I may have said this before but I'm just really grateful for Nate in my life. When I say such things he asks me how much I've had to drink. I usually say "a lot - you're expensive" but it's just plain true. He's a kind and sweet soul and I feel completely at ease and free to be my entire silly self with him. He's a gift to know and if you are lucky enough to know him, take a moment to enjoy him just a little bit more... even if he is slacking on his own blog. ;-) A good heart and an honest soul are more rare than I once believed so I'm glad to have his in my life.
Now, off to finish that bottle. <3
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Boys will be boys
I am very grateful to have a nephew and even more grateful to have a new nephew coming in the next three weeks! My nephew, David Junior, turned 3 in September and is the same age that I was when my brother was born. He has a lot of the same characteristics that I did at that age. He is very rough, physically, and demands a lot of attention. He has heard a lot about his little brother Sam and I think that it is starting to irritate him. It didn't take long for me to start roughhousing with and picking on my brother, and I think that David is going to follow in my footsteps, unfortunately.
I guess all that I can say is beware, and don't let those two in the same room alone!
I guess all that I can say is beware, and don't let those two in the same room alone!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
My Grammie
Moment of gratitude: Despite hitting a pot hole on my way home today which caused me to lose a hub cap and suffer 100 miles with a cracked (and very loud) muffler, I arrived home in one piece today after spending time laughing with and loving my favorite person in the universe: my grandmother. I'm so glad that we still get to act like kids together and talk like we did 25 years ago. She is proof that being 90 and watching your body fall apart doesn't mean that your spirit is any different from what it always has been. I love you, Grammie!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Reflecting upon 9/11
Has it really been ten years since we were so cowardly attacked by terrorists on our own home soil? It certainly doesn't feel like it and I was going to attribute it to the fact that time flies but I think there are other reasons. It is one of those once-in-a-lifetime events where every single person knows exactly where they were and what they were doing when they found out that this tragedy was occurring. For the baby boomers it was the JFK assassination, and the generation before it was Pearl Harbor. Over the last few days I was watching some film that showed different perspectives on how that day unfolded and events thereafter. The images are seared into our memories because unlike any event in history we didn't simply hear about it and tune in for the aftermath. Anybody with a television or radio nearby was able to watch or listen in as it happened live! People in New York saw it happen right in front of their own eyes, up close and personal as many of them feared for their lives not knowing what would happen next! For the rest of us it was as if we were watching a movie and that's exactly what it felt like because it was so surreal! I know that is what I was thinking and I'm sure most everybody was too! After the first plane hit the World Trade Center it looked like a tragic accident but once the second plane hit the other tower I think most of America and the rest of the world realized it was no accident.
I am not sure what the most horrific part was...there was so much to digest. First there was the shock that any sort of terrorism of this magnitude could actually occur in our homeland. I think that most of us thought that we were immune to these type of acts because we are surrounded by oceans and this sort of thing only happened in other countries. That ideology changed in a hurry on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that it was such a beautiful day in the Northeast with bright sunshine and nothing but clear blue skies. As we watched the towers burn it became apparent that there were people trapped in the upper floors and that there was no way of saving them. I kept thinking to myself why don't they just get helicopters and save them, but that was unrealistic. With flames and smoke billowing out of the windows and onto the roof helicopters couldn't get anywhere near the building. Some people jumped to their deaths to escape the flames, some holding hands, and I can't say that I blame them, I might've done the same thing. We then found out that there were more planes. One had hit the Pentagon and another flight from Boston was unaccounted for. We had no idea what was next!
Out of all of the evil that occurred that day there was some good.
I am grateful for all of the first responders who risked their lives and many of them lost their lives trying to save others. I am grateful for the many heroes, many who remain anonymous, who selflessly helped to get others out of the burning towers and also to those citizens first on the scene who rushed to help others without regard to their own safety. The flight that was unaccounted for was flight 93 which crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania. I am grateful for the heroic passengers on board who attempted to take over the plane so that it wouldn't be used as another terrorist weapon. I am grateful for the heroic efforts of people at the Pentagon, again many of whom remain anonymous, who pulled people from the burning wreckage and saved countless lives.
In the days since 9/11 I am grateful for the potential terrorist attacks that have been thwarted because of the due diligence of our military intelligence. I am grateful for our troops and everything that they do for us to ensure our safety.
Last but not least I am grateful to live in the greatest democracy in the world even if our economy sucks right now! We are America, we will bounce back, we always have!
I am not sure what the most horrific part was...there was so much to digest. First there was the shock that any sort of terrorism of this magnitude could actually occur in our homeland. I think that most of us thought that we were immune to these type of acts because we are surrounded by oceans and this sort of thing only happened in other countries. That ideology changed in a hurry on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that it was such a beautiful day in the Northeast with bright sunshine and nothing but clear blue skies. As we watched the towers burn it became apparent that there were people trapped in the upper floors and that there was no way of saving them. I kept thinking to myself why don't they just get helicopters and save them, but that was unrealistic. With flames and smoke billowing out of the windows and onto the roof helicopters couldn't get anywhere near the building. Some people jumped to their deaths to escape the flames, some holding hands, and I can't say that I blame them, I might've done the same thing. We then found out that there were more planes. One had hit the Pentagon and another flight from Boston was unaccounted for. We had no idea what was next!
Out of all of the evil that occurred that day there was some good.
I am grateful for all of the first responders who risked their lives and many of them lost their lives trying to save others. I am grateful for the many heroes, many who remain anonymous, who selflessly helped to get others out of the burning towers and also to those citizens first on the scene who rushed to help others without regard to their own safety. The flight that was unaccounted for was flight 93 which crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania. I am grateful for the heroic passengers on board who attempted to take over the plane so that it wouldn't be used as another terrorist weapon. I am grateful for the heroic efforts of people at the Pentagon, again many of whom remain anonymous, who pulled people from the burning wreckage and saved countless lives.
In the days since 9/11 I am grateful for the potential terrorist attacks that have been thwarted because of the due diligence of our military intelligence. I am grateful for our troops and everything that they do for us to ensure our safety.
Last but not least I am grateful to live in the greatest democracy in the world even if our economy sucks right now! We are America, we will bounce back, we always have!
Football!
I am very grateful that the new NFL season is upon us! It brings a new season of hope and high expectations especially for us Patriots fans who expect great things every year (and by great things I mean Super Bowl titles!) It means many Sundays, Sunday nights, Monday nights, and eventually Thursday nights watching football! It means getting together with family and friends. For some of us lucky enough to have tickets to games it means traveling to Gillette Stadium, tailgating, and watching the Patriots kick some ass! It means fantasy football and trash talking amongst friends.
Fall is probably my least favorite time of the year. It marks the end of my favorite season which is summer. It means goodbye to the warm temperatures and brings us one step closer to winter. Things that I do like about fall are the start of soccer season, the fact that I began teaching again, and of course FOOTBALL!
Fall is probably my least favorite time of the year. It marks the end of my favorite season which is summer. It means goodbye to the warm temperatures and brings us one step closer to winter. Things that I do like about fall are the start of soccer season, the fact that I began teaching again, and of course FOOTBALL!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Dinner with Nate!
I'm slacking, I know, I'm sorry! Nate and I met up for dinner and our traditional ice cream after I returned from a very long trip. This photo is from our dinner at Fanuiel Hall on August 23rd! Thanks again for dinner, Nate! :-)
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Legs!
I am grateful once again for Lauren, Walter and ATG for rescuing me in my time of need. In a matter of a few weeks I managed to break the brackets that held on both my wheelchair legs! As of Saturday I was driving my wheelchair around with my legs dangling which is very uncomfortable and inconvenient. I can't drive in that situation, can't go to soccer practice and was on the verge of having to cancel my first class of the year tomorrow! Thank God that they were able to squeeze me in and Walter was able to fit me with brackets and legs from a different wheelchair that I am going to use temporarily until my godforsaken insurance approves new ones!
Life is good again.
Life is good again.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
School time
It is back-to-school time and I am grateful to be teaching again at Quincy College. I'll be teaching pre-algebra this semester and school starts on Wednesday. Do you know what I will be doing on Labor Day? Finishing my syllabus! I have been a procrastinator my whole life, so why change now!
Smoking
Smoking is a terrible habit. After quitting for several years I picked it up about a year ago. It's not like I am a heavy smoker, I like to have 3, 4 or 5 per day. Some people asked why I bother smoking if I only have a few cigarettes a day. Well, because I enjoy it! And no, it doesn't make it any easier to quit because I smoke so few. I am determined to quit (again) and with the help of Nicorette gum I have had one cigarette in the last week. Let's hope that this trend continues and that I never pick up a cigarette again!
Soccer season
I am very grateful that soccer season is upon us once again and I am proud to be returning as an assistant coach for the Hingham high school varsity squad. We had a good season last year and won our division again but lost in our first playoff game. We let in a few early goals but were never able to get the tying goal despite possessing the ball and putting pressure on them for most of the game. We lost 3-2. It was a very bitter ending to an otherwise good season. Our final record was 10-5-4.
