Corey,
One year ago today we left Bryn Mawr to face a new phase of your recovery; moving home. I have to admit, I was secretly terrified. I was scared to leave the people that knew what they were doing. The therapists and nurses shouldered the responsibility of your care with confidence and expertise that I was only comfortable observing. How could I care for you? The letters after my name are M.O.M. I was untrained to know what to do clinically for nursing or therapy.
When we brought you home we had to use a Hoyer lift to move you from your wheelchair to your bed. You couldn’t sit independently nor could you hold your head upright for more than 3 minutes. Your left hand was in a hand splint, immobile. You could only move your right leg from the knee down. You couldn’t smile. You didn’t speak. Your right thumb was inconsistent responding to a “Thumbs up” command; your only means of communication. You couldn’t eat. You couldn’t move your eyes from right to left to scan the room. You were labeled “Functionally plateaued”.
You have worked to the point of exhaustion every day since we left Bryn Mawr. Your hard work has proven that labels don’t apply to you.
This morning you greeted me with a broad smile and a morning salutation. “Mom, good morning” “How are you”! We chatted about the days schedule as you ate a cheese omelet with toast and drank vanilla milk from a cup! You can now eat full course meals. You also have discovered a sweet tooth and enjoy all desserts, especially chocolate (I think you’re ready to go back to work at the candy store).
You played a game with your left hand in OT and we witnessed two sessions of PT, both sessions pushing yourself to break your current “personal best” records. The tally for both AM/PM sessions ~ 318 feet! These accomplishments were achieved from a woman that was labeled “functionally plateaued”. To think you left here with limited mobility and today you took your first victory lap.
Corey there is no greater obstacle than doubt and fear. You can set as many goals as you can imagine but if you allow the smallest doubt or fear to linger, you’ll never reach those goals.
Doubt and fear are difficult to overcome. They seem to take a life of their own. You don’t need proof or concrete evidence to support their insidious nature. It takes a great deal of persistence to overcome them and raise your expectations to achieve the goals you’ve set. It takes daily persistence but it can be done, even if it’s just for a moment. Within that moment, there’s no limit, no boundaries, nothing to hold you back. String those moments together and they are the foundation not only for today’s victory lap but for the steps you’ll take to discover the endless achievements yet to be. Everything is Possible!
We are so proud of you! xoxo