STROKE and BEYOND blogg 8

The rehabilitation therapy was fun, well sort-off; first being pushed everywhere in the wheelchair and some physiotherapy initially. Everyone appeared sad, serious, and then others with false joy. Did a fair amount of basic Core leg work, Leg raises and the like. I eventually graduated to a ‘Gutter Frame’; I hated it, made you look so invalid. Walked the Parallel Rails quite often. Enjoyed them especially the Parallel bars and the stairs, you could see your improvement. The Physiotherapist’s said they would have me walking again in 8 weeks! Spent a while doing basis Core training and Balance exercises. Then trying to get me walking around with them supporting my body under each arm. Yep, 8 weeks eh?

Quote - What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?

I do remember some of the others going out for a smoke, and the harassment they received on their return. ‘Don’t they (the staff) realize that the more they said ‘No’ the more determined the others would be, a normal reaction? So I had to join the smokers, we would go out onto the designated ‘visitors’ veranda. That was until someone complained, then the Talbot banned smoking altogether. We just had to move location, find a spot in the gardens. 6 or so of us, Stroke Survivors and Amputees, in our wheelchairs, wheeling along in a line! Nobody knew what we were going off for! The exercise and independent thinking was good rehabilitation and therapy though! Then eventually this was caught out and banned too. We were given a spot across the road next to the large waste bins.

Quote - Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try

Another challenge! To get there, the Smoking Area, you had to wheel out of the Ward, down the ramp, negotiate the sloping roadside gutter, cross the road, then just wheel another 10 meters. The gutter was the worst, had to approach it from an angle, one wheel at a time, so you didn’t overbalance. And the amount of traffic visiting a hospital, yes we do take a while to cross the road in wheelchairs. Sometimes the car drivers over-estimated our ‘prowess’ and abilities in moving quickly. We were still all learners! Took a while and a lot of effort, I figured it would be easier to just hit it backwards with my larger rear wheels. So I tried it! Roll down the ramp, hit the gutter, keeping my wheels straight, leaning forward to counter weight, and then cross the road in reverse, easy, however must have been a sight! Heard a few gasps and exclamations, but it worked.

Whenever Sharyn (my wife) came, every day, I would ask to be taken out to the gardens. It was nice, the privacy and a relaxing coffee/smoke.

We would close the visit by me standing, holding her in my arms, something we have done for years. This made the Nurses look in amazement, my balance, standing strength, the possible risks. This is what you do though, we never thought about it.