I’m on my way ......

 A busy week with lots of focus on doing things for myself.  On Monday we started by walking without sticks between two safe areas. I had a plinth to one side and a table to the other to help me steady myself if needed, and members of the team strategically placed to catch me if I fell. The aim being to build up to walking without sticks. Tuesday we worked on raising myself from sit to stand from a height of 18 inches. This is to simulate getting up from a sofa by myself once I'm home. After a challenge from one of the therapists we decided to try and combine that with some free walking. I think I surprised even myself!🙂 Obviously everything I am doing is designed to prepare me for independent living outside of the hospital environment and on Wednesday we worked on negotiating obstacles by trying the Two stick slalom and building balance and confidence with the One stick dash. Thursday was a standing shower without the use of sticks (Don't worry..No video 😳 )  just a support

 Such a full and positive week this week 🙂. The team are now helping me address things on so many fronts and we have worked hard on balance, strength, and technique as well as pushing on with elements of personal care and not forgetting emotional support. I started the week determined to build on my previous attempts at step through walking. As I’ve mentioned before it’s as mentally tiring as it is physically but I’m slowly gaining my confidence. Mind you, it doesn’t take much to break my concentration, and I’m only ever one loud noise away from a wobble, but I’m getting there.  The video below is a little long (sorry😕) but I think it shows how far I’ve progressed with walking this week. There has also been a huge focus on tailoring routines to build my core strength and I’ve really enjoyed some quite tough exercise classes. These will all feed in to improving my balance and have included strength bands, exercise ball and stretching. It’s also helping me to improve my range of motion

 A positive week with lots of milestones reached but I’m realising that it’s not just a case of putting ticks in boxes. It’s more breaking barriers and building on the skills and techniques needed to overcome each hurdle. Monday and Tuesday were two great days. On Monday I was able to walk on my sticks with the team holding on to me very lightly. On Tuesday I managed without anyone holding me. It wasn’t far ( although it felt it at the time) but it was something we had originally set as a target for the end of the week.  On Wednesday  I was able to stand from seated, walk a short distance, turn and sit unaided. I then stood back up and walked back to my original seat. The practical application of this is so that I can use a toilet on my own. Maybe a little TMI but this forms an essential part of  giving me back my own independence and personal dignity. Coming back to the building on skills. From the video you will see that I am kind of shuffling on the sticks. It’s a similar technique

Monday this week marked a significant day in my journey so far as it was exactly a year to the day that I was taken into hospital with suspected Meningitis. It had been weighing heavily on me in the run up to it and over the weekend ( once again, when I have more time to think) rather than ignore it we talked about how this big day was going to impact on me. It made me reflect on the year and question what had happened and why. Truth is there is no why and even if there was, what can knowing change? I decided that the best thing to do was class Monday as my last day of the year that took me from my home and family but the first day of the year that is going to bring me home.🙂 Also on Monday I was lucky enough to meet with Caroline Coster, a fellow Quad amputee whose story inspired us to seek out the help of the rehab unit at Roehampton. Caroline was an enormous help and gave me a realistic insight into what a return to my home life had in store for me. Daunting as that future might be