Hebrews 12:1-3

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Home Sweet Home!

We are on the road again. It's been three and half weeks since we've been home and can't wait. I've had a pretty good week working hard on my core. The stronger I can make my core the stronger and more stable I will be. The stronger I can make my core the higher the potential for me to have overflow to my hips, glutes, and eventually my thighs. Today, I was doing an exercise the trainer could feel a small contraction of my glutes, lower ab and groin area. This is very exciting, in my first week they told me that they can't make a muscle contract but if it does they can make it stronger. This is a positive gain.  As the weeks go by I have more confidence in my abilities, I'm able to do more on my own. We are looking forward to having a week at home and getting the girls comfortable before school starts. While at home I will be doing some physio as well. I've been in contact with a therapist and she has been speaking and working with my therapist in Detroit, it will be interesting to see what she can do. Daily prayer .... Voluntary muscle movement, complete healing, strength (my shoulder held up really well this week, thanks for praying) pray that we will be able to establish a good family routine and that the girls will start well at school, Julia starts grade 9 and Emily is starting grade 7, we've had a few delays with our home so please be in prayer that it will be completed quickly and for Mike, he has a lot on his plate that God would give him the physical and mental strength to continue. Thank you for loving us and for continuing to keep us in your prayer. Hugs Sandra  

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Detroit Here We Come!

We are back on the road again after spending a great time with family at the cottage. The girls our on there way home to spend some fun time with Warnholtz family until we return on Wednesday night. We are hoping to return to a home that is complete and ready for us.  We are looking forward to another great week, praying that its filled with a lot of gains and voluntary muscle movement. Daily prayer ... Safety on the road, complete healing, for both Mike and I that our strength and stamina will hold up and that the girls will enjoy there last week of  summer holidays. With much love. Hugs Sandra

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Cottage Life!

Cottage Life. We are back, Mike is traveling back and forth to work for the next two days. Thanks to all of you that prayed us home. Our week went well, we are both tired but will catch up on our sleep over the weekend. Emily had fun with the Persad helping out with VBS at there church and Julia had a blast with her friend Tori in Wonderland. Now we are spending time with my Mom and Dad here at the cottage. Every week I feel a little stronger and encouraged by the many people that we meet. These people all have had a spinal injury of some sort, they have been so kind to share there experiances with us. Daily Prayer... Voluntary Muscle Movement, I would love to be able to start to feel or see some muscle movement in my hips or legs. This would be a sure sign of things to come. Please pray that my shoulder will continue to heal and be strengthened. Continue to pray for complete healing, I'm so looking forward to that day that I will be able to stand and take my first step again. Hugs Sandra

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

New Every Day

It amazes me that everyday they have new exercises for me to do.  I was a little concerned or even disappointed yesterday that my shoulder was acting up. After icing, rest and prayer...today, I was pleased that I was able to follow through with all of the exercises with out pain. It was weaker but I was able. Everyday Mike and I are reminded of God's blessing on our lives and how He has gone before us. We don't know sometimes why things are happening to us at the time but I look back and see how He has prepared and has given us the grace for the day. Today we had a surprise. Friends from Ottawa (Rudd's) were dropping their daughter off at University and on there way home stopped off in Detroit and had lunch with us. God gives you that extra boost of encouragement when you need it.
Daily Prayer... Please continue to pray for my shoulder that it will get stronger and be able to handle what ever they throw at me. Pray that I would start to see voluntary muscle movement. We are meeting a lot of people, pray that Mike and I will be the example that God would want us to be and that we would have the opportunity to share His love with them. Pray for safe travel back to the cottage. Please continue to pray for the girls as we prepare for school coming up and the daily routine of life. Much love, Hugs Sandra

Day 2

Day 2 was good Sandra is just finishing up, did some new exercises and her shoulder held up for the whole morning. Looking forward to lunch. Mike

Monday, August 20, 2012

Good day at rehab

I forgot the iPad so it's back to my phone, so I will be brief . Rehab went well today, Sandra stayed on the standing frame for 45 minutes, ( 5 minutes first time and 30 second time) this is a very good accomplishment. Her left shoulder is sore after the workout so keep it in prayer so she can do all the activities required the next few days. Mike

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Ready to go again

Well we are in Sarnia again, ready to cross the boarder in the morning. Sandra's  body has mostly recovered from last week only to do it over again. Please pray for Sandra's stamina and progression in her healing. Mike

Thursday, August 16, 2012

A Long road

We have a long road ahead, both in terms of the 401 and in Sandra's recovery. It was exciting and difficult to see Sandra go through her sessions. On the bright side there are people there who have gone through the program that have seen significant gains, but it was difficult to see Sandra have to work that hard. One of the therapist came to me and said "Most people don't finish, they stop and just cry the first time", well she finished and at least we waited to get to the van for the cry. The atmosphere is very upbeat and positive, with patients and staff cheering others on when a new accomplishment are made. Our down time is Tuesday afternoon since Wednesday we just want to get home. This week we met our girls and the Persads at the outlet store for a few hours. Next week might be the Detroit zoo and at some point I will take in the Walter P. Chrysler Museum. Other then that not allot to do in Detroit until the Red Wings start to play. Mike 

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Week One Complete!