We retained the core of our squad and we are deeper than last year with more quality players on our bench. Our most skilled players have another year of experience under their belt and I believe that we can improve on last season. If we play up to our potential we could do something special this year! We finished our preseason yesterday with a record of 3-0-2. Our first regular-season game is Thursday at Sharon.
We retained the core of our squad and we are deeper than last year with more quality players on our bench. Our most skilled players have another year of experience under their belt and I believe that we can improve on last season. If we play up to our potential we could do something special this year! We finished our preseason yesterday with a record of 3-0-2. Our first regular-season game is Thursday at Sharon.
Weather Forecasts
I'm sure that we can all agree that weather in New England is tough to predict. When we watch the news we have to take our weather forecasts with a grain of salt because our weather changes all the time and doesn't always go as anticipated.
That being said, it is nice to have a forecast available when a major storm hits. We have the luxury to be able to turn on the TV and watch an extended weather report that tells us what to expect. We were able to watch meteorologists track the most recent storm, Irene, almost a week in advance so that we could be prepared. Again, it is an inexact science and instead of getting a hurricane it fizzled out into a tropical storm. They were able to warn us about flooding and wind damage which did occur.
It is estimated that a hurricane prediction three days in advance today is as accurate as a one-day forecast was 20 years ago! Before we had all of the technology that we have today it was very hard to predict storms. The New England Hurricane of 1938 was a category 3 hurricane and was estimated to have killed between 682 and 800 people. These folks didn't know how to prepare for a hurricane, didn't know how strong it was going to be when it hit, and didn't have mandatory evacuations that we can order today when we know what is coming.
So I am very grateful for weather forecasts and the technology that we have today.
That being said, it is nice to have a forecast available when a major storm hits. We have the luxury to be able to turn on the TV and watch an extended weather report that tells us what to expect. We were able to watch meteorologists track the most recent storm, Irene, almost a week in advance so that we could be prepared. Again, it is an inexact science and instead of getting a hurricane it fizzled out into a tropical storm. They were able to warn us about flooding and wind damage which did occur.
It is estimated that a hurricane prediction three days in advance today is as accurate as a one-day forecast was 20 years ago! Before we had all of the technology that we have today it was very hard to predict storms. The New England Hurricane of 1938 was a category 3 hurricane and was estimated to have killed between 682 and 800 people. These folks didn't know how to prepare for a hurricane, didn't know how strong it was going to be when it hit, and didn't have mandatory evacuations that we can order today when we know what is coming.
So I am very grateful for weather forecasts and the technology that we have today.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Ice cream...
Tonight I'm grateful for laughs, weak margaritas, fish-n-chips, and ice cream. But not necessarily in that order. But wait - perhaps in that order because you paid for the first part and I paid for the ice cream. Yeah, so I guess in that order. Thank god the laughs were free though - we had a LOT.
:-)
:-)
Please vote for us!
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We need as many votes as possible! You can vote once each day until September 9th, Please vote for us at the link below and spread the word!
Thank you!
Nate & Amy
Nate & Amy
boston.blogger.cbslocal.com
CBS Boston's Most Valuable Blogger Awards 2011 Finalists Have Been Announced! Go Vote! After much deliberation and careful consideration of many nominees, CBS Boston has narrowed the field of Finalists down for this year's MVB. Voting for finalists is open now through September 9th. Let your voice b...
Dr. Barth Green
I am extremely grateful for Dr. Barth Green and his associates at the University of Miami Miller school of medicine for the work they did on my neck three weeks ago today. This is my second surgery with Dr. Green, I saw him in 2008 when my spinal cord needed untethering. Dr. Green is professor and chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery and specializes in the surgical management of complex spine and spinal cord injuries and disorders. He is also a great human being! He is courteous, genuine, engaging, and funny. Dr. Green takes time to explain every minute detail of a diagnosis or a possible surgical solution, and to answer any and all questions that patients might have for him. He pulls no punches. He will tell you if he thinks that surgery will improve the condition and will always remind you that surgery is not a guarantee. He has a great bedside manner and always greets you with a smile. When Dr. Green performs surgery on a patient he goes out of his way to meet with the family and update them personally when he is finished. He doesn't send someone else to do it.
He has dedicated himself to curing paralysis. He is co-founder of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the University of Miami’s Global Institute for Community Health and Development, (a university-wide program focused on improving health care and advancing community development in the Western Hemisphere.) Dr. Green also co-founded Shake-A-Leg Miami with Harry Horgan in 1990 after he recruited Harry to start a year-round program in Miami.
"In January, 2010, Dr. Green led the massive medical relief effort in Haiti after a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the Caribbean country, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and critically injured. Green was on the ground within 20 hours, and he soon inaugurated a field hospital, gathered supplies and brought together hundreds of doctors and nurses to provide life-saving medical treatment to nearly 30,000 injured Haitians and perform more than 1,500 emergency surgeries. It was his long relationship with Haiti through Project Medishare, which he co-founded in 1994, that made the rapid response possible." (University of Miami Miller school of medicine newsletter, April 21, 2011)
For his dedication to neurological science and his exemplary humanitarian efforts in Haiti over the past 20 years Dr. Green received was awarded the 2011 Humanitarian Award of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Green has reached out to countless numbers of people who have sustained spinal cord injuries. Buffalo Bills reserve tight end Kevin Everett suffered a severe spinal-cord injury in the first game of the season in 2009. Dr. Green made the bold statement that Everett would not only walk again, but would do so within a month and a half of sustaining the injury. Dr. Green is the physician who helped develop the "modest hypothermia" treatment that was administered to Everett in the tense moments after he was injured. It took about a month longer but Green's prediction came true!
He has dedicated himself to curing paralysis. He is co-founder of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the University of Miami’s Global Institute for Community Health and Development, (a university-wide program focused on improving health care and advancing community development in the Western Hemisphere.) Dr. Green also co-founded Shake-A-Leg Miami with Harry Horgan in 1990 after he recruited Harry to start a year-round program in Miami."In January, 2010, Dr. Green led the massive medical relief effort in Haiti after a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the Caribbean country, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and critically injured. Green was on the ground within 20 hours, and he soon inaugurated a field hospital, gathered supplies and brought together hundreds of doctors and nurses to provide life-saving medical treatment to nearly 30,000 injured Haitians and perform more than 1,500 emergency surgeries. It was his long relationship with Haiti through Project Medishare, which he co-founded in 1994, that made the rapid response possible." (University of Miami Miller school of medicine newsletter, April 21, 2011)
For his dedication to neurological science and his exemplary humanitarian efforts in Haiti over the past 20 years Dr. Green received was awarded the 2011 Humanitarian Award of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Green has reached out to countless numbers of people who have sustained spinal cord injuries. Buffalo Bills reserve tight end Kevin Everett suffered a severe spinal-cord injury in the first game of the season in 2009. Dr. Green made the bold statement that Everett would not only walk again, but would do so within a month and a half of sustaining the injury. Dr. Green is the physician who helped develop the "modest hypothermia" treatment that was administered to Everett in the tense moments after he was injured. It took about a month longer but Green's prediction came true!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Grateful for Nate... and life changing experiences
Nate, I'm grateful for YOU. I know we're meeting for ice cream tomorrow after far too long but I wanted to let you know that today my gratitude is for you, the other best looking pi day baby on earth. You take care of things I clearly haven't been on top of. While I'm grateful for all of the experiences in life that change my perspective (great ones like my recent trip to Africa which kept me from this blog and my other), I'm always grateful for the small things people do that mark a turning point in life - almost imperceptable things that mark a otherwise ordinary moments in time as those that mattered. Who knows, maybe we'll win this CBS MVB (Most Valuable Blogger) blog contest because you paid attention to the little thing of nominating us - and we'll split $50 worth of ice cream.
:-)
:-)
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Spinal Headaches
Spoke to the Doc yesterday and it's NOT a migraine that I'm suffering from, it's a spinal headache which is worse! For those that don't know, spinal headaches are a rare side affect from an injection into or spinal tap from the intrathecal space in the Central Nervous System. If the hole created from the needle does not clot properly spinal fluid can bleat out of the hole. The pressure in the CNS is thrown off causing crushing headaches that are at their worst when sitting upright. The only relief is by lying down, treating it with medications and caffeine, and if the headache is not gone within a couple of days you must go to the emergency room and received what is called a "blood patch." This is when they inject your own blood into your spinal canal so that the hole that was created can properly clot.
this is my third day and I am very grateful that my headaches are dissipating and it looks like I will not have to go to the hospital which is fine with me because I have had enough of hospitals recently :)
this is my third day and I am very grateful that my headaches are dissipating and it looks like I will not have to go to the hospital which is fine with me because I have had enough of hospitals recently :)
Friday, July 29, 2011
My summer is over :(
Saturday I fly down to Miami with my dad. I have been experiencing a loss of function in my arms and wrists. I have lost fine motor control which impairs my ability to write, eating with utensils, and using a catheter among other things. The consensus is that I have two compressed discs and narrowing in my foramen etc. which is putting pressure on my peripheral nerves. This is also the cause of my chronic neck and shoulder pain. My neck cracks, locks up, and I hear and feel a grinding sensation every time I turn my head.
