I loved the feeling of walking without my braces so much, I tried again a couple times with Hunter last week. It was just as incredible the second and third time, but I’ll be honest, it was just as exhausting too. I wrapped up my classes for the semester, and I walked several rounds in the auditorium, and this week has taken it’s toll on my energy. I was completely spent on Sunday, and it doesn’t help that I haven’t been sleeping well the last week. There are loads of factors going into my holistic care, and I’m working to pay attention to all of them while finishing all my responsibilities at school this week before graduation.
I had my first of three finals this afternoon, and I’ll be saying bye for the summer to the rest of my kids tomorrow and Wednesday. I’ll also keep practicing walking though not every day this week. Fortunately, there are actually a couple people in this community trained in physical therapy who are willing to walk with me, but it still takes some coordination between my schedule and theirs to make sure I have a safe partner to practice this new skill.
I’m really excited about it though, and the fact that the three subsequent times I tried it with Hunter had no real scares actually excites me to the potential of doing that with other people or on my own someday in the near future. As I prepare for summer break, I’m getting ready to think about what new things I can train my body to do better. Walking with no braces is at the top of my list. That’s a huge step forward for me, and I can already see the next steps after that. I got a tiny taste of the future when practicing with Hunter and Cindy last week as Cindy held the gait belt while I walked with no braces and asked me to hand her one of my sticks. I took about a dozen steps no braces and with only a single stick. It was a pretty exciting moment.
A lot of people thought my life was over with the diagnosis of paralysis, but I’m still proving them wrong, and it’s a delight to keep making these physical improvements. I’m anticipating more good things – pray with me that my calves and ankles will remember what it’s like to move naturally in the walking motion as I keep walking every day.
