Transferring

On a beautiful, winter morning I was loaded up and transferred from my healing place to IMC. My wheelchair buckled right in to the back of a van and a very nice Tongan man drove me to my new home. I was nervous! I did not yet know what my new surroundings would be like. I did not yet know what my body and mind would be capable of. I did not yet know what I was made of... but I was about to find out.

I arrived to an empty room and sat in my wheelchair for hours before anyone came in. I cried tears of sadness, fear, frustration and confusion. I could not take myself to the bathroom. Would I ever be able to type again? Would I ever be able to hold anyone's hand with my left hand again? Would I ever be able to stick my tongue out straight again? Would I ever be able to sit on a toilet again? Would I ever be able to multi-task again? These thoughts rushed through my tender mind over and over and over again. I completely allowed the voice of fear to take over!

Then, I decided that I was all-in. Whatever was asked of me I was going to do it and do it to the best of my ability. I was going to work and work. I was going to pray and pray. I wasn't going to judge myself. I was going to be patient and allow this to take as long as it needed to.

Right away, I was told that I would not be allowed to leave the unit, have any electronic devices, or watch tv. This was such a blessing!

Randy returned soon and we made the room my own. Cards and flowers were put right where I could see them. He brought a dozen books that he would read to me every day. A schedule was made and kept daily, with four to five hours of therapy each and every day, including occupational therapy, physical therapy and psycho therapy. We integrated daily showers, coloring, and naps in to that schedule. It was very rigid, and very strict. It was absolutely perfect.

It didn't take long before miracles showed up, almost constantly. My fingers started to wiggle. My big toe moved. My arm bent. My arm lifted. My arm lifted to my head. My fingers worked with my thumb. My abs kicked in. My face went back to completely normal. I could bring a cup to my mouth with my left arm. I could brush my teeth. I could transfer from a wheelchair to a toilet chair. I could wash my body by myself. I could color one flower with my vision. I learned to rollover. I learned to do a sit-up. I learned to hold a ball tight and toss it. I learned to lift my foot. I learned to stand. I learned to stand without hands. I learned to step. I learned to walk. I learned to walk without holding on. I learned to walk up a step. I learned to walk down a step. I learned to read with my left eye. I learned to dribble a basketball. I learned to skip. I learned to walk across a busy street. I learned to place an order at a restaurant. I learned how to pay for said order. I learned how to make my bed. I learned how to color more than one flower at a time. I learned how to blow dry my hair. I learned how to bake cookies. I learned how to put pegs in to small holes. I learned how to write in journals. I learned how to count. I learned how to count backwards. I learned how to use a pin number. I learned how to live.

I learned how to live.