My mantra: There’s always a way to do everything.

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkorchid]There is a success story still in the making…my own.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]Funny how you use mind cues to remember events in your life; before GBS, after GBS. I put my ‘before GBS’ into perspective, as I would never have it again. Just the way it was. No walking, no 5K’s, no more training to run the Twin Cities Marathon when I turned 50. No driving as I had. Not being able to work again. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]’After GBS’ consisted of building my strength after I left the hospital, battle the ever-present GBS fatigue, trying to give my life some semblance of normalcy. The first year post-GBS went by, then another year, another… divorce, changing residences, breast cancer, ADL’s… where does the time go?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]Physical therapy began twice a week in late April for me this year, as I requested. My strength had returned from my mastectomy in May 2005 & I was ready to see what I could do. My right leg would bend at the knee and my toe go to the tip but my hip/upper thigh was not strong enough to lift my leg to take a step. Been able to do that for about four years now. Why wasn’t I able to swing my leg forward at the hip? There’s always a way to everything.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]My pt’s were told what I wanted to achieve. I wanted to be able to go from sit-to-stand, preferably by myself, and to take a few ‘good’ steps. Not many. I would be happy with 5 or 6 steps, just enough to get me from my wheelchair to the kitchen chair. To stand & do a few dishes. Stand & transfer to a car. Use the toilet. Oh, JOY![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]PT started at the parallel bars. Assistance with sit-to-stand diminished to 10% effort. Gotta get my forward motion going good. But, to move my right leg forward? There’s always a way to do everything.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]As weeks advanced, I moved from parallel bars to a walker with an arm extension for my ‘bad’ right arm to rest. Walkers are flimsy little things. But then, you probably all know this. Sit-to-stand’s need a bit more assistance. First one is always a bit sloppy. I need to ‘find my groove’, after all. Now what about taking a step with my right leg? There’s always a way to do everything.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]On July 10th, we found a way to do my ‘everything’.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkorchid]My PT taped the tip of my right shoe with white tape. I did my sit-to-stand at my walker, as usual, with about 15% assistance, shifted to my left hip and … slid my right toe forward on the tile about two inches. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]Needless to say, my pt & the assist yelled. I just whispered, “Did you see this? Did you see this?”. I think I was in awe. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]My weight shifted to my right leg, taking great care of my right ankle as that foot ‘supanates’ when traumatized. And taking a step had traumatized the poor thing big time.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]There is so much more to tell, but I am exhausted & will stop now and edit/add to this later. It just hit me the newcomers have no clue what my GBS history is. Duh, Me! I should have started with my ‘medical history’.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]I do want to take this time to give credit to the person, and you know who you are, who is my GBS inspiration. This persons’ drive & integrity, wisdom & knack of simplifying ANY situation has helped so many GBS/CIDPers, old timers & newcomers alike. I was encouraged to write ‘my success story’ because, this person said, people ‘need to hear your story’. To this person, my heartfelt “Thank You!” You were/are MY inspiration.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]