I am grateful for the doctors, in particular Dr. Barth Green, who are going to perform surgery on Tuesday. They are going to decompress the nerves by removing these two discs and cleaning out my foramen. Then they will create an anterior fusion with plates, screws, and a piece of bone from my leg. Full recovery time will take 10 to 12 weeks and I will have to wear a neck brace the entire time. This is going to suck! However, if this surgery provides me any sort of relief it will be worth it.
Why are we going down on Saturday you might ask? We have to have at least one day of fun in the sun before we meet with doctors on Monday!
I am grateful for the doctors, in particular Dr. Barth Green, who are going to perform surgery on Tuesday. They are going to decompress the nerves by removing these two discs and cleaning out my foramen. Then they will create an anterior fusion with plates, screws, and a piece of bone from my leg. Full recovery time will take 10 to 12 weeks and I will have to wear a neck brace the entire time. This is going to suck! However, if this surgery provides me any sort of relief it will be worth it.
Why are we going down on Saturday you might ask? We have to have at least one day of fun in the sun before we meet with doctors on Monday!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Summer
This is by far my favorite time of the year. I love lying out, reading a book, walking the dog (my brother's dog, mine passed away two years ago,) or doing anything that involves being outside in the warm summer sun. I love the hot summer sun, and it doesn't matter how hot or humid if you ask me! When people complain about the heat (and today it was 100 degrees) I ask if they would prefer negative temperatures, ice and snow? Most people agree with me and welcome the heat. How do you stay warm in the winter? You either stay inside and turn the heat on, or get in your car and turn the heat on. How do you stay cool in the summer? You can stay inside with the AC or a fan, you can get your car and turn on the AC, you can go swimming in a pool or at the beach, you can go to a water park, running through the sprinkler, have a water balloon fight, or even a squirt gun fight. And another good thing about summer is that it cools down at night, nighttime during the winter gets colder!
Physically, I have trouble with the heat and the cold. During the summer, with the AC blowing inside I have no choice but to go outside and sit in the sun so that I can warm up my body temperature enough to be able to handle the cooler temperatures inside. I have a terrible time warming up once I become cool or cold. Because of my spinal cord injury I do not sweat. This prevents my body from cooling down on its own. Therefore, If I am in the sun too long on a hot day I can overheat because my body temperature keeps rising. The only way to keep my temperature from rising is to stay in the shade. That doesn't work for me because I enjoy sunning myself too much! The only way to bring my temperature down is to drink lots of cold fluids, sit in front of a fan, wet my face and head so that I can stimulate sweating, and if it comes to it I'll need to dump cold water on my head or submerge my head in a cold shower. If I'm not careful I can get heat exhaustion, it's happened before and it's no fun!
When I am exposed to cold temperatures during the winter I have to worry about my legs. Because I can't get up and walk, the circulation in my legs is compromised so I don't get enough blood to in them to warm them up. If I were walking my heart rate would speed up, increasing blood flow to my legs, and using the muscles in my legs to walk would naturally warm them up. When my legs get cold I can't "feel it" but my body can and that is enough to make my whole body feel chilled. Unfortunately the only way for me to warm up is to put my legs in front of the heat source like a fire or a heater. This is dangerous though because I can't really feel if my legs are getting too hot or even if they are getting burnt. Plus, I don't have a fireplace or a heater at my house. That leaves the only alternative for getting warm being a shower and hot water. If I am constantly cold all winter am I supposed to shower three times of day to stay warm? It's just not going to happen. So when I do get cold sometimes I have to wear a wool hat inside to keep from shivering. I get relief when I go to bed and pull the covers over my head. This keeps my head warm and helps to regulate my core body temperature (you lose most of your heat or your head.) Then we pile a couple of extra blankets on my legs, it takes a couple of hours but eventually they warm-up.
I am very grateful for the warmth that our short summer months bring us!
Physically, I have trouble with the heat and the cold. During the summer, with the AC blowing inside I have no choice but to go outside and sit in the sun so that I can warm up my body temperature enough to be able to handle the cooler temperatures inside. I have a terrible time warming up once I become cool or cold. Because of my spinal cord injury I do not sweat. This prevents my body from cooling down on its own. Therefore, If I am in the sun too long on a hot day I can overheat because my body temperature keeps rising. The only way to keep my temperature from rising is to stay in the shade. That doesn't work for me because I enjoy sunning myself too much! The only way to bring my temperature down is to drink lots of cold fluids, sit in front of a fan, wet my face and head so that I can stimulate sweating, and if it comes to it I'll need to dump cold water on my head or submerge my head in a cold shower. If I'm not careful I can get heat exhaustion, it's happened before and it's no fun!
When I am exposed to cold temperatures during the winter I have to worry about my legs. Because I can't get up and walk, the circulation in my legs is compromised so I don't get enough blood to in them to warm them up. If I were walking my heart rate would speed up, increasing blood flow to my legs, and using the muscles in my legs to walk would naturally warm them up. When my legs get cold I can't "feel it" but my body can and that is enough to make my whole body feel chilled. Unfortunately the only way for me to warm up is to put my legs in front of the heat source like a fire or a heater. This is dangerous though because I can't really feel if my legs are getting too hot or even if they are getting burnt. Plus, I don't have a fireplace or a heater at my house. That leaves the only alternative for getting warm being a shower and hot water. If I am constantly cold all winter am I supposed to shower three times of day to stay warm? It's just not going to happen. So when I do get cold sometimes I have to wear a wool hat inside to keep from shivering. I get relief when I go to bed and pull the covers over my head. This keeps my head warm and helps to regulate my core body temperature (you lose most of your heat or your head.) Then we pile a couple of extra blankets on my legs, it takes a couple of hours but eventually they warm-up.
I am very grateful for the warmth that our short summer months bring us!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
The Travis Roy Foundation
Some of the grants from the Travis Roy foundation have provided for: in-home elevators, adaptive driving equipment, pressure relieving mattresses and wheelchair cushions, home modifications, wheelchair lifts, shower/commode chairs just to name a few.
Personally, the Travis Roy Foundation has helped me purchase and repair adaptive driving equipment. This type of equipment is very expensive and it can be equally as costly to repair. The ability for me to be able to drive myself around cannot be overstated, and the independence that it gives me is priceless! It is a godsend to be able to hop in my car, do my own errands, visit family and friends, or just go for a drive without having to rely on others!
Thank you Travis and everyone else at the foundation for the wonderful gift that you have given me!
Please go to the Travis Roy Foundation home page http://www.travisroyfoundation.org/
You can read success stories from people with spinal cord injuries and how grants from the Travis Roy Foundation have helped. You can also read about how to donate to a very worthy cause!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
15 years
Let's go back to that fateful day when my parents received phone calls from a random nurse at the Springfield medical Center. The nurse wouldn't give out any details except to say that I had sustained a serious injury from a fall and that they needed to get there quickly. My mother was so shaken up that my 18 year old brother had to drive her the two hours that it took to reach me. David, my brother, knew that I had broken my neck but didn't tell my mom so she wouldn't freak out any more than she already was. My father was on the Cape. He had to drop everything and drive three hours to get to the hospital. I shudder to think what was going through their minds during the 2 to 3 hour trip across the state.
It was May 26th, 1996 - Graduation day from UMass Amherst. I thought that I was short of graduating because of two classes where I needed B's but only received C's. (Doesn't it figure that they went ahead and graduated me! I received my diploma in the ICU.) I was bummed out that day because I wasn't graduating with my classmates and I didn't want to "walk" if I hadn't earned my degree. I attended the graduation ceremony anyway and watched from afar.
I had moved most of my things into my mother's apartment in Quincy where I was going to spend the summer. I was going to take those couple of classes at UMass Boston to finish my degree. I was going to be the starting goalkeeper for their soccer team and hoped to go on to play professional soccer from there. I had been the captain of the junior varsity team at UMass Amherst and played on several club soccer teams in western Massachusetts. I kissed my mother goodbye and told her that I was going back to Amherst for one last party weekend and to clean out my apartment. I told her that I was going to quit drinking on my own accord and dedicate my summer to getting in the best shape possible for soccer in the fall. We were excited!
After the graduation ceremonies I made it back to the apartments at Brandywine where I lived. I joined some friends at a graduation party at an apartment on the third floor. It was a lovely sunny day. I was on the balcony horsing around and unfortunately went over the railing. I fell thirty or so feet to the grass below. I came to rest prone on the ground with my head turned to the right. There was a small trail of blood from the corner of my mouth; I had broken a tooth upon landing. I lay motionless for a while and was conscious the whole time. I struggled for a while to catch my breath; it felt like I had been kicked by a donkey directly in the chest. My best friend was the first one to my side after I fell and I reached out and squeezed his hand. He called me names and tried to reassure everybody that I was fine. He probably assumed that I would get up at any moment and dust myself off... at least he hoped. It soon became apparent to me (as I couldn't move my legs) and to everybody else that I was hurt very seriously.
