First Week of February
No Room For Vanity: I loved that I had been so spoiled in the past few days since my Birthday. Such a novelty! I really was so happy with messages and the unexpected visits. I’d never been great in the past, when people suddenly surprisingly dropped by our house. I always liked to be prepared, if I knew folks would be coming over. However, the recent unexpected visits were really lovely. I certainly wasn’t prepared physically, as I always liked to tidy myself up and put on a bit of lipstick. However, all vanity had melted away with each visit. I was touched as everyone had been so kind, concerned and so encouraging, even though I must have looked like a scarecrow!
Massage Time: Della continued with her massages and exercises on my limbs. To be honest, I still wasn’t too confident, especially as I continued with no feelings on my left side and hadn’t seen any improvement. I frustratingly stared at my dead left arm and leg, and tried to will them to make some sort of movement each day. Although I felt exasperated, there wasn’t any harm if Della carried on. I kept hopeful, while everyone around me continued with their assurances. It hadn’t been easy to keep a smile on my face, but what else was there? be grouchy and negative? If there was to be any hope at all, then I had to keep positive, even though it felt like a useless cause at the time.
Home Chef: Colin had surprised me by perfecting my fresh roast vegetable soup recipe, and also prepared different coloured “surprise” fruit smoothies each day. I wasn’t sure about his green and purple creations though, but once tasted, I was pleasantly surprised! Everyone else had solid meals while I was still restricted to liquids and blended food, which looked almost like baby food. Not particularly appetizing to look at, but were pretty tasty. I never liked, or had much confidence in, what Colin tried to cook before, so we would have separate different dishes at times. I never imagined that he would have bothered to prepare anything to my liking, but I found that I looked forward more to what he had in store for me. Just to show what a control freak I must have been in “My” kitchen. Colin really never had a say, or much involvement before. He became head “Chef” in our meal plans and I ended being the one waiting to see what was on offer. It was wonderful and refreshing, however, his bossy side crept back with the never ending questions like, “have you taken your pills?”, “have you brushed your teeth?” or “what have you eaten while I was out?” Honestly! How old was I?
10th February
Unexpected Visitors: We had a lovely visit from Barry and Marie, from my golf club. They successfully organized a social golf society and regular fun golf trips away. Colin and I had been away with their golfing group events a few times, and always enjoyed them. It was a really nice surprise to see them. At first, I was really embarrassed that they had to see me in my hospital bed, the state of my hair, no make up and my slurry speech. I wasn’t the Linda that thet previously knew, but they and Colin continued talking normally among themselves, as I tried to put up a brave front. What made me giggle, they kindly presented me with their gift of a feathered pink flamingo ornament. Marie said, “this is a typical Linda pressie”. It had was so sweet and lovely of them. As they left, I made a vow to see them when I could get back to playing golf again. Yeah, right! I was sure they sympathetically thought the same.
14th February Valentine’s Day
My Valentine: Colin presented me with a lovely bouquet of yellow roses for Valentine’s Day. It was so lovely that he remembered my favourite flowers. I thought it was uncanny that I chose yellow roses as my favourite, when I earlier found out that my birth father, Chuck, is originally from Texas. As the song went, “the yellow rose of Texas …..”. Colin had always joked that he thought that he had married an “Asian English Rose”, but ended up with a “Texas Cactus” instead. Charming!
My First Shampoo: My daily routine became the same, but every once in a while, I had to have my hair washed. What a performance! I had to be seated in my wheel chair, rolled into the kitchen – while still sitting, I had to bend forward over the sink, as Della gently tried to wash and rinse my hair while I tried to stand up. The first few times were a bit of a struggle, funny, but not too successful. However, we managed in the end. I later had to sit in the kitchen area, as Della cut, styled and dried my hair. Then later, I got wheeled back to my bed in the lounge. The purpose of this exercise was to force me to try and stand, which I always failed miserably, so I ended up in the sitting position in the wheel chair. In addition, I felt a bit more human after I’d my hair done. I had to admit, even after all the difficulties and effort, I had felt so much better afterwards.
First Sign of Movement
My Big Toe Moved: We always went back to the limb massages and exercises, but this time, I began to see some results. I suddenly moved my left big toe! Della and I became so emotional and excited, we began to cry. I was impatient to show Colin later that night, but was afraid it might have been a fluke and wouldn’t be able to repeat the big toe motion again. He was equally excited, when I’d shown him. Lara had been at her home, for a well earned family time, so we let her and my sisters know personally by phone. We hadn’t dared to tell anyone else, so it wouldn’t tempt fate, but I felt really positive that we jumped over a hurdle that day …..
16th February
More Movement: After some practice, everything began to happen so quickly. The middle finger, of my left hand, had started to move! I’d practised daily bed sit ups, which were fairly difficult before, as all I could do was to pull myself up with my good right hand & leg into the sitting position. However, I actually managed to sit on my own, without help! I began to feed myself, instead of someone spoon feeding me from time to time. I’d shown a slight movement with my left bad arm and clumsily slowly opened and shut them!
After, when I thought that it was useless with massages and exercises, I was able to stretch out my bad leg, bend it and awkwardly move it from sided to side by effort and free will! Colin and I felt so thrilled. As it was such a big deal in our household, I just had to post my progress to update friends on social media. The reaction was equally as pleasing and supportive. Then, we realised that, it would be hard work for the next stage ahead …….
Please view next page 13 at link “Learning to Walk Again”: https://www.rebootinglinda.com/learning-to-walk-again/
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After my back disc infection I can remember the day my big toe moved as well. !!!! My physio confirmed it had happened and from there Linda light at rhe end of a tunnel and mine much shorter than yours x
Hi Matt – I must admit that I thought I would never get any movement at all and was really close to losing hope. Just goes to show – Never give up 🙂 I hope your health has improved. Warm regards LINDA xxx
I can imagine that it was such a surprise, but exciting feeling when you had movement where previously there was none, I know the feeling. You have come a long way gal and are now beginning to see “light at the end of the tunnel.” By the way, I am amused at Colin’s comment of “Texas Cactus.”
Hi – Thank you. Yes, it was a huge relief to finally have some sign of movement, no matter how small. I really started to feel positive about the possibility of being able to walk eventually. Sorry about the “Texas Cactus” comment – it’s just Colin’s sense of humour 🙂 Take Care LINDA xxxx