When I transferred from the ICU to the Cardiac Care Unit, it was when I started thinking about "how am I going to walk again?" One of the first things that popped into my mind was Josh Groban's rendition of "You Lift Me Up." I'm not religious, but this song keep replaying in my mind, and I sort of adopted this as my anthem in the early stages of my recovery.
Later on, when I was pretty mobile, a song called "Carry On," by the band, Fun, became my anthem, mostly because of one line in the song regarding legs, which I will not repeat due to copyright laws. Technically, the song is not about someone recovering from spinal cord injury, but I adapted it to fit my situation.
Songs are subjective and different people will get different things out of each. The above two examples are one's I used to help me recover from my spinal cord injury.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Finding Inspiration: People on the internet
Something that inspired and motivated me was reading about other people who overcame obstacles.
The two main sources for me are the news stories and uploaded video sites, such as Youtube.
Offhand, I remember watching a clip from a Korean talent show about a young man (who I believe is now an opera singer) who was homeless from age 5 - 15. I remember a Mongolian boy who lost his mother when he was 8, and then his father a couple of years later. Then there was Susan Boyle. Nobody expected her to sing the way she did when she first appeared in front of Simon Cowell and the other judges.
And then there the stories that make the news media: like the college student who got a cut on a zipline and a flesh eating bacteria entered her body, and local news stories from around the country about people who were paralyzed as a result of West Nile, or a rare neurological condition and walked again, or damaged spinal cord due to an accident , was told they would not walk again, and walked again. Some of these stories are similar to mine, and I get inspired and motivated by reading about others who overcame obstacles similar to mine.
Then there are social media sites. When a tragedy occurs, people will start creating pages or blogs to keep people informed of progress. This blog is one. I wish I started this while in the early stages of recovery. When reading about other people working hard to overcome their obstacles, it inspires me to work hard with them to overcome mine, even if they are strangers, and even if I will never meet them in person during my lifetime.
I think one of the greatest uses of the internet and social media is for people who don't know each other personally, to create a virtual community, and support each other.
I think surfing the internet has helped my recovery for it put me in contact with stories of other people who overcame or are overcoming obstacles of their own, whether it is similar to mine or not.
The two main sources for me are the news stories and uploaded video sites, such as Youtube.
Offhand, I remember watching a clip from a Korean talent show about a young man (who I believe is now an opera singer) who was homeless from age 5 - 15. I remember a Mongolian boy who lost his mother when he was 8, and then his father a couple of years later. Then there was Susan Boyle. Nobody expected her to sing the way she did when she first appeared in front of Simon Cowell and the other judges.
And then there the stories that make the news media: like the college student who got a cut on a zipline and a flesh eating bacteria entered her body, and local news stories from around the country about people who were paralyzed as a result of West Nile, or a rare neurological condition and walked again, or damaged spinal cord due to an accident , was told they would not walk again, and walked again. Some of these stories are similar to mine, and I get inspired and motivated by reading about others who overcame obstacles similar to mine.
Then there are social media sites. When a tragedy occurs, people will start creating pages or blogs to keep people informed of progress. This blog is one. I wish I started this while in the early stages of recovery. When reading about other people working hard to overcome their obstacles, it inspires me to work hard with them to overcome mine, even if they are strangers, and even if I will never meet them in person during my lifetime.
I think one of the greatest uses of the internet and social media is for people who don't know each other personally, to create a virtual community, and support each other.
I think surfing the internet has helped my recovery for it put me in contact with stories of other people who overcame or are overcoming obstacles of their own, whether it is similar to mine or not.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Who I want to target with my Message of Hard Work and Deterrmination
I read another account, actually it was a comment made in another "Doctors said she wouldn't walk again, but did" story. The commentator commented that the story implied that that those who did not regain the ability to walk were lazy.