When my mom arrived at the hospital, she stormed into the ICU demanding answers. They put the doctor on the phone with her and threw a chair under her; so that she could absorb the news. When people were finally allowed to see me, I was lying on what looked like a gurney and I was in traction with weights attached to my skull by screws. I was in a drug induced coma. My father said that there were tears slowly rolling down my cheeks. The sight broke his heart.
I developed pneumonia and a fever of 105. The doctors put chest tubes in both lungs, cut a hole in my neck and put me on a ventilator. The morphine drip gave me night terrors 24 hours a day. At one point a priest was called in to administer the last rites.
It was May 26th, 1996 - Graduation day from UMass Amherst. I thought that I was short of graduating because of two classes where I needed B's but only received C's. (Doesn't it figure that they went ahead and graduated me! I received my diploma in the ICU.) I was bummed out that day because I wasn't graduating with my classmates and I didn't want to "walk" if I hadn't earned my degree. I attended the graduation ceremony anyway and watched from afar.
I had moved most of my things into my mother's apartment in Quincy where I was going to spend the summer. I was going to take those couple of classes at UMass Boston to finish my degree. I was going to be the starting goalkeeper for their soccer team and hoped to go on to play professional soccer from there. I had been the captain of the junior varsity team at UMass Amherst and played on several club soccer teams in western Massachusetts. I kissed my mother goodbye and told her that I was going back to Amherst for one last party weekend and to clean out my apartment. I told her that I was going to quit drinking on my own accord and dedicate my summer to getting in the best shape possible for soccer in the fall. We were excited!
After the graduation ceremonies I made it back to the apartments at Brandywine where I lived. I joined some friends at a graduation party at an apartment on the third floor. It was a lovely sunny day. I was on the balcony horsing around and unfortunately went over the railing. I fell thirty or so feet to the grass below. I came to rest prone on the ground with my head turned to the right. There was a small trail of blood from the corner of my mouth; I had broken a tooth upon landing. I lay motionless for a while and was conscious the whole time. I struggled for a while to catch my breath; it felt like I had been kicked by a donkey directly in the chest. My best friend was the first one to my side after I fell and I reached out and squeezed his hand. He called me names and tried to reassure everybody that I was fine. He probably assumed that I would get up at any moment and dust myself off... at least he hoped. It soon became apparent to me (as I couldn't move my legs) and to everybody else that I was hurt very seriously.
When my mom arrived at the hospital, she stormed into the ICU demanding answers. They put the doctor on the phone with her and threw a chair under her; so that she could absorb the news. When people were finally allowed to see me, I was lying on what looked like a gurney and I was in traction with weights attached to my skull by screws. I was in a drug induced coma. My father said that there were tears slowly rolling down my cheeks. The sight broke his heart.
I developed pneumonia and a fever of 105. The doctors put chest tubes in both lungs, cut a hole in my neck and put me on a ventilator. The morphine drip gave me night terrors 24 hours a day. At one point a priest was called in to administer the last rites.
It was quite a battle in the beginning. The trauma staff didn't expect me to live longer than a couple of days so they carelessly left me on a spine board. After three days they rolled me off of the hard, plastic surface and found that I had developed a tremendous pressure sore on my tailbone. The sore quickly escalated to a stage four ulcer that was so deep you could clearly see the bone. After months went by and it didn't heal, I had to have major surgery as a last ditch effort to heal it. The surgery was a success until one of the stitches broke loose spawning another sore. I spent the following summer in bed being rolled from side to side, eliminating pressure on my rear end allowing it to heal. It was back and forth for many years until everything was under control regarding my rear end. If I develop any sign of a sore I have to act fast so that it won't develop into something much more serious. Any sign of a pressure sore means staying in bed and off of my rear for days at a time or more until everything heals up. Sepsis (an infection that gets into the bloodstream) is the second leading cause of death (pneumonia is #1) in quadriplegics. A friend of mine passed from sepsis that he developed from a sore on his tailbone. Christopher Reeve passed from sepsis as well.
I am very diligent and do frequent pressure releases. I frequently tilt my power chair back to allow blood flow to my rear end. I have to check my feet often to make sure that I don't develop any sores there either. Just the weight of my feet lying on a bed or shoes on too tight can cause a sore on the heels. During the summer (when I am too vain to wear socks) I really have to be careful that I don't get any blisters that can become sores. Recently I had a sore on my toe that caused my big toenail to fall off. Not long ago I had a few blisters on my heels that were pretty serious! Each time that I get a sore on one of my feet it means that I have to wear slippers for up to several months at a time... which is not comfy in the winter!
One of the worst experiences was trying to get used to the "nerve pain." Anybody who has experienced a spinal cord injury or loss of a limb has experienced this unique kind of pain. It is an extreme burning sensation that is unlike any other. I used to tell the nurses in the hospital that it feels like I have lava in my veins. Even morphine did little to provide any relief. I would say it feels as if the affected part of the body is severely sunburned from the inside out.
After a few months the doctors decided that I should wean off of my pain medication. I was intoxicated when I had my accident. I was then put on intravenous morphine, tapering to intermittent morphine injections. From there they put me on oral Percocet and later they put me on Motrin. I had one hell of a hangover by the time they put me on Motrin!!! Today I don't take any pain medications because I don't like the side effects and I don't want to experience a life on narcotics. I am still constantly in pain. I feel the nerve pain all of the time but I don't notice it much anymore because I have built up a "tolerance." Sometimes it does erupt to a point where it will bother me but because I am used to the pain, it isn’t as severe as it was in the beginning. I also have constant upper back, shoulder, and neck pain because I use these muscles constantly and it puts a strain on them. The only way that I can get any relief is deep tissue massage.
After taking a Medflight down to Atlanta on the smallest plane imaginable, I was on a stretcher and my nose was about 2 inches from the roof of the plane, we arrived at The Shepherd Center. I had been completely bedridden, lying on my back for four months. Upon arrival, they sized me up and immediately put me into a wheelchair. It was an amazing feeling. We went for a stroll to check out the rest of the facilities. I had put on a tank top and this was my first time in their elevator. When the doors opened I didn't realize that the back of the elevator was mirrored from floor to ceiling. I had lost between 50 and 60 pounds in the hospital but when I saw it for myself it was too much to bear. I broke down and cried. That was one of the last times that I truly felt sorry for myself!
I am very diligent and do frequent pressure releases. I frequently tilt my power chair back to allow blood flow to my rear end. I have to check my feet often to make sure that I don't develop any sores there either. Just the weight of my feet lying on a bed or shoes on too tight can cause a sore on the heels. During the summer (when I am too vain to wear socks) I really have to be careful that I don't get any blisters that can become sores. Recently I had a sore on my toe that caused my big toenail to fall off. Not long ago I had a few blisters on my heels that were pretty serious! Each time that I get a sore on one of my feet it means that I have to wear slippers for up to several months at a time... which is not comfy in the winter!
One of the worst experiences was trying to get used to the "nerve pain." Anybody who has experienced a spinal cord injury or loss of a limb has experienced this unique kind of pain. It is an extreme burning sensation that is unlike any other. I used to tell the nurses in the hospital that it feels like I have lava in my veins. Even morphine did little to provide any relief. I would say it feels as if the affected part of the body is severely sunburned from the inside out.
After a few months the doctors decided that I should wean off of my pain medication. I was intoxicated when I had my accident. I was then put on intravenous morphine, tapering to intermittent morphine injections. From there they put me on oral Percocet and later they put me on Motrin. I had one hell of a hangover by the time they put me on Motrin!!! Today I don't take any pain medications because I don't like the side effects and I don't want to experience a life on narcotics. I am still constantly in pain. I feel the nerve pain all of the time but I don't notice it much anymore because I have built up a "tolerance." Sometimes it does erupt to a point where it will bother me but because I am used to the pain, it isn’t as severe as it was in the beginning. I also have constant upper back, shoulder, and neck pain because I use these muscles constantly and it puts a strain on them. The only way that I can get any relief is deep tissue massage.
After taking a Medflight down to Atlanta on the smallest plane imaginable, I was on a stretcher and my nose was about 2 inches from the roof of the plane, we arrived at The Shepherd Center. I had been completely bedridden, lying on my back for four months. Upon arrival, they sized me up and immediately put me into a wheelchair. It was an amazing feeling. We went for a stroll to check out the rest of the facilities. I had put on a tank top and this was my first time in their elevator. When the doors opened I didn't realize that the back of the elevator was mirrored from floor to ceiling. I had lost between 50 and 60 pounds in the hospital but when I saw it for myself it was too much to bear. I broke down and cried. That was one of the last times that I truly felt sorry for myself!
