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

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

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

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

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

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

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