The Hope of a Better Life

What if you don’t have a voice to speak your mind and people look at you like you do not know what you are talking about?

What if somebody can improve your life by giving your voice back to you? Would you take the risks? Would you be scared to go to a new adventure, which can change your life forever?

Last month I found out about some new innovations in the medical world. I was surprised to see that they invented new ways to make people’s lives better.

One of these devices helps people with severe spasticity to control there movements. The whole process is called ITB therapy. It is an adjustable, reversible treatment. A surgically placed pump and catheter delivers medication directly to the fluid around the spinal cord.

How this sound to you? I am always amazed how fast technology advances, and I am happy that it can make people have a more healthy and comfortable life.      

Another procedure that I came across is one that has as a primary goal to decrease hip pain and have functional benefits in terms of easing the movements. This consists in having Botox injections every 6 months or so.

I personally experienced this procedure to get back my mobility and my independence. It was a positive experience. I am getting better and I don’t have to wear my brace anymore. I am able to stand up on my own. Slowly I am getting back to my own self.

I hope you will be willing to share this information with people in your life who need a chance to improve theirs.

Have a wonderful week!

BIG GOAL

Hi guys,
Sorry for not blogging for a long time. I hope everybody have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
This is a blog when I want to open up my self to you. My all family and friends are a big part of my life. From my childhood until now I saw my sisters and I always look up to them.  I had my own life to live and I always wanted to give a big thank to my parents for not seeing me as someone who has a disability. They see me like a normal person. I have a mind of my own and what I am is because of them. They never stopped me of living my life. 
 Four years ago when I had a stroke. After that I lost my independence and I never get it back. Now I feel like I am getting back my whole self. If this happened to you, how would you react? It had a big impact on my life and I felt like I lost myself, but today I feel like I am back on track. 
I am swimming two times a week for three hours because I am going to swim across the Kelowna Lake in BC in July 18, 2020. This is a big goal that I have after my stroke. I always pick big goals. Me and my best friend thought about it couple of years ago; we wanted to do it together, and then we forgot about it. In April this year, I got back in the water to build my strength and I told my worker that I want to do the swim across the lake. So, I signed up for it. Starting now, I have 212 days, 15 hours and 8 minutes to get ready for the big event. For me it means that I get back to my own self. 
Last week I was Athlete of the Week at CTV News. They came and filmed me, my worker and my roommate during my swimming time. It was the first time in my life when somebody told me that I am a great athlete, but I don't feel like one. I am just trying to achieve my goal. 
I want to thank to my whole family and all my friends and my worker for always being there for me and behind me. 

Here is the link of the interview at CTV News.
 https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1854714&binId=1.1201975&playlistPageNum=1#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=Facebook&_gsc=4sQ2YlP

Look at this picture that I found!

I am looking at the picture of me standing on beach in Hawaii. I don’t know that person anymore; who stands up on her own. I had a dream that I would be able to walk one day by myself. After years of trying I found out that my dream to walk would never come true. I let myself down because I wanted to be the first person to get out of my wheelchair and walk away from my disability.... But that never happened. I had a mini stroke 3 years ago and ever since that happened I’ve had a fear of falling. My body stopped working. Over the last two years I have had a lot of pain in my lower back so I went to the doctor and a chiropractor for help. As it turns out, my left hip sits higher than my right hip! I now have to wear a brace all day everyday. 

I have a lot of goals that I would like to do in my life and I never take the time to think about if I can do it. When people tell me “No, you cannot do it” I don’t listen to them and do it to prove them wrong.  I would love to see myself stand up on my own; and maybe one day I will. There is a big goal that I’m working toward next summer, I want to swim across the Okanagan lake next summer! Nothing will stand in my way anymore, I will fight to get my life back!!!

2019 Plans

Good day everybody,

I hope everybody have a good year. I had a good couple of months already. I went on a cruise to Mexico and Hawaii. I met a couple of people on the cruise. I did my second year of skiing with CADS for people who have a disability. It was fun! It was seven weeks Saturday night. Last weekend it was the last one. We went to Norquay. I will do it again next year.

For the rest of my year I will try to make a movie, but before I will take an online course at the public library called " Creating a short film". I have couple of ideas about what I want it to be about. I want to show to the world that a person like me can achieve whatever she wants. I see myself strong and capable of lots of things, but I am always wondering how people see me. So, after making this movie I will be interested in your reaction about it.
https://adage.com/creativity/work/how-do-you-see-me/46014?fbclid=IwAR2hkrSWbFgmkmqQrs3-EePHrTOM17OPKEkDzLVVtvfmCv-TVvs22I6xsuM

I am working on a story and after I want to get it published or make it public in some way.

2018 Reflections

Good Day Everybody,

I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope next year brings you a lot of joy!! It's been a good year for me, and I've been reflecting on it! I got on the Calgary Transit Access Appeal Board. Both of my films made it to the "Picture This" Film Festival held in April. I created an app with the help of some really smart engineering and design students at the UofC. The whole process took about seven months and was made possible by TOM (Tikkun Olam Makers). I even did an interview for Universal Access!

I tried skiing and absolutely fell in love!! I'm going to get back at it in the beginning of 2019! Trying new things is so good for my soul. I want to keep pushing my comfort zone and having new adventures, it's the only way to keep living and growing. Would you expect anything different from me? I also tried sailing this year and discovered that it's not quite my cup of tea... it's a little boring, so I won't be returning to that activity. I want to do something WILD next year... if you have any ideas please let me know!! 

Something I learned this year is that I need to be more forward with my thoughts, ideas, and opinions. This is true in my relationships as well as my professional life. I'm sure 2019 will give me plenty of opportunities to do so. One of my ideas is to turn my book into a play and have one of my friends be a part of that process. I don't know what that will look like, but that's part of the fun. 

What do you think about when you see someone who has a disability!!

Here are some questions for you that I want you to answer for yourself, and I would like you to be honest with yourself... 

Have you ever seen that show "What Would You Do"?

- Have you ever consciously mistreated someone? Or been a poor friend? 

- Do you know someone who has a disability?

- Would you say "hi" to someone on the street who has a disability that you don't know?

If I had the guts I would go up to someone and ask them "What do you think when you look at me"? Would they be honest with themselves and I? Or would they not and try to spare my feelings? 

If you want to answer:

Body

Good day Everybody!

I hope everyone had an awesome summer! I know I did. I went to B.C. and saw some of my family for a couple of weeks. Many of the people I visited I haven't seen in several years, so it was an extra special trip. 

I've received several comments from followers regarding my journey to walking; in particular they would like to see more videos of my progress. I am still working out but my walking is... well, it's hard to explain... I would love to keep on walking, but after my ministroke I went downhill. I have had a lot of pain in my lower back in the last couple of months so I went to the doctor and a chiropractor to help me out. As it turns out, my left hip sits higher than my right hip! So I have some extra padding on my right side (inside of a brace I have to wear full time). That's right, I have to wear my brace all day everyday. 

Right now I'm practicing standing on my two feet because that's what I can manage. My left leg often floats up when I try to stand because my quad muscle is very tight on that side. This season of life is teaching me to relax and take my time. What is your life teaching you these days?