And that's not true. Sometimes I am conflicted about sharing my story because I know it is not possible for some people to regain their ability to walk no matter how much they try. On the other hand, I want to reach out to those who have been diagnosed with Spinal Cord Injury and encourage them to work hard to try and walk again because many times, doctors cannot with absolute certainty, predict who will walk again and who will not walk again.
The following are my comments I made to this story:
When I was first told I had an incomplete injury, I thought that automatically meant I would walk again. Ignorance was bliss in my case because at 7 weeks, I still couldn't wiggle my toes, and I also learned just because the injury is incomplete doesn't mean the person will walk again. Fast forward and I can now walk again. But it took a lot of hard work and determination, and I emphasize those points. I know, sometimes, the wrong message is received by those who have not personally dealt with SCI - that with enough hard work and determination, anybody with SCI can recover. And that's not true. Some people will not regain the ability to walk no matter how much they exercise. Who I want to target with my message are those who have recently been diagnosed with SCI and perhaps have been told they might not, or will not walk again. It is this group I want to encourage to try and be determined, and not give up because they might have an injury that might enable them to walk again - and exercise and determination may be the deciding factors on whether they will walk again or not.
And that's not true. Sometimes I am conflicted about sharing my story because I know it is not possible for some people to regain their ability to walk no matter how much they try. On the other hand, I want to reach out to those who have been diagnosed with Spinal Cord Injury and encourage them to work hard to try and walk again because many times, doctors cannot with absolute certainty, predict who will walk again and who will not walk again.
The following are my comments I made to this story:
When I was first told I had an incomplete injury, I thought that automatically meant I would walk again. Ignorance was bliss in my case because at 7 weeks, I still couldn't wiggle my toes, and I also learned just because the injury is incomplete doesn't mean the person will walk again. Fast forward and I can now walk again. But it took a lot of hard work and determination, and I emphasize those points. I know, sometimes, the wrong message is received by those who have not personally dealt with SCI - that with enough hard work and determination, anybody with SCI can recover. And that's not true. Some people will not regain the ability to walk no matter how much they exercise. Who I want to target with my message are those who have recently been diagnosed with SCI and perhaps have been told they might not, or will not walk again. It is this group I want to encourage to try and be determined, and not give up because they might have an injury that might enable them to walk again - and exercise and determination may be the deciding factors on whether they will walk again or not.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
The Benefit of Exercise
When I was in a wheelchair, I exercised multiple times a day. For me, I am convinced it enabled me to walk again sooner, but there were other benefits as well.
1. Arm strength. Many people don't realize just how much strength it takes to wheel your wheelchair. As long as you don't have an injury that require you to use a motorized wheelchair, you will probably be using a manual wheelchair, and when you build up that arm strength, you will be able to tell the difference.
2. Exercise still burns calories. Because I was in a wheelchair and wasn't mobile, I think my exercises kept me from gaining any of my weight back.
3. Exercise helps internal body functions. Although no longer confined to a wheelchair, I think my daily exercise continue to help my bowel movements. Although it took five months for me to regain some voluntary control over my bowel movements, once I started getting this function back, exercise, along with a change in diet to include more fiber, has helped me keep regular.
4. Exercise is just good for you. Period.
1. Arm strength. Many people don't realize just how much strength it takes to wheel your wheelchair. As long as you don't have an injury that require you to use a motorized wheelchair, you will probably be using a manual wheelchair, and when you build up that arm strength, you will be able to tell the difference.
2. Exercise still burns calories. Because I was in a wheelchair and wasn't mobile, I think my exercises kept me from gaining any of my weight back.
3. Exercise helps internal body functions. Although no longer confined to a wheelchair, I think my daily exercise continue to help my bowel movements. Although it took five months for me to regain some voluntary control over my bowel movements, once I started getting this function back, exercise, along with a change in diet to include more fiber, has helped me keep regular.
4. Exercise is just good for you. Period.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Recovering From Spinal Cord Injury - Rubbing it in?
