finishing without being exhausted.  Feels like you left something on the table when you do that.  

The other kind of cool news is that Sara and Jason from 7 might use my videos and story as an example to inpatients.  The idea and hope would be that it would encourage them to put in that extra effort in order to progress.  Really cool and I hope to help however possible in that way.  

Separate friends Dan and Eli (as in, they didn’t know each other) both came from Cali yesterday so got to hang with them a bit.  We all grilled out on the roof last night and enjoyed a little Makers.  Good times.  I have no idea why there weren’t more people on the roof.  It was great weather and a great sunset.  

Off to brunch for me, then more working out with the AFOs.  I hope everyone has an amazing weekend.

Much love - 

Chip