I like to call The Shepherd Center a "boot camp." At the crack of dawn attendants come to your room, put your clothes on and put you in your wheelchair for the day. You had to adjourn to the cafeteria and eat with all of the other disabled individuals. If you needed help eating there was always someone there to assist you. However, the emphasis was on the patient doing as much as he or she can on their own. So, as you can imagine, you didn't get any help unless you really needed it. The rest of the day consisted of physical therapy, occupational therapy, meeting with the adaptive technology department, and specialized classes explaining different aspects of how life would be different with a spinal cord injury. These classes were no joke and if you skipped them you were in trouble! One of the funniest things is that in the beginning they put alarms on the tires of your power wheelchair. Newbies had to get the hang of driving their wheelchair before they were allowed to leave their floor. If they got into the elevator without supervision and alarm would go off! After passing the driving test the alarms were removed and we were free to roam the building and go outside.I am very thankful for the Shepherd Center. There work you extremely hard but they teach you that there is life after a spinal cord injury!
One of my roommates at The Shepherd Center was a grandfather who sustained a spinal cord injury when his ATV flipped over on top of him while four wheeling in the woods. He was on a ventilator and couldn't move anything below his neck. He had no will to live and I heard him say many times that he wished he had died. It was a very sad situation. There was an 18-year-old kid with the same prognosis as the grandfather after he had suffered a similar injury during a high school football game. The difference was that he had a good attitude and was always smiling! There are many people in the world that are much worse off than I am physically. There was a traumatic brain injury unit at the Shepherd Center which made me very grateful that I didn't have any serious brain damage as a result of my fall. I could have multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or ALS. All of these afflictions involve losing more and more function over time and can lead to death (the end result of ALS is always death.) I am a quadriplegic paralyzed at a high level but luckily I will not lose any more function as a result of my initial injury. I will take what movement I have left as a blessing and as long as I take good care of my body I will live for a long time.
I give all the credit for being able to live 15 years after my accident to a great network of family and friends, doctors, having good personal care attendants to take care of me, being more and more self aware over the years and just taking good care of my body. Preventive medicine is the best medicine. I am very grateful to be alive.
I am going to write a book one day so if you want more details you are just going to have to wait... or you could just ask!
One of my roommates at The Shepherd Center was a grandfather who sustained a spinal cord injury when his ATV flipped over on top of him while four wheeling in the woods. He was on a ventilator and couldn't move anything below his neck. He had no will to live and I heard him say many times that he wished he had died. It was a very sad situation. There was an 18-year-old kid with the same prognosis as the grandfather after he had suffered a similar injury during a high school football game. The difference was that he had a good attitude and was always smiling! There are many people in the world that are much worse off than I am physically. There was a traumatic brain injury unit at the Shepherd Center which made me very grateful that I didn't have any serious brain damage as a result of my fall. I could have multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or ALS. All of these afflictions involve losing more and more function over time and can lead to death (the end result of ALS is always death.) I am a quadriplegic paralyzed at a high level but luckily I will not lose any more function as a result of my initial injury. I will take what movement I have left as a blessing and as long as I take good care of my body I will live for a long time.
I give all the credit for being able to live 15 years after my accident to a great network of family and friends, doctors, having good personal care attendants to take care of me, being more and more self aware over the years and just taking good care of my body. Preventive medicine is the best medicine. I am very grateful to be alive.
I am going to write a book one day so if you want more details you are just going to have to wait... or you could just ask!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Dad
I am a few days late for this post but better late than never! Ever since my accident 15 years ago my father has been my advocate. He has been in my corner since day one of this fight. He fought to get me the best medical care for as long as he had to until I could do it myself. My first stop on the road to getting well enough to return home was Bay State Medical Center in Springfield. When it was time to move to a rehab facility he was the one who took trips to check out every option in the greater Boston area. He did research and then shared his opinion with the rest of the family. Together we chose what we thought would be the best option. A few months into my time at New England rehab in Woburn we realized that we could do much better. Again, he did extensive research, even calling upon Travis Roy's parents to get their opinion of the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. When we decided that that was where we wanted to go he argued with the caseworkers and insurance companies until they agreed to release me. He rode in the plane with me as we took a Medflight down to Atlanta. After settling me in he flew down every weekend to visit me. When it was time for me to come home he argued with insurance to let me stay at the Shepherd Center for another week so that our house in Milton could be modified.
With help from colleagues and former colleagues from the design industry my dad designed and had a roll in shower, an ADA compliant ramp, a keyless entry door, and a wheelchair accessible desk installed for me. He also had his den converted into a first floor bedroom for me complete with a sink! A short time after I moved back home, he organized a raffle to raise money for the creation of a trust fund which is used to pay for some of the expenses of being a quadriplegic. We moved into a condominium in 2005 and again he had a roll in shower built for me.
I moved out in 2009 to rent a house with my then girlfriend. It didn't take long for that relationship to become a disaster! I didn't want to be a burden to my father and move back to Milton. He had turned the den into a TV room and converted my old bedroom into an art studio. I was so happy that finally had his freedom after having to put up with me for 13 years! I was also too proud to ask! It turns out that I didn't even have to ask, he offered! So in January 2011 he opened up a storage unit, put away a good many of his things, helped me move back in and for now we are roommates again!
As you can see he has always been there for me when I needed him. He has spoiled me rotten over the years! He is a great cook and we eat very well (so well in fact that I had to put my foot down and ask him to stop feeding us so much because we are both getting fat!) He goes to the movies almost every Saturday night so if I'm not busy I am more than welcome to go to the movies with him ( and he never lets me pay!) We spent three consecutive thanksgivings in Miami beach, but unfortunately that had to end because George W. Bush screwed up our economy and it still hasn't recovered yet!
I love my father deeply and I am extremely lucky to have him.
With help from colleagues and former colleagues from the design industry my dad designed and had a roll in shower, an ADA compliant ramp, a keyless entry door, and a wheelchair accessible desk installed for me. He also had his den converted into a first floor bedroom for me complete with a sink! A short time after I moved back home, he organized a raffle to raise money for the creation of a trust fund which is used to pay for some of the expenses of being a quadriplegic. We moved into a condominium in 2005 and again he had a roll in shower built for me.
I moved out in 2009 to rent a house with my then girlfriend. It didn't take long for that relationship to become a disaster! I didn't want to be a burden to my father and move back to Milton. He had turned the den into a TV room and converted my old bedroom into an art studio. I was so happy that finally had his freedom after having to put up with me for 13 years! I was also too proud to ask! It turns out that I didn't even have to ask, he offered! So in January 2011 he opened up a storage unit, put away a good many of his things, helped me move back in and for now we are roommates again!
As you can see he has always been there for me when I needed him. He has spoiled me rotten over the years! He is a great cook and we eat very well (so well in fact that I had to put my foot down and ask him to stop feeding us so much because we are both getting fat!) He goes to the movies almost every Saturday night so if I'm not busy I am more than welcome to go to the movies with him ( and he never lets me pay!) We spent three consecutive thanksgivings in Miami beach, but unfortunately that had to end because George W. Bush screwed up our economy and it still hasn't recovered yet!
I love my father deeply and I am extremely lucky to have him.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Ok, I'm back
Obviously Amy hasn't been reading our blog! In her last post on Friday stated that she has been away and hasn't made an entry in a while, but thanked me for continuing to keep the blog updated! I haven't made a post since May 13! Pay attention Amy!
The reason that I hadn't created any new entries is personal. Most people who know me think that I don't have any feelings but that is far from the truth (ha ha!) when I last created an entry it was creeping up on the 15th anniversary of my accident. Although I have a ton to be thankful for, there were some recent situations that really frustrated me on the inside. I went to a couple of kids birthday parties and hung out with my nephew a couple of times. The kids were running around, playing on the swing set, trying to shoot a basketball and kick a soccer ball for the first times. It hurts deep inside that I'm not able to pick up my nephew and swing him around, wrestle with him, take him out, or even hold him without having someone keep an eye out in case he falls off my lap. It bothers me that I can't show him how to kick a soccer ball, play with a basketball, or throw a baseball. Who's he going to learn it from? His father? This is uncle territory!
I'm done having my little pity party. I'm going back to emotional lock down. Goodbye.
The reason that I hadn't created any new entries is personal. Most people who know me think that I don't have any feelings but that is far from the truth (ha ha!) when I last created an entry it was creeping up on the 15th anniversary of my accident. Although I have a ton to be thankful for, there were some recent situations that really frustrated me on the inside. I went to a couple of kids birthday parties and hung out with my nephew a couple of times. The kids were running around, playing on the swing set, trying to shoot a basketball and kick a soccer ball for the first times. It hurts deep inside that I'm not able to pick up my nephew and swing him around, wrestle with him, take him out, or even hold him without having someone keep an eye out in case he falls off my lap. It bothers me that I can't show him how to kick a soccer ball, play with a basketball, or throw a baseball. Who's he going to learn it from? His father? This is uncle territory!