We have picked up the kids in Sarnia and we are on our way back to the cottage. It was another day of trying new things. When I went to Detroit originally for my assessment I was able to use a piece of equipment called easy glide it enables me to stand. This is good for me on several levels. At that time, I was only able to tolerate it for about 5 min. My body was already not use to being upright and all the blood rushed from my head to my feet making me feel light headed, sick to my stomach and I start to feel like I was going to pass out. Today I was able to stay up for 30 minutes, this was very exciting for me. It's normally a requirement to be able to do, to even be in this program. There goal is to strengthen your arms and core so that you can than work on moving your hips and eventually your legs. So for the first 2 hours of my rehab I spend a lot on, just that. My arms feel like there going to explode or fall off but they push you through it.  Its extremely hard but the reward is worth every minute. Mike is there right beside me every step (had to put that in) of the way. He has been an amazing support and encouragement to me through this, I'm so thankful for him. Daily Prayer .... That I would start to see signs of voluntary muscle movement. Pray that my core would continue to strengthen so that I would have more control of my balance. That all the renovations at home are getting done on time for us to come home to.  Thanks again to all of you for your continued support and love. Hugs Sandra

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Day Two!

Second day in and they are giving me a run for my money. Today they did completely different exercises but I was exciting that they were able to get me up and crawling.  After wrapping up my knees and feet to protect them they attached a harness for support. By weight shifting and tightening my core and the help of the therapists I was able to complete one lap around the gym before collapsing in a tired heap. It was exhausting but felt amazing at the same time. I have to say I was extremely tired today and my arms felt a little sore from the 3 hour work out they got. It's a positive atmosphere, as time continues I feel more and more encouraged. Daily Prayer...strength would have to be at the top of the list, that my arms would hold up and continue to get stronger. Feeling extremely blessed. Hugs, Sandra

Monday, August 13, 2012

First Day!!

We thought it was kinda cool that
this is sponsored by Chrysler!!
WOW, what a day! Mike and I started of with a relaxing morning getting ready and than we headed over to the center for our first appointment. I spent the first hour working on my core strength, which included me getting up on my knees and hands moving side to side keeping my balance. The second hour I spent doing exercises that allowed me to weight bare on my legs and work my core at the same time. The last hour I went on the FES bike. It was exciting and exhausting all at the same time. We met a fellow Canadian, Mary. Mary injured her T4 just like my self and for three years she was told by several physiotherapist that she would never walk and that she was wasting her time doing any exercises. She read one day in the paper an article on RIM. She gave them a call and went to see them the following day. They told her that she should walk. Well it's been a year and she is walking. Amazing! Mike made a comment that as we looked around the spinal cord injury rehab centre there were more people walking than not. God has a plan, I really feel that He has directed us to this place for a reason. Thank you to all of you for praying me here and for my continued recovery. Daily prayer....Please continue to pray for complete healing. Strength and energy during my Physiotherpy sessions. Pray that I will be able to establish a good routine traveling back and forth from Detroit and home. Pray that the girls will continue to feel Gods comfort. That God would be glorified through this all. Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers. Hugs Sandra

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Road to Recovery

The van is packed and we are on the road to recovery. We are hoping to make it to Sarnia in time to have dinner with our dear friends the Persad's.  The girls will be spending the next 3 days with them while Mike and I will be spending the night in a hotel in Sarnia and than heading over to Detroit in the morning. I starting my first rehab session at 1pm. I'm very excited to get started. I know God has some exciting things to show me and I am so ready. 
We want you all to know how thankful we are for all your prayers and support. We definitely feel the blessing that God has supplied us with family and friends we need to help us through this time. A few of you who will remain nameless have stated that you would like me to blog more specific prayer request and maybe even more often, so I will attempt to do just that. Daily prayer... Safe travel as we drive to Sarnia and Detroit. Boarder crossing will go well and quickly in the morning. That both Mike and I will sleep well as the next few days are going to be both physical and mentally hard. That I will be able to see gains/progress this week. God promised that He would only give us what we could handle. I'm so thankful for that promise and for the daily reminders that He is in control. We Love You All. Hugs, Sandra

Thursday, August 9, 2012

getting packed up

Well this week has flown by working and driving kids around (normal stuff). Sandra has had some good visits and even made it out of the house a couple times, her social calender hasn't changed since before the accident.  On Wednesday evening she got her upstairs (carried), to go pick out some of her stuff she was missing and I couldn't find. It was of mixed emotions, great to get back to that part of the house, tuck the kids in etc... but it was also difficult missing the ease of life she had and more things we took for granted.
Tomorrow we will pack up and be gone for some time. We will be living between Detroit and the cottage as the renovations on the house get finished up and we save 1 1/2 hrs of driving each way being at the cottage. It will be great to have the house complete which will make life allot easier.
Sandra still has no voluntary movement in her legs. We were told that the first movement will be in the big toe however doing more research and talking to different professionals it seams that the muscle control will move down from the point of injury. Her injury is at the chest level but she has considerable muscle control in her trunk which we get excited about being below the level of injury. When we are in Detroit they will work on strengthening her trunk and activating her hips and thighs. Sandra's continues to have spasms which are uncomfortable but we take it as a sign that her nerves are trying to reconnect, and these spasms are continually changing which again we are encouraged by things not staying the same.
Romans 8:24,25 For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Mike

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Long weekend at the cottage

We are having a great time relaxing at the cottage, great weather, spending time with family.
We actually got Sandra swimming with a little effort and ingenuity this afternoon. She really enjoyed it was able to get around, wash her hair andjust feel the freedom of the water. For those who were wondering she was wearing a life jacket.  Mike

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Plans are made

Well we are excited to report Sandra is registered to start rehab in Detriot starting August 13th. Our plans are to be in Detriot Monday to Wednesday for the next 30 to 90 days. This will allow me to work Thursday and Fridays and have some family time on the weekends.
Our time in Detriot was very beneficial, and we are excited to the possibilities that lie ahead. The therapist said Sandra is a good candidate and should see improvements. We are excited with every improvement we have seen already. Sandra's injury should be chest level but she is gaining more trunk control and can tighten her abs on her own, these small steps are exciting but remind us we have we have a long way to go.
Keep us in your prayers as we will get to know the 401 very well.  I imagine we will get tired of the drive so I've started looking for flights already
Mike