She's walking!!

Where the heck is my camera when I need it!!! Jeez!!

I almost started crying when I saw Thea walk. No, she hasn't miraculously regained feeling in her legs allowing her to get up from the wheelchair and walk...it wasn't that kind of miracle. She has worked hard for this to happen, and it didn't happen all at once.

As many of my reader who have listened to me talk about Thea knows, she was injured last April in a horse accident. She is a paralyzed from the waist down. But that hasn't stopped her from wanting her life back. She didn't wallow in self pitty. Any doctor who tried to tell her that "this is the way your life is now, accept it" she told off.

She tell them "Listen....you see that wheelchair over there....we are NOT friends and we never will be! I'm going to get my life back! You should be supporting me!"

It works. Everyone at therapy loves her. They follow us around the facility, eager to help. This is how it goes....
We try to show up early, so she can start out on the arm exercise bike thing (I'm so technical with my names for machines) then we go over to the weights to work out her upper body. (She is so strong...and worries that she's getting too buff) She jokes that she can't kick your butt, but she could punch your lights out!

Next her physical therapist stretches her legs on a short padded table. Together they spent 10 minutes strapping metal braces to her legs and moments after that she was standing! With the help of a walker, she swung her hips forward and back, forcing her legs to take steps. It's A LOT of work. On previous days she has done as much as 4 laps around the room. Today we were not on a time schedule, so she walked until she was absolutely beat. 6 laps. 6 LAPS!! That's amazing!!

The first time she walked 1 lap it took her 1 full hour to complete. Today she did 6 laps in that same amount of time. That's going from a 60 min. lap to a 10 min. lap. WOW!
I have never met anyone with more determination and pure strength as Thea, a 38 year old mother of 3 from the Netherlands!
I truly treasure this friend. She inspires me. I think of her when I am running. I don't take it for granted. At least I get to run...and walk...and so many other little things like go to the bathroom by myself!

After her awesome workout, we treated ourselves to a tasty lunch at LaBou. Chinese Chicken Salad. YUM! my favorite.
Then we headed to Roseville to tear up the isles at Costco. I can't believe how fast your cart fills up!! I got a nice workout too, lifting all those water & gatorade bottles!! (and cat litter, paper products, laundry detergent...etc..)

We causally rode home talking about her trip and all the many ways a disability changes your life. I have a new perspective now and let me tell you....it's not what you think. It's so much more than that.

One more thing I've learned.
DON'T teach your children that they should not ask a disabled person what happened. By trying to pretend that they are "the same" as everyone else, it feels rude. Kids and grown ups should ask..."Do you mind if I ask you about your disability?"
Most people do not mind talking about it. They are more comfortable in fact, because the doors of communication have been opened. Whispers feel awful!

DO treat them just as you would any person. They are not stupid. Me and Thea laugh and talk about things just like all friends do. It's okay to offer help. It's okay to ask what happened. It's okay to say, "wow, I love your shoes...where did you get them?"


You can learn so much.

Wear their shoes.

Wear their glasses.

You can learn so much.