I'm done having my little pity party. I'm going back to emotional lock down. Goodbye.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Time away and back again
I'm grateful that Nate has kept up with this blog even when I haven't been able to. And when I may not be able to in the future. Gratitude is such a gift to have and receive. Thanks for keeping this alive, Nate. XOXO
Friday, May 13, 2011
Taking a leak
For the first six or so years after my accident I wasn't able to catheterize myself. I had to rely on somebody morning, noon, and night to empty my bladder for me. If my bladder became full at odd hours of the day I had the hope that somebody was around or that somebody was available. At soccer practice I had to hold my bladder till I returned home. When we went on the road for away games I had to wear a leg bag and rely on one of the players to empty it which was always uncomfortable. I arranged for somebody to come to work and catheterize me at noontime but if I had to go before or after I had to wait.
I used to belong to a workout group which consisted of a handful of quadriplegics and paraplegics performing exercises with therapists and volunteers. At this group I ran into a quadriplegic who had similar function to me but was able to catheterize himself. I learned from him that it was possible to catheterize myself using the limited hand function that I possess while using a specific type of catheter. The rest is history.
The freedom that being able to catheterize myself gives me is amazing. Combined with my ability to drive I can go wherever I want by myself and not have to rely on other people. At home if I wake up in the middle of the night I can take care of my own business without having to wake anybody else up. It is amazing how learning what might seem like such a simple thing to some can change an entire life for the better!
I used to belong to a workout group which consisted of a handful of quadriplegics and paraplegics performing exercises with therapists and volunteers. At this group I ran into a quadriplegic who had similar function to me but was able to catheterize himself. I learned from him that it was possible to catheterize myself using the limited hand function that I possess while using a specific type of catheter. The rest is history.
The freedom that being able to catheterize myself gives me is amazing. Combined with my ability to drive I can go wherever I want by myself and not have to rely on other people. At home if I wake up in the middle of the night I can take care of my own business without having to wake anybody else up. It is amazing how learning what might seem like such a simple thing to some can change an entire life for the better!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mom
Mother's Day is when we pay homage to our mothers. It is a concrete fact that none of us would be here without them.
Today I am grateful for my mom. She smokes too much, drives a silly yellow mini cooper, isn't the best cook, loves her old black & white movies (TCM is her favorite channel), and has a blind little old dog that wants to rip peoples faces off. What may seem to some as flaws I think give her character. She did cook me a wonderful five-spice chicken meal and something else that was very yummy recently. She is fiercely loyal and very loving. She calls me every birthday, early in the morning, to remind me that I'm not born yet until later in the evening. Then she proceeds to tell me about the labor etc. for about ten minutes as I hold the phone in the air. I get a call later in the evening and she tells me that I can now celebrate because I'm officially born! She was my very first soccer coach and my number one soccer fan for life. She says that she went to every home baseball game when I was a freshman, (not sure about that), even though I rode the bench every game. I was a severe asthmatic when I was a kid and she sat up with me on the nights when I struggled to breathe. When my asthma was really bad she would be the one to drive me to the E.R.. She used to paddle me with a wooden spoon until I got too big (I was a little asshole...now I'm a big one!) One day it broke over my shoulder and we laughed so hard that she wasn't mad at me anymore. She gave me honey and whiskey when I had a sore throat (probably so I'd pass out and shut up!) In 4th grade she saved my life after I cut my hand in half. She wrapped it up, held it up high, and squeezed it all the way to the hospital so I wouldn't bleed out! When I was 19 she gave me her car for Christmas (86 VW Jetta.) In college she mailed me care packages full of goodies. When I broke my neck she quit her job and sat with me every day in the hospital and rehab (a good 3 to 4 months.) We speak french to each other even though it is usually not a very long conversation because neither of us remembers much.
Do you know why I love her the most? Because she is MINE and I don't have to share her (except for my brother and sister in law) with anybody!
Muah! I love you mom!
Today I am grateful for my mom. She smokes too much, drives a silly yellow mini cooper, isn't the best cook, loves her old black & white movies (TCM is her favorite channel), and has a blind little old dog that wants to rip peoples faces off. What may seem to some as flaws I think give her character. She did cook me a wonderful five-spice chicken meal and something else that was very yummy recently. She is fiercely loyal and very loving. She calls me every birthday, early in the morning, to remind me that I'm not born yet until later in the evening. Then she proceeds to tell me about the labor etc. for about ten minutes as I hold the phone in the air. I get a call later in the evening and she tells me that I can now celebrate because I'm officially born! She was my very first soccer coach and my number one soccer fan for life. She says that she went to every home baseball game when I was a freshman, (not sure about that), even though I rode the bench every game. I was a severe asthmatic when I was a kid and she sat up with me on the nights when I struggled to breathe. When my asthma was really bad she would be the one to drive me to the E.R.. She used to paddle me with a wooden spoon until I got too big (I was a little asshole...now I'm a big one!) One day it broke over my shoulder and we laughed so hard that she wasn't mad at me anymore. She gave me honey and whiskey when I had a sore throat (probably so I'd pass out and shut up!) In 4th grade she saved my life after I cut my hand in half. She wrapped it up, held it up high, and squeezed it all the way to the hospital so I wouldn't bleed out! When I was 19 she gave me her car for Christmas (86 VW Jetta.) In college she mailed me care packages full of goodies. When I broke my neck she quit her job and sat with me every day in the hospital and rehab (a good 3 to 4 months.) We speak french to each other even though it is usually not a very long conversation because neither of us remembers much.
Do you know why I love her the most? Because she is MINE and I don't have to share her (except for my brother and sister in law) with anybody!
Muah! I love you mom!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Dreams
I'm grateful for my dreams - and for remembering them. They bring me much insight and support for this crazy journey called life.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Beautiful Day?
Okay folks. I am going to say it. Today was a beautiful day! It was in the lower to mid 70s with not a lot of wind or humidity,and plenty of sunshine! It was so nice that I thought I would correct papers outside. I sat outside and corrected papers with my friend Linda. After that we went over some algebra because she had her algebra final today. After a couple of hours I went inside, and later hopped in the car to do some chores. When I looked in the rearview mirror I noticed that my face was the color of a lobster! I have a bright red sweatshirt on and a sunburn to match!
Osama
I am grateful for our government and our armed forces who stop at no lengths to hunt down outlaws bent on killing thousands of innocent people around the world. I think the world is a much better place with Osama bin Laden dead instead of alive or in captivity. If he were in captivity it would be a free for all all around the world for militant groups to take Americans hostage and demand that bin Laden be freed. If he was to go to trial it would give him a platform to incite violence and rally his supporters.
As my friend Amy so eloquently wrote about in her blog it is disturbing to watch people celebrating all over the United States because of the death of a human being. I am satisfied that he can no longer hurt anyone but I am not going to rush out into the street and celebrate. Unfortunately it does say something about the status of humanity in the world today.
Amy says...: Celebrating death?
As my friend Amy so eloquently wrote about in her blog it is disturbing to watch people celebrating all over the United States because of the death of a human being. I am satisfied that he can no longer hurt anyone but I am not going to rush out into the street and celebrate. Unfortunately it does say something about the status of humanity in the world today.
Amy says...: Celebrating death?
Time with family
It's so incredibly precious. I spent one very full weekend with my mother, my sister and my two nieces and we spent as much time having as much fun as we possibly could. Although it was short and I miss them terribly now, I'm incredibly grateful for the time I had to spend with them!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Gifts to give
I've just returned from a trip where I bought gifts for my mom, sister and nieces. They are all coming to visit me tomorrow and I've just wrapped up each of their gifts, realizing how excited I am to give them to them. It's like a mini-Christmas for me! To give is to receive indeed!
Cujo
I love spending time with my niece Rosie but seeing her makes me miss my dog, Cujo! Cujo was a boxer and Rosie is a beagle. Cujo and Rosie were best friends even though Rosie was an energetic pup and Cujo was getting long in the tooth. They would run around the apartment chasing each other, going back and forth, one direction and then the other, tearing up the rugs and having a grand old time. Cujo was always the chaser and Rosie was the chasee! Cujo would eventually catch up and let out a yelp which I think meant "I gotcha!"
When I took them out for walks together Cujo would get very defensive anytime another dog walked by. She would growl and bark and sometimes pounce on the other dog! It was either her motherly instincts or she just didn't want anybody getting too close to her little friend.
Cujo was a cancer survivor. The doctors removed a tumor from behind her ear and in the process had to remove her outer ear. I bought a Christmas ornament one year that was in the shape of a boxer but it wasn't complete until I removed one of the ears. People still come up to me and say, "I remember you. Don't you have the one eared dog?"
Sadly, my baby girl passed away 2 1/2 years ago. (Shortly after her death I saw the movie Marley and me. I cried my eyes out!)
