We Went Canoeing

It has been a very long time since I was out in a canoe.

Bob and son Bobby, with supervision from me and little O., moved around a bunch of large rocks at the waters edge to the front of the cottage lot. They made a big flat rock area useful as a canoe launch and it was stable enough to let me climb in. There still needed to be someone holding on, (Thanks Bobby), and I found that bending over to grab the sides of the canoe when I was climbing in was very hard and made me dizzy. One big step in, kind of a hard plop down on the seat and we were on our way.

It felt just so natural to be paddling . Nothing to it. I suspect Bob, over there in the back , was doing more than his fair share of paddling, but I did my best. Things were so extraordinarily beautiful and lush looking at the back side of the island that I regretted leaving my camera where it was safe and dry. At one point we got hung up on some rocks and I needed to switch paddling sides, and help push us sideways. That was not at all easy. It is apparent that I am at the moment a bit of a one sided paddler. Just one more thing to work on.

I felt such a sense of freedom out on that boat, close to the water and coasting along with a bit of breeze. Even a little bit rougher water was just exciting and not scary at all.

We only did one little loop around our tiny island. That took us under 30 minutes, but it was all I could handle before I was exhausted.... this time.

Time for a new start

I have taken a very very long break from working on this blog.

I think it was too physically too hard for me a year ago and I was really doubting my own abilities to write and think clearly back then, probably with good reason. I also was unsure how much of my own personal story I wanted to share; my life seemed so uncertain and so many of my health questions were unanswered. Now I have real regrets that I didn't document my journey and my struggles toward a healthier life.

I have some sense that perhaps it too late now. Should I be playing catch up somehow and try to record what all happened in the past two years?

My former therapist/ social worker retired a month ago and I told her I didn't think that I had it in me to start over explaining everything to her replacement. Kathy wisely said there were indeed a few things from the past that would need to be explained to the new therapist, but that this was a new start. I only needed to begin with today and think about moving forward. All of the ups and downs, and the details of the past year are not needed for me to make progress in the future.

So here we are. I have come a tremendously long way and I feel very blessed to be here and managing as well as I am. I still have a long way to go on this journey. I still have a lot of recovery from the brain injury to deal with, but I also have a long way to go toward being the fit, healthy woman I want to become.

Today the next part of my journey begins ......

Assistive Devices

Today I went shopping. We saw a low priced walker in an add from a hardware store chain. I now own my very own hot shiny purple walker with added basket feature. 

Several months ago I came home from the hospital with a long list of changes to make to our home and equipment like a wheelchair, bath chair and walker to get a hold of.  Well we blissfully thought of  this as a short term thing and worked our way down the provided list of rental companies to find the best deal. The company we choose rents everything from household lamps to forklifts and cranes... and these assistive devices were waiting for me for going home. 

Ever since I have had a love/ hate relationship with these items. I am so grateful for the freedom these devices give me but still I think that next month this goes back! I will be fine by then! We aren't going to have to pay another months rent! Well, in a month the wheelchair went back and in 4 months the bath chair went back when we found a free one on an email community trading site. That left the walker.  At this point we have paid almost 3 times the value of the walker in rental fees because, to me, purchasing my own was kind of like admitting defeat. Practicality has finally won out.

There a few extra options for people in financial need that the hospitals kindly organize for rent or purchase. The personal assisted living stores are easy to work with especially if you need to work with an insurance company and they are very willing  and able to give some expert advice about a variety of product choices. A must check out source is the newspaper and the internet. Garage sales are a source for deals but it  is a bit hit or miss.  Many individuals are happy to donate or give away their unused items and are so glad they can help someone so check those message boards out. 

You almost think there needs to be swap meets out there somewhere.  Test drive this cane, try out this chair that can boost you up to standing at the push of a button. What do you want to trade?

I really do believe accepting  help is a good part of life. Items that give you a measure or freedom and independence or help with your comfort are wonderful things and some can even assist with recovery and maintaining health.  I hope to be running around walker free sometime in the  future and I will find a new home for the walker with someone who can really use it at that time.  In the meantime;  watch for me cruising down the sidewalk with my brand new shiny purple wheels. 

Linda