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, October 31, 2012

I've Got a Hope!


It has been my incredible pleasure to accompany my sister to Detroit this week.  I will admit that although I was really honoured to be asked and very excited to have some uninterrupted time with my Buddy (something we haven’t had since her accident really) I was also fairly nervous.  I have only recently learned how to lift her and I am not nearly as strong as Mike!  She is a very patient teacher but I’m sure after an exhausting time in therapy she has probably missed the routine she and Mike have established and his knowledge of her needs.
She and Mike and the girls arrived home from their trip in the wee hours of Sunday morning due to technical issues on the flight out of Toronto.  She did not get a full sleep and then she and I left around 5 pm on Sunday.  We drove through lots of wind and rain as we felt the effects of Hurricane Sandy. We obviously arrived safely and have had a really good week even though I think she’s been pretty tired. It has been very good for me to see her in action (another thing I wasn’t really looking forward to) She does her exercises with a smile on her face.  The staff working with her are amazing, one of them a very outspoken Believer.  I have noticed that many of them just flock to Sandra.  Even though they may not be working with her, they seem to be drawn to her and spend a lot of time chatting with her.  There is a lot of laughter and a lot of sweat!  Yesterday I chatted with the mother of a young woman who was paralysed at 17 in a car accident.  It was really interesting to hear her perspective on the process and how similar the situations can be.  She talked of the years of finding the best way to help her daughter and balance family through the process.  I was struck by the reality that the only thing we can control is our responses to our circumstances.  Sandra and Mike have chosen to respond to this situation with a strong leaning on God believing that He will work this for good.  There are definitely difficult days and dark moments…she is human but once she is done with this…the resolve is there and she presses forward…smiling.  I’m sure that is why people around her flock to her.  She smiles because she has a hope.  She doesn’t force the smile onto her face it comes from deep within her spirit where the Holy Spirit fills her.
Even though I was nervous I really wanted to be here and I am so glad I came.  I have learned so much more about what my Buddy is going through on a daily basis and it helps me to pray.  As I write this she is crawling around the track with much difficulty.  It also reminds me that all my sadness over not being able to do something for my sister is really pointless ( I need to turn that into praise and prayer)  none of us can really “do” anything but we also don’t have to be hopeless…we do have a hope and we must keep on hoping…the past is sealed but we know who holds the future and I am determined to HOPE IN HIM!!
I have had the privilege of singing at our church and close to this time last year Pastor Reed requested I sing a song performed by Carolyn Arends and written by Pierce Pettis &  Eric Fiedor called "I've Got a Hope"  I have been given permission by Carolyn to share that with you here.
I pray that as you listen you will be reminded of the Hope we have and how sometimes we don’t even know what the hope means.  We all hope my sister will walk and loved ones will be well…but the truth is we are hoping in a God who is bigger than we can think or even imagine.
Please continue to pray and hope with us.  We leave here to head home after therapy today.  I am really hoping that this weekend will be restful and peaceful form my Buddy and her family.
We treasure each of you.
Carla
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” ~ Ephesians 3:20

Saturday, October 27, 2012

wow a week already!

We had a great week enjoying the coast of California, it was uneventful as far as Sandra was concerned. We had this holiday planned before the accident and I am thankful we did because we most likely wouldn't have planned it after. It is a beautiful place to visit, great views and scenery. We went from San Francisco to San Diego doing most of the sites in between. It was a great time to connect as a family plus spend some time with friends. Although it was a great time together it was still difficult for sandra missing out on a few events (trolley cars in San Fran, beaches, kayaking etc...) and just life as it was. We are always "on" looking for accessible solutions, "where's the ramp", " is the rental car shuttle accesable", the days of winging it are on hold for a time things have to be planned out well.
This coming week will bring a few more firsts as I will be staying home from Detroit and Carla (Sandra's sister) will be going with her. We are confident things will go well but pray for a great week at rehab and continued progress. Mike

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Where do the days go?

We have had another week fly by. Detroit went well, focusing on strengthening my core as much as possible but also working on my hips and glutes. Although Mike and I are spending a lot of quality time together we are missing the girls and finding hard to jam 7 days in to 3 when we get home. October is always an exciting month for us, for starters our first born Julia was born on October 25th and second we for the past few years have been able to take a week of holidays and spend it with our dear friends the Martins. Well we had a trip planned to California prior to my accident and the plan is to leave tomorrow morning. I have to say I've been a little anxious, scared and maybe a little fearful of all of the unknown that awaits me but I look forward to building some wonderful memories with my family and friends. So I cling to Gods promise that He will only give me what I can handle and that He will always be with me. We don't know what tomorrow holds but it does make it easier when we know that He's the one in control. Please be in pray for safety traveling that all will go well with the flights, for me as I transfer from plane to plane. Pray that I will continue to trust God for all my needs. That we will build great memories together. Psalms 121:1-8 Thanks to everyone for your love, support and encouragement. Hugs Sandra

Monday, October 15, 2012

Crawling again

Well here we go agin, sandra is doing some crawling this afternoon and working on her core. Things are going well. This past weekend we got a new bed and bedroom set that works for the old living room now bedroom, she is happy to get rid of the hospital bed.
Mike

