Thankful

Hey Everybody,

My pain level is through the roof so excuse any typos.  I am going to see my Orthopedic Surgeon on April 6th now; we changed the appointment so my OT could come with us. 

I updated today because therapy brought happy tears (and they're coming back as I type).  First off, I am going to post the essay I wrote for a contest I happened to win:




There are people who make a difference in the world everyday; they provide life-changing abilities and skills to people when they need them the most, people like Occupational Therapists. This is why being an Occupational Therapist (OT) is my dream career. I was born with Cerebral Palsy. At a very young age I began Physical and Occupational Therapy. Occupational Therapy has always been my favorite kind of therapy; it's where I got to do all the fun stuff like playing on the computer. Occupational Therapy made my education possible. I did all that work on the computer and worked on writing so I could be prepared for school. My parents were told I would never even be able to pick up a pencil and write my name and I am now only a few months away from graduating high school, this is because my Occupational Therapist found assistive technology that would work for me and allow me to have a successful education.


Now, at the age of 17, I have just started back at OT but, for a different purpose. I am now learning life skills like how to cook, go up and down curbs, and so many other things that will allow me to be an independent, contributing member of society.




In the two sessions I have been to, I have already learned to do wheelies and have started practicing curbs. This is because my OT has worked very hard to find strategies that work for me. He will often spend an extra half hour to 45 minutes with me just so I can get some practice in. He is always enthusiastic and encouraging which, in turn, makes me want to work harder. I have been given the chance to be independent through his help and I will jump at that.



I want to be an Occupational Therapist because I know what it's like to want to be as independent as possible and feel like you don't have the proper resources. I want to be able to help people that will be in the shoes I am in now. I want to give my patients what my OT has given me; hope, faith, encouragement, and the chance to have a fulfilling life in which I can be independent.

So, my OT got a hold of this essay and read it and said congratulations and all that jazz and then today we were talking about school and he asked me what I wanted to do in university. I told him I still wanted to be an OT but, that I was unsure and he asked why.  I told him I felt as though I might struggle with certain aspects of the job because when I'm working with him, I struggle with some stuff (this is why I GO to therapy hahaha) and so, I have been worried about how I would help my clients if I struggle with certain tasks and he asked what kind of tasks I was thinking about. Things like lifting and walking, physical tasks could be problematic    My OT told me that was a good question, but that I would be able to work in a mental health setting or other areas.  I told him I don't want my chair to get in the way of what I truly want to do because I KNOW I will regret it, speaking from experience.  I also told him that I think that for my patients it would be neat to have an OT in a wheelchair because I can understand their challenges better than a "walking" OT can and he agreed.   He told me that he will be excited to see it happen.  Having his support has reaffirmed that I know I can do it; it will be hard, but I know it will be so worth it in the end.   You might ask why I cry over this, but what you need to understand is, so many therapists have told me I'm not going to do things, so this is a more than welcome change of tune for me.

I also arranged to take all my classes online next year, so I can stay at home as I have been missing A LOT of school due to shoulder pain.  Hopefully we can get it under control by then, but I feel I will do better if I can work from home without all the fighting and pain in ass stuff going to school seems to require on a day-to-day basis; I'm running out of motivation to keep fighting, so this is my solution.  It will be interesting to take Math C30, Physics 20/30, and Chemistry 30. Doesn't it sound like fun? :)  Hopefully they will offer Physics 20 online as the last time I checked the list of tentative courses, Physics 20 was not there.  I MIGHT be able to take 30 without 20, but I think even if this was an option, I would be making a hard subject harder.

I've decided I will sing off with a different quote each time I blog depending on what I have written, just to change it up a bit.

J

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." -Bobby Kennedy

Life is Crazy

Sorry for the delay in updating.  Things are fairly decent on my end.  My standing frame is now offically at school and it's working out quite well. I am more alert and in less pain through the day.  

Speaking of shoulders, I am demoing a power chair until tonorrow afternoon and then my OT will be trying to get me one until we can figure out what is up with my shoulder.  At first, I told him he was nuts and there was no way I was giving up my hot wheels for a POWER CHAIR, but after a trip to Edmonton and realizing my arms just can't take it anymore, I am willing to use one, at least part time.   He is hopeful that once we get my shoulders under control, I will be able to return to my manual chair. I seriously hope he's right.

I am also seeing my Orthopedic doctor on April 4th so, hopefully we can get things figured out and setteled down.

Please know that if I don't update as often, it is usually "no news is good news." and I am also having trouble keeping up with school, so most of my time is spent doing homework.

At the side of my blog, I have added some music videos if anyone wants to take a look.

Lastly, I would like to ask for prayers for Mark Fehr.  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/markfehr

Thanks.

"He's not jaded or bitter, he's gonna leave the givin' up for the quitters."