I spend a lot of time publicizing that I recovered from a spinal cord injury that left my legs paralyzed for seven weeks, and was told it would be about a year before I could stop using a wheelchair, if ever.
When I have the time to explain more thoroughly, I include the fact that I did have a remarkable recovery, and I am extremely grateful for the amount that I was able to recover - and I feel I am still recovering after two years.
Most of the times, however, I focus on the fact that I regained the ability to walk within six months, and how hard I worked at it. Additionally, I wrote a book about my recovery, Toe Up to 10K, and when I publicize that, and obviously, I focus on the recovery.
The following story got my attention:
This perspective crosses my mind a lot when I talk about myself. I talk of how hard I worked to regain my ability to walk. And I think sometimes it comes across as "If you work as hard as I did, then you will be able to walk again."
But I know that some injuries, even if incomplete, are not prone to recovery, and no matter how hard one tries, he/she may not ever be able to regain the ability to walk again.
By the same token, there are some people who will recover without a great deal of exercise.
But for most people, it takes a great deal of effort and hard work to be able to walk again.
Like most things, I tend to think about the prospect of spinal cord injury as a bell curve.
1. At the far left end, there are those who have injuries that will not recover no matter what. Go a little bit to the right, and you have people who might recover, but the technology to help hasn't been discovered, yet. Go little to the right more, and you have people who might recover with existing technology, but knowledge of that technology is not wide-spread. As the left side of the bell starts to form, it's the people who will walk again with exercise and physical therapy.
2. At the far right, there are those who have injuries, no matter how bad it seems, will recover with no effort of their own. The body just seems to heal itself. But as you go a little to the left, then some exercise is needed, and more and more exercise is needed the more to the left you go.
3. But most people fall within the bell: Exercise and technology (e.g., electrical stimulation, specialized exercise equipment, etc), might make the difference between being able to walk again, or not.
The message I try to convey with my own recovery is targeted to those who fall into the third category.
When I have the time to explain more thoroughly, I include the fact that I did have a remarkable recovery, and I am extremely grateful for the amount that I was able to recover - and I feel I am still recovering after two years.
Most of the times, however, I focus on the fact that I regained the ability to walk within six months, and how hard I worked at it. Additionally, I wrote a book about my recovery, Toe Up to 10K, and when I publicize that, and obviously, I focus on the recovery.
The following story got my attention:
A god or a quad: time to tell the whole truth about spinal cord injuries
The thesis of the story is that many times, the news media make it that those who recover from spinal cord injury did so with a lot of effort, but the implication is that those who did not recover was due to a lack of effort.This perspective crosses my mind a lot when I talk about myself. I talk of how hard I worked to regain my ability to walk. And I think sometimes it comes across as "If you work as hard as I did, then you will be able to walk again."
But I know that some injuries, even if incomplete, are not prone to recovery, and no matter how hard one tries, he/she may not ever be able to regain the ability to walk again.
By the same token, there are some people who will recover without a great deal of exercise.
But for most people, it takes a great deal of effort and hard work to be able to walk again.
Like most things, I tend to think about the prospect of spinal cord injury as a bell curve.
1. At the far left end, there are those who have injuries that will not recover no matter what. Go a little bit to the right, and you have people who might recover, but the technology to help hasn't been discovered, yet. Go little to the right more, and you have people who might recover with existing technology, but knowledge of that technology is not wide-spread. As the left side of the bell starts to form, it's the people who will walk again with exercise and physical therapy.
2. At the far right, there are those who have injuries, no matter how bad it seems, will recover with no effort of their own. The body just seems to heal itself. But as you go a little to the left, then some exercise is needed, and more and more exercise is needed the more to the left you go.
3. But most people fall within the bell: Exercise and technology (e.g., electrical stimulation, specialized exercise equipment, etc), might make the difference between being able to walk again, or not.
