July 1st
It is surprising how fast the time goes, hard to believe it’s
almost 3 weeks since the last blog and lots has happened. On June 14 Darcy and
I got a Red Cross van and went to Meghan’s School, Worsley
Public School in Wasaga Beach Canada .
The students did 15,000 laps, 12 000km, in 4 weeks and completed the distance
on May 22 the same day the Hansen Relay of Many finished in Vancouver . I was supposed to have been there
on May 22 but there was not a Red Cross driver available. The van picked up
Darcy and me at 9 am on the 14thand we arrived at the school at
12:30. Meghan teaches grade 2 and her class had won a pizza lunch. They all
agreed to have the lunch on the day that I was there.
After pizza, Meghan had arranged for the entire school to go
out and do as many laps in 20 minutes to get points for their teams. They got
10 points a lap. Note: the rest of the school didn’t know that I would be there
and they seemed genuinely excited to see me. As mentioned there were 500 kids,
kindergarten to Grade 8. I did 2 laps
with them and many stopped to say ’hi’ and one little fellow stayed with the
entire first lap and didn’t stop talking the entire lap. One student in Grade 8 did 200 laps, that is
160 k in the month and another did 151 laps, 124 k. I had a Rick Hansen medal
and a touque that Kelly, my daughter received doing the Hansen Relay in
Tillsonburg. First place got the medal and second place got the touque. Got a little surprise as the grass was a
little rougher than I thought it would, just glad the 20 minutes was up after
the second lap. Then back into the class room to say good bye to the kids. I was under the impression that kids were out
of shape but, I was impressed with the condition of these kids as even the
kindergartens did laps and surprisingly the Grade 8’s did as well. Back in the
van by 3 and home by 6 pm. A rather long day but well worth it. If you ever
ride 500 k in a van in a wheelchair, being tied down in front of the back
wheels is a lot better than being behind the wheels. It is quite amazing how high you can bounce
when behind the wheels, the chair needed 4 tethers and a seat belt to hold me
down.
It seems you can make a difference. Meghan is receiving
letters from parents about how her program of walking for Rick Hansen’s Relay
of Many and keeping them updated on my condition and the visit has had a
positive effect on some of the kids.
a letter Meghan received:
"Miss. Steen,
Thank you for all you have done for E----- this year. It is very much appreciated! I really admire how your family has turned your father's accident into such a positive and inspirational learning experience for the kids. I think it will be one of those 'life changing-life lessons' that they will remember all their lives. thanks for sharing your lives this year.
-love the L---------- family"
Ya know it isn’t very often we get to see our kids at work but watching
Meghan with her class and organizing the 20 minute laps made the ol’ heart go
piter-pater. It is nice to know that we got 500 kids aware of spinal cord
injuries and got them walking. Perhaps when I’m walking I can go back and do a
lap with, just for fun….a goal!
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| Mom and dad @ Worsley |
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| Walking around the school |
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| the bumpy ride around the school |
Next on the agenda was the Harlequins Rugby Club in Brantford . They had a
Family Day with all the kids playing, both boys and girls under 8 to under 18.
I got there in time for the Senior Men’s game against Stoney
Creek , a club that I played against. It was great getting
re-acquainted with guys, some I hadn’t seen for 30 years or so. I had to leave
before the end of the game but Brantford
tied it up as we were going out the driveway.
Yonna and Grandpa Bob have been taking me to the Rec Centre
Pool at least once per week….
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| working out in the pool with Grampa Bob, and Yanna |
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| standing in the pool |
Being in the water loosens me
up and the physio at Parkwood commented on the improvement while standing…it
was the straightest I have ever been, that was on Wed. June 27. I should
describe standing. A physio is in front of me sitting on a stool with her knees
pushing just below my knees to keep them straight. A Physio on my left side,
holding my arm/shoulder. A Physio
Assistant on my right with my arm over his shoulder. They all heave ho and I
get into a standing position. Once up they have arch my back by pushing my butt
forward and get my gluts turned on and then my quads and then my core. Once
everything is on, they release me a little but they all stay in position. I
stood up by myself for couple of minutes, I would guess. It is important to get
up straight as those learning to stand and walk again, want stick their bum out
and lean forward, we have all seen elderly people in their walkers walking with
their bums out leaning on the walker. Just need to get the muscle memory to stand
straight. It is strange as my core used to be very strong.The additional pool
work and massage seem to be paying off. The Physio I have, works 2 days a week
and I see her on Mondays and Wednesdays. Since Monday is a holiday she is going
to see me on Friday…. yeehaw!Yonna is retired and I have become her second job.
As you may or may not know I ran a Karate School Norfolk
County
The kids in the Langton Class wanted come and weed the
gardens and clean up the yard but since I had someone doing that, we had a pool
party and BBQ at my brother in-laws back yard last Wednesday. It was great,
about 25 people…kids and parents showed up.
The students, aged 5 and up put on a little demo of their Kata and
Weapons Kata, they had been learning. The adults showed me some of their Kata
as well. Then it was 8 o’clock and I had to run, well ride home for bowel
care….grrrr!
There is a lot going on now and I should start writing a
blog a week then you wouldn’t have so much to read…we’ll see if that works.
How am I feeling?
Hmmmm….I am getting off some of the antidepressants and I
haven’t noticed any changes in mood etc. The psychologist was here on Thursday
and she seemed to think I was doing ok. I am feeling good most of the time and
being busy helps a lot. Weekends are a little slow and I am glad when Monday
comes. As mentioned in other blogs I get up in my chair usually by 8 or 9 and
then fall asleep at the computer and even this AM while watching the Tour de
France I feel asleep. I think it is a hangover from the sleeping pills. I am on
a high dose, 15 mg and have been since September. Most people go on 7.5 mg or
less for a couple of weeks. It is time to start weaning off the pills. The
psychologist says it should be in 2.5 mg increments since I have been on them
for about 10 months. Iam starting to get off the laxatives as everything at
that end seems to be coming out ok…hahaha… next is to get rid of the
suppository for both Darcy and me.
I don’t know what is happening with the ol’ body, that is
the muscle tone is not going away. The Baclofene has been increased to 80 mg
per day and there is no difference. Last Monday I did find out I had a urinary
tract infection…UTI. A UTI can cause muscle tone. Started antibiotics last
Monday and they will be finished on Saturday, June 30th. I still
have a lot of muscle tone and my neck and right arm look like I have been
lifting weights.
I still can’t work my left leg without tensing up my left
arm. I can work the left arm without affecting the left leg. Just gotta get
that circuit rewired. Riding the bike is difficult as the left arm, stomach,
back and ribs go into spasm so I haven’t been riding much. As they say if you
don’t use it you lose it. Well I am losing my butt and it is getting
uncomfortable to sit very long even in the wheelchair….gotta get doing bum
exercises or start eating a lot more.
Grandpa Bob and I played a nasty trick on the Sarge. They
were loading me in the car and the Sarge has always been concerned that he is
hurting me. As soon as he touched my leg I let out a yell. It was a YouTube
moment. The Sarge dropped my leg and started to leave the garage. Grandpa Bob
and I could not stop laughing. The first words from the Sarge were “There will
be retribution!”. I didn’t think he would be so vindictive. Oh yes another
improvement is, I can get my leg in the car with very little help and very
little pain.
It's July 1st , Happy
Canada Day…
I am very glad that I live here!
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