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Tough night good assessment

Well we had a rough night last night, Sandra's tone was bad and wouldn't stop made for difficulty sleeping. It is a crazy injury as it affects everything, nothing is as it was and spirits are being tested. Now this morning Sandra had  her assessment and had some good results. Her core is getting stronger probably 2/3rds of what it was. What I have learned is it all starts with the core.
Sandra's hip flexors are stronger and she was able to contract her glutes (butt). This is exciting as it is a new muscle found and her recovery is moving down as anticipated. The next find we need is for the quads as that extends the knee and with alot of stregth gain this will allow her to stand.
Mike

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

At it again

So here we are again, not much new to say. Sandra continues to work hard on her core and this morning she is doing tall kneel crawl. Not really her favorite but I think it is very beneficial.
Tomorrow is assessment day and we are excited to see if she has any new muscle contractions.
Mike

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Missing Lots BUT Giving Thanks

Families will gather this weekend to eat, enjoy each Others' company and to give thanks.  We too are gathering with our family and as I have contemplated all that I have to be thankful for, I have battled with thoughts of what I used to take for granted.  Sadly there are so many things in life that we don't even think to be thankful for, like sliding into a warm bath, standing so that our clothes hang and sway the way they were designed to, giving a full hug, driving, prepare a meal for my family, tuck my girls into their beds, just Mom & wife stuff.  Being able to access any building shouldn't be so hard.
Yet I am so thankful for so much. I literally have given thanks many times in the past 5 months for my life...For my brain...and my arms. Mike & I are aware of how different things could have been. I am thankful for my amazing husband and that he is able to be with me each mile of this journey. I am thankful for my girls and the strength , courage and maturity they have exhibited, while never allowing their hearts to be hardened. I am thankful for our extended families and the many ways they have and continue to support us in this process. I am thankful for praying and supportive friends and for a church family that is behind us.
I pray everyday that God will heal me.  I know without a doubt that He could speak and I could stand up without any hint of injury. I know this.  The question is never can He...but will He?  So we wait to see what the answer is choosing to remember to be thankful. Because He is good and He is God and one day He will call my name and I will rise.  Until then we thank Him and bless His name... and eat turkey.
We want to remind you all how thankful we are for you and to wish you a blessed Happy Thanksgiving from our overflowing hearts to yours!
Hugs,
Sandra
Sandra

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

State of Detroit

Some have asked about what Detroit is really like. Well it depends where you go, the down town 5 square blocks look ok, but when you look close the offices in the high rises are empty. As soon as we get out of those blocks it gets very nasty. Most buildings don't have windows in them and I think it resembles a war zone, 20% of houses are boarded up, we get asked for money a lot. Now 12km outside of the down town core is Grosse pointe, we went there yesterday and wow what a nice neighborhood 4 million plus for a house, you can see a line where Detroit ends and gross pointe starts. Middle class is 1/2 hour to 1 hour drive outside of Detroit. Some suburbs like Troy and very nice. The booming economy is the casino, sports teams and the big 3 automotive are coming back.
The casino is always full and a little sad seeing people there that really can't afford the kind of entertainment.
Mike

More core training

This week has been more of the same, core and balance training. Sandra shoulder is holding up well this week which is encouraging. She is getting a lot of tone (spazams) which interrupt her sleep and are uncomfortable for her, thankfully Sandra does have the gift of sleep, anyone else would be up 1/2 the night. Looking forward to, picking up Nanna in Toronto and getting home.
Mike

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Stretching works!

So Sandra has been doing a lot of stretching since her accident and I think she is up to 6 foot now!haha no really that is the height of her therapist in Ottawa, small but mighty. We measured Sandra in her chair on the wall where we are tracking the kids growth over the years, she is 4'1" same as Emily when she was 8.
We continue to be encouraged here in Detroit, we are getting progress even though it is slower then we like and it is very taxing on Sandra physically plus it is difficult leaving the kids every week. I compared it with a friend of mine who travels a lot for work, the 1st few times it was fun getting away, staying in hotels and eating out etc.... But it does get old and all the restaurants start to taste the same. Mike

Monday, October 1, 2012

What in the world is Sandra "up" to?



Two weeks ago Mike and I got home to see my Nana who is visiting here from Newfoundland. She is now in Toronto for the week but we get to pick her up on Wednesday and bring her back home with us. It's been nice to be with her, I love her to pieces. We are on the road again, rain and all. Looking forward to a amazing week. We are really hoping and praying that God will give me some voluntary muscle movement. I
Oh what a feeling!
cant believe its October tomorrow, we are already half
way through our time commitment in Detroit. They have been working me hard, I know they still have a lot up there sleeves and look forward to seeing what they can through at me. Friday I had physio again in Ottawa, Jacquie (therapist) supported me but had me standing beside my bed. What a crazy feeling to be able to stand but not feel it but oh what a feeling.
 
Some of you must be wondering what I really do with my time in physio and as much as I try to explain I'm sure its hard to picture so I've attached a few videos for your pleasure. Some feel it's hard to watch me struggle, especially at tasks that come so easy to you all. It's not pretty but it will give you a good idea. You can now understand why this is exciting for me as I am working muscles below my injury level. It's amazing.
Daily Prayer ... Complete healing, that my shoulder will hold up to the work out, voluntary muscle movement over all strength. Safety on the road to and from Detroit (we're in traffic now) be with the girls as they head into another week of school that all will go well.

We love you all. Hugs Sandra