I find that I miss her the most on warm sunny days. I used to take her on long walks. I would let her off the leash so that she could run and play in the water. Of course I always ended up screaming at her because she never wanted to come back. That damn dog always ran away! I bet that I spent half of her life chasing her or searching for her!
I miss that dog terribly :(
I am grateful for the 10 years that we were able to share together.
When I took them out for walks together Cujo would get very defensive anytime another dog walked by. She would growl and bark and sometimes pounce on the other dog! It was either her motherly instincts or she just didn't want anybody getting too close to her little friend.
Cujo was a cancer survivor. The doctors removed a tumor from behind her ear and in the process had to remove her outer ear. I bought a Christmas ornament one year that was in the shape of a boxer but it wasn't complete until I removed one of the ears. People still come up to me and say, "I remember you. Don't you have the one eared dog?"
Sadly, my baby girl passed away 2 1/2 years ago. (Shortly after her death I saw the movie Marley and me. I cried my eyes out!)
I find that I miss her the most on warm sunny days. I used to take her on long walks. I would let her off the leash so that she could run and play in the water. Of course I always ended up screaming at her because she never wanted to come back. That damn dog always ran away! I bet that I spent half of her life chasing her or searching for her!
I miss that dog terribly :(
I am grateful for the 10 years that we were able to share together.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Generosity of friends... & vacation in paradise
My friend and her husband recently treated me to an amazing vacation in paradise. I'm more grateful for their generosity than I have words to express. Thank you Jackie and Bob. Love you both very much.
Rosie
I am grateful for the couple of times a week that I spend part of my day babysitting my niece, Rosie. I think that she is 4, maybe 5 years old? I guess that a good uncle should know this! Honestly, most of the time she is a pain in my ass! She licks my face uncontrollably, jumps in my lap knocking everything on the floor, doesn't know how to behave on a leash, has way too much energy, and she howls at every single noise! But that's what you get from a beagle! She doesn't mean any harm.
She has her good qualities too. Unconditional love, loyalty, she eats any food that I drop on the floor (and I've been known to drop things...a lot!) She is cute, too! This morning she jumped on my bed as I had just opened my eyes. She used to jump on my bed, trample me, step on my bladder and everything else below the belt, and then lick, lick, lick my face. She has gotten better. This morning she crept up to my face and just stared at me for a bit. Then when I acknowledged her she licked my face...but only a little. She then went under the covers and slept on my arm for a bit. She came up for a breath, put her arms around my neck, and fell asleep again. Cute dog. I think she likes me.
She has her good qualities too. Unconditional love, loyalty, she eats any food that I drop on the floor (and I've been known to drop things...a lot!) She is cute, too! This morning she jumped on my bed as I had just opened my eyes. She used to jump on my bed, trample me, step on my bladder and everything else below the belt, and then lick, lick, lick my face. She has gotten better. This morning she crept up to my face and just stared at me for a bit. Then when I acknowledged her she licked my face...but only a little. She then went under the covers and slept on my arm for a bit. She came up for a breath, put her arms around my neck, and fell asleep again. Cute dog. I think she likes me.
Monday, April 25, 2011
My van
For no reason in particular, today is the day that I am going to celebrate the fact that I can drive. If you really think about it, isn't it scary knowing that there are people paralyzed from the chest down strapped into their wheelchairs driving vans with whatever limited use of their arms they have? If you ask MY family they would say unequivocally YES!
It is amazing that technology can give me this gift. My chair locks into the van, I have buttons for every function imaginable, seatbelts custom built so that I'm strapped in when my chair locks, a mini steering wheel for my right hand and an electronic gas/brake for my left hand. I also have an elbow control that names functions when I tap it and executes that function when I tap it again.
Anybody who has been without a car for an extended period of time can understand the frustration of having to rely on others and public transportation to get around. It is much more difficult being in a wheelchair. There are no accessible taxi's in the 'burbs. There aren't that many in Boston! The MBTA is better than it used to be...marginally! I can drive my wheelchair short distances but if it rains...forgeddabboudit! The Ride? Don't get me started on them, they need an overhaul because they are a disaster.
I am VERY grateful for my minivan and the ability to drive!
It is amazing that technology can give me this gift. My chair locks into the van, I have buttons for every function imaginable, seatbelts custom built so that I'm strapped in when my chair locks, a mini steering wheel for my right hand and an electronic gas/brake for my left hand. I also have an elbow control that names functions when I tap it and executes that function when I tap it again.
Anybody who has been without a car for an extended period of time can understand the frustration of having to rely on others and public transportation to get around. It is much more difficult being in a wheelchair. There are no accessible taxi's in the 'burbs. There aren't that many in Boston! The MBTA is better than it used to be...marginally! I can drive my wheelchair short distances but if it rains...forgeddabboudit! The Ride? Don't get me started on them, they need an overhaul because they are a disaster.
I am VERY grateful for my minivan and the ability to drive!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Family
I am grateful that I was able to spend a few hours at my brother's house today. My mom was there (gorgeous as ever) as well as my sister in law's family (parents, two sisters, hubby and children.) The brunch was yummy and it was 74 and sunny (I was not expecting that and wore a turtleneck and a black sweater!)
I got to watch my nephew run around and play in the backyard. He is two and a half and big for his age. Not fat, but a big kid. You could easily mistake him as a year or more older. He is fearless and curious...you have to keep an eye on him. He does everything 100 miles an hour but unfortunately his little legs can't keep up with his will. He will get a full head of steam and boom! He'll fall flat on his face! Often he has toys in both hands so he literally will do a faceplant! Thankfully today it was on the grass and no damage was done. He has had an adventurous few years where he's had stitches on his face twice (I believe) and numerous bumps and bruises. I gave him a wicked bruise when he slipped off of my lap on Christmas while we were posing for a picture. It's nobody's fault, he is just an active BOY.
My brother and I can't decide which sport he is going to conquer (I am his agent.) He is a lefty so maybe he'll be a starting pitcher. He's tough and doesn't even blink after he takes a fall so maybe he'll be a football star. You don't see many lefty quarterbacks so he'd probably size up as a linebacker. We'll find out in 15 to 20 years!
I remarked to my brother that his son reminded me of him playing sports as we grew up. Not the toughness or the star potential but the falling. He was always sliding on the ground when playing soccer...at the wrong times! Same with skiing. He always found a ditch to fall into and my dad called him "digger" on our ski trips. I'll give him some credit. He was a catcher in Little League and was pretty good too. Why he stopped playing is a mystery. He also played high school football. I think he was a flanker. A hybrid running back type. I didn't get to watch him grow as a player because he had so many concussions that they wouldn't let him play anymore! Hitting his head that much as a kid explains a lot!
I got to watch my nephew run around and play in the backyard. He is two and a half and big for his age. Not fat, but a big kid. You could easily mistake him as a year or more older. He is fearless and curious...you have to keep an eye on him. He does everything 100 miles an hour but unfortunately his little legs can't keep up with his will. He will get a full head of steam and boom! He'll fall flat on his face! Often he has toys in both hands so he literally will do a faceplant! Thankfully today it was on the grass and no damage was done. He has had an adventurous few years where he's had stitches on his face twice (I believe) and numerous bumps and bruises. I gave him a wicked bruise when he slipped off of my lap on Christmas while we were posing for a picture. It's nobody's fault, he is just an active BOY.
My brother and I can't decide which sport he is going to conquer (I am his agent.) He is a lefty so maybe he'll be a starting pitcher. He's tough and doesn't even blink after he takes a fall so maybe he'll be a football star. You don't see many lefty quarterbacks so he'd probably size up as a linebacker. We'll find out in 15 to 20 years!
I remarked to my brother that his son reminded me of him playing sports as we grew up. Not the toughness or the star potential but the falling. He was always sliding on the ground when playing soccer...at the wrong times! Same with skiing. He always found a ditch to fall into and my dad called him "digger" on our ski trips. I'll give him some credit. He was a catcher in Little League and was pretty good too. Why he stopped playing is a mystery. He also played high school football. I think he was a flanker. A hybrid running back type. I didn't get to watch him grow as a player because he had so many concussions that they wouldn't let him play anymore! Hitting his head that much as a kid explains a lot!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Wheelchairs grrrrrrr!
My current wheelchair breaks down all the time. I have been in and out of the repair shop countless numbers of times. Everything has gone wrong with this chair at some point in time and it has truly been a burden. I am very grateful for Scott Richotte and the folks at Pride Mobility for reaching out to me and setting me up with a new chair at no cost to me or my insurance! My new chair is going to be fantastic! It has a motor twice as strong as the previous chair and it has much more suspension. The back of the chair is contoured which will be much better for my back and will be much more comfortable. You see, I am not the average quadriplegic, I am much more active. I drive a modified minivan with hand controls, drive to work, stop for coffee on the way, pick up my medications, go shopping etc. I ride my wheelchair all over the soccer field when I am coaching and go up and down the street in my neighborhood and over all sorts of terrain. So as you can see I put a lot of wear and tear on a wheelchair.
