Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Walking IS a Miracle

Five years ago, I had a mini-stroke caused by neck manipulations by a chiropractor, sued and got a settlement.

But...the most amazing thing is re-learning to walk! I went to Long Beach, New York yesterday and stood in front of the Atlantic, feet firmly on the sand and felt so thankful to stand there and know that I have the ability to walk. The stroke affected my balance and I am 98% recovered, but the two percent is still a doozy. I am losing weight and working at regaining even more balance. It is not perceptible to many others, but I am aware of all the adjustments I make when rising after sitting at a table.

I have been going to a wonderful acupuncturist and will start studying Tai Chi with her in September.

Tai
Chi is so great for balance.

So...as I titled this...never forget that walking is a miracle. Guess we don't really appreciate sometimes as much until "it is gone or changed".

9 comments:

skip miller said...

I say the "modi" each morning in recognition of the miracle of rebirth as I awake each day.

I love seeing your psychodelic elephant from earlier days in your life.
You were always creative and now you are really coming into the wonderful you to share your great creativity with.

Keep being the wonderment you are.

Daddy Skip

Angela said...

Nancy, I love your writing and art work. I think we are kindred spirits in many ways.

I have a brain injury from whiplash from a car accident and then a stroke from a chiropractor who did neck adjustments to help me with the pain from the whiplash. Talk about a double whammy!!!!

I look forward to following your posts on your website!

Angela Cramer
www.twilightinsight.com

nancy said...

Daddy Skip,

Thanks for your comment. Morning prayers is a wonderful way to plant the seeds for a positive day.

Yes, The Psychedelic Elephant has always been an image that stays with me...thanks for your compliments and wishes also.

Nancy

Angela -

Hi! I did read some of your writing also and think we do have a connection. Thanks for your kind words...I hope we will keep in touch more and I hope you are doing well.

best wishes,
Nancy

Tracey said...

Beautiful post, Nancy. Walking truly is a miracle and you're one, too.

I remember how difficult it was for me to move towards the end of my pregnancy with the girls, and how long it took to get from Point A to Point B. Makes you appreciate ever more the mobility that we have.

glad you're back writing...good stuff :)

nancy said...

Tracey,

Thanks for your praise and encouragement! It means a lot to me.

Yeah, true...even in pregnancy you
get the reality of what an amazing balancing act walking truly is!

So many times in life I took for granted the miracles all around. That is an important lesson I've learned the hard way ... to appreciate what appears to be a given.

Nancy

Wanderer said...

Hi Nancy,

Yes, walking is a miracle and seeing and hearing and all the senses. I remember thinking how much I took for granted after my ex-boyfriend became paraplegic due to a car accident. Your recovery from a stroke is so very wonderful. We all have a lot to be grateful for. Glad you are back to writing in your blog and it's nice to see your family here as well.

Kate : )

nancy said...

Nancy,

I just read your blog and, as you might suspect, I, too, have to compensate for loss of balance, and a tremor often disables my hands. The tremor is noticeable when I am tired, stressed, or whatever. I inherited that from my mother, and it didn't progress to something more serious. But my hands, which could sew, do needlepoint, create all my clothes, cannot manipulate a sewing machine. I wear bracelets on my right hand, because it is
out of socket" after many fractures.

I, too, learned to walk after 10 wks in traction in the hospital. It was caused by an automobile accident when the driver of a heavier car than mine was looking at a map and chatting with her sister as I exited from an expressway, and she hit the driver's side of my sub compact car, and almost killed me. I had a fractured left pelvis which could not sustain surgery, and I didn't walk for many months, used a wheel chair, walker, crutches, and a cane, and now I can walk 3-5 miles per day. At home, for many months I had 'round the clock nurses' aide's care. I could not use stairs or answer my front door . That was in 1984.

Nowadays I hold on to bannisters whenever I alight or go down stairs or entrances; my chop sticks talent is gone, but, somehow, we can move on and on, despite our limitations. Actually, I rarely mention these disabilities unless someone asks or comments.

The most important rule is to persist in physical therapy whenever necessary, and to treat oneself kindly. It ain't easy, eh!

Nancy, I'm clinical by nature, and I give these awful details to encourage those who give up too easily, for perseverance and a strong will, and the willingness to undergo great pain in physical therapy have kept me moving. I don't boast; I survive.

At the time of the 1st accident, I lived alone in a duplex apartment with many stairs, and often I felt depressed, because being disabled at 55 was one of the worst things that ever happened to me. Subsequent accidents in 1999 included bilateral fractures of my arms and my dominant left hand which required 2 surgeries. There, too, I had to depend on the expertise and kindness of nurses' aides who lived with me in my present apartment, and the great care of physical therapists, so now I remain independent, and rather lively, as you know.

I've also had a TIA (a mini stroke from which I recovered quickly).

It's good for others experiencing disability and disease to learn about others who have had similar experiences.

I do have a laughable secret about coping with depression, disability, and sickness; if at all possible, even bedridden, get fully dressed every morning, wear jewelry, and makeup, and be good to yourself. And read a daily paper, even if you can't concentrate on anything else.

Anonymous Friend

nancy said...

Anonymous Friend,

I posted this long comment from you which is so valuable to read. I copy and pasted this from your email to me.

I definitely benefit from knowing you and your sharing of this and other details of your life.

Thank you so much for emailing me and sharing in words so others can benefit!

Nancy

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