The message I try to convey with my own recovery is targeted to those who fall into the third category.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Finding Inspiration: Social Media
I guess my subconscious already knew this, but Social Media is a fantastic source of pulling inspiration.
Social media is not only a place to post updates on yourself, but it is a place where strangers connect to support and inspire each other.
There are three recent items that come to mind. All of which I have blogged about.
The first two are combined and deals with a tweet I read a couple of weeks ago. A tweeter I follow, @BruceVH, tweeted about a man in the UK, Steven Webb, @themovingroad. This triggered a series of events on my part, and made me come to the forefront, the realization that social media sites are not only for update posts on onself, but can be used to send messages of support, inspiration and motivation to strangers.
Here is the original post
More recently, due to a Facebook post by an organization I follow, @LifeAfterSCI, I found a FB page about a young man in the UK who just recently, in July 2014, had suffered spinal cord injury. His family set up a Facebook page, Tristan's Road to Recovery, which I also blogged about. Here is that post. And what happens with these types of pages is you get people from all over the world sending support and positive vibes to you. I wish I had done this while I was in the early stages of recovery, for if it reaches people who find themselves in a similar situation after you do, you can inspire them by showing that obstacles can be overcome.
So, if you need to be inspired, social media is full of inspirational users.
Social media is not only a place to post updates on yourself, but it is a place where strangers connect to support and inspire each other.
There are three recent items that come to mind. All of which I have blogged about.
The first two are combined and deals with a tweet I read a couple of weeks ago. A tweeter I follow, @BruceVH, tweeted about a man in the UK, Steven Webb, @themovingroad. This triggered a series of events on my part, and made me come to the forefront, the realization that social media sites are not only for update posts on onself, but can be used to send messages of support, inspiration and motivation to strangers.
Here is the original post
More recently, due to a Facebook post by an organization I follow, @LifeAfterSCI, I found a FB page about a young man in the UK who just recently, in July 2014, had suffered spinal cord injury. His family set up a Facebook page, Tristan's Road to Recovery, which I also blogged about. Here is that post. And what happens with these types of pages is you get people from all over the world sending support and positive vibes to you. I wish I had done this while I was in the early stages of recovery, for if it reaches people who find themselves in a similar situation after you do, you can inspire them by showing that obstacles can be overcome.
So, if you need to be inspired, social media is full of inspirational users.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Finding Inspiration: Family and people around you
Family, friends, and people around you physically are a great source of inspiration. They are your support, and I found that when people are supporting you, you don't want to let them down. They are your fans.
As I wrote the last sentence, I realize we see a lot of that in sports. I 'll use baseball as an example. If the home team is down in the 9th inning, and the first batter gets on base, and the crowd starts making noise, the batter does not want to let the fans down, and also gets a base hit. And the momentum continues.
When I was in the hospital, my parents came to visit every day; and at least one friend or co-worker would visit me everyday. Seeing them everyday really helped cheer me up. You kind of feel bad that they have to come and visit you - but they would feel bad if they couldn't visit you. So, you want to try hard for them.
The hospital workers, especially if, like me, you were in the hospital an extended period of time, you get to know, and they will cheer you on, encourage you and support you. This is inspiring because, although ultimately you are trying to get better for yourself, you also don't want to let other people down.
As I wrote the last sentence, I realize we see a lot of that in sports. I 'll use baseball as an example. If the home team is down in the 9th inning, and the first batter gets on base, and the crowd starts making noise, the batter does not want to let the fans down, and also gets a base hit. And the momentum continues.
When I was in the hospital, my parents came to visit every day; and at least one friend or co-worker would visit me everyday. Seeing them everyday really helped cheer me up. You kind of feel bad that they have to come and visit you - but they would feel bad if they couldn't visit you. So, you want to try hard for them.
The hospital workers, especially if, like me, you were in the hospital an extended period of time, you get to know, and they will cheer you on, encourage you and support you. This is inspiring because, although ultimately you are trying to get better for yourself, you also don't want to let other people down.
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