I do want to mention my wheelchair company, ATG, and one person in particular, Walter Kromarski ( I have serious regrets that I spelled that correctly!) Walter is there for me any time I have an emergency. He accommodates me on short notice and if there is some way that he can help to fix my chair or put a Band-Aid on it until a part can be ordered he is there for me. He lets me come into the shop whether he has a full schedule or an empty one and sometimes he stays late (despite his wife's protests) just to make sure that I have wheels that are working . I am very grateful for Walter and ATG!
I do want to mention my wheelchair company, ATG, and one person in particular, Walter Kromarski ( I have serious regrets that I spelled that correctly!) Walter is there for me any time I have an emergency. He accommodates me on short notice and if there is some way that he can help to fix my chair or put a Band-Aid on it until a part can be ordered he is there for me. He lets me come into the shop whether he has a full schedule or an empty one and sometimes he stays late (despite his wife's protests) just to make sure that I have wheels that are working . I am very grateful for Walter and ATG!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
:D
I am grateful that my girl Pia Toscano made a cameo appearance on American Idol last night! It is always nice to see her...whether she is singing or not!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A short week
Yesterday was Patriot's Day and Friday is Good Friday which means I only had a three day work week. Technically I only have to work on Wednesday (because I teach Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays) making it a one day work week for me! I really needed it this week too considering that I am under the weather and I am soon to be shortstaffed. So I am grateful for vacation weeks. And by the way I'm feeling better which is a good thing because my Wednesday class doesn't need an irritated teacher! (Although anybody that knows me well will tell you that I will always have a smile on my face no matter how I feel... most of the time!)
Monday, April 18, 2011
Antibiotics
I have developed a urinary tract infection over the last few days and it reared it's ugly head last night. I was up all night emptying my bladder (TMI?) and for a guy who shouldn't feel pain...let's just say that I am on fire from the bladder down! It's as if someone stuck a hot poker in the tip of my...you get the point! I got in touch with my doctor and he put me on antibiotics. I am very grateful for antibiotics and will be even more grateful when they kick in. I should feel better by Wednesday or I will take it out on my class! Just kidding.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Journey Forward
I am grateful that there are organizations out there like Journey Forward. "Journey Forward is a non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of those who have suffered a Spinal Cord Injury through an intense exercise program." Through sponsors like Arbella insurance they are able to keep their program running. They held a celebrity "casino night" at Lombardo's last night to raise money for the program. It was a blast and a big hit. I want to thank the two ladies from Arbella, Jackie and Katie, who let me hang with them. I won $5K in Texas hold'em, too bad it was fake money!
http://www.journey-forward.org/
http://www.journey-forward.org/
Celtics
I am very grateful to Jermaine O'Neal who stepped up and willed the Celtics to a win over the Knicks tonight. Ray Allen helped out a little bit with his three pointer with just over 11 seconds left... Anyway it was a good win and for short period will help us forget about the struggles of the Bruins and the slow start by Red Sox. All is right in Celtics nation tonight!
Vacation
I so incredibly grateful for vacation. It's been seven years since I've actually traveled for vacation and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the impending respite from the world. While I'm sure you'll miss hearing from me, Nate, rest assured I will continue my gratitude, just not in the bloggosphere. See you when I return!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Naps
I'd like to officially thank God for the magic that is a nap. I love napping. It's in a class of its own - it's not like sleep - usually it's lighter, occasionally it's deeper, the dreams I have are usually like flipping to the Sci-fi channel and it just feels good to plop down in the middle of the day and let the world drift away. So today I'm grateful for the divine art of Napping.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Nature
I'm so grateful for nature and the perfect background it provides for reflection and meditation.
I took this this evening at Walden Pond.
I took this this evening at Walden Pond.
Rain, rain, go away!
Everybody has nuances, pet peeves, or things that irk them. For me, I can't stand the noise that windshield wipers make on contact with the windshield. It is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Drives me nuts! The worst is when it is barely raining and you have to put the wipers on the slowest intermediate setting and even that is too much because it is not raining enough and I hear that squeaking noise from the wipers! I would much rather just let it rain on my windshield and turn them on for quick wash every few seconds. This would be much less annoying to me! Unfortunately, I can't play with the windshield wiper buttons while I'm driving because I drive with my hands! My solution is to use Rain-X! If I put a coat on my windshield or use Rain-X wiper fluid it causes the rain to bead up and roll off my windshield! Now I rarely have to use my wipers!
I am very grateful for Rain-X!
I am very grateful for Rain-X!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Done. Thank God.
I'm so very grateful to have my taxes done. And filed. And done. Did I mention done?
Cheese
I am grateful for cheese. I had the best fettuccine alfredo tonight! (There was chicken in it too but don't tell Amy, she's a vegetarian!)
First day of practice
I am grateful for coaching the Quincy College guys today. An extremely diverse group hailing from Haiti, Turkey, Germany, Japan, Nigeria etc. convened on a soccer field in Germantown around 4pm. Their coach wheeled in not so fashionably late. The only thing that brought us to that place and time was the love of kicking around a dumb leather ball. You may ask what I get out of it since I can't play? It brings me joy watching these grown men high five and congratulate each other after scoring a goal or making a nice play. They get so much out of a few hours on a field. Some exercise, bonding, meeting new people, a sense of accomplishment etc. I'm only there to add a little structure and that's fine with me.
About half way through practice one of the players said, "when is our first game?" I said, "I know a few high school teams that could come in here and whoop your asses!" They barely know each other, they have their hands on their knees sucking wind, and we only had 12 guys on the first day! All in due time.
About half way through practice one of the players said, "when is our first game?" I said, "I know a few high school teams that could come in here and whoop your asses!" They barely know each other, they have their hands on their knees sucking wind, and we only had 12 guys on the first day! All in due time.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Comfort food
Today I'm grateful for comfort food after a hard day. There's nothing a warm baguette and soft cheese can't cure in my world. Oh yeah, and a couple of chocolate chip cookies. Tomorrow I'll be grateful for good jogging weather. ;-)
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Hmmmmmm.
As the day came toward an end I started to think about what I was most grateful for today. Many things came to mind but I am not going to share them with you today because they will become fodder for future blogs and I just don't want to spoil them for you! I think that is awfully courteous of me! So I'm watching the Sawx/Yanks game in the den while fooling around on my computer. The clock was about to strike nine, "Masterpiece Classic" time for my roommate (aka dad.) Prior to bolting to my room to finish the game he hollers, "want some popcorn?" Of course my answer is a no brainer considering that popcorn is one of my favorite things to eat ever. Not just popcorn, but microwave popcorn. Microwave popcorn has the perfect blend of salt and butter. I think it is so much better than movie popcorn. Movie popcorn drives me nuts because you taste the "butter" flavor in the first few bites and then it is gone. Likewise if you salt it you only get a quick taste on top before it's gone. And the butter is tasteless and feels like oil, which is probably what it is. Funny thing is that after every movie I say that I will NEVER eat movie popcorn again. Yet I order it over and over and eat 90% of every nasty bite of it (and they give you way too much!) Don't get me started on movie popcorn! Now if I could only remember to pop some Orville Redenbacher and throw it in my backpack before I leave for the movies.
So today I am grateful for thoughtful roommates and microwave popcorn.
So today I am grateful for thoughtful roommates and microwave popcorn.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Red Sox redux
I am grateful for the Red Sox again. Not because they won, because they didn't, but because I was able to attend the game. I was the guest of my "girlfriend" Carolyn. She is my soon to be 73 year old neighbor. She is a "hot ticket" and I love calling her my girlfriend...she's not too shy about it either! She loves telling people her age because she doesn't look it...or act it! She is five foot ten with shoulder length white hair! Easy to pick out in a crowd and more active than half of the people I know who are younger than me! We have been to two opening days, several Sox-Yanks clashes, and a handful of Bruins games.
So thank you, Red Sox, for giving me a reason to spend another day with my "girlfriend."
So thank you, Red Sox, for giving me a reason to spend another day with my "girlfriend."
Friday, April 8, 2011
Red Sox
I am grateful that the Red Sox got a win today despite John Lackey's performance! The way that people were panicking you would have thought we were 0 and 22! Chill people! The baseball season is a marathon and there are 155 more games to be played. Losing six games is a drop in the bucket. If I were a betting man I would bet good money that the Sox will have many more win streaks of six plus games than losing streaks. Buckle up and enjoy the ride, it is going to be a very exciting season!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
April 7, 2011
I'm grateful for the depth you get from friendships that have lasted for a long time. And how those friends remember the things about you that you forget yourself. Especially the things worth being reminded of.
Soccer
I am very grateful to be coaching the Quincy College soccer team. Our first practice is scheduled for Monday and the forecast is for 80 degrees and sunshine! Woohoo! Now THAT will be a beautiful day!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Today
Today I'm grateful for the ability to express the deep stirring feelings and inspiration that come through me, not just for myself but for many others to hear and read too.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Blog
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