Home Again!

We are back on the road, destination home! We had a good three days back in Detroit.  They do their best at whipping me into shape and encouraging me to keep on going. It was fun to catch up with what's going on in their lives, my physiotherapist had her baby girl Ava we even got to see her and she's beautiful. We are waiting to hear about two of the athletic trainers and their special bundles coming soon. Catching up with other patients and their journeys is always exciting and encouraging to hear how well they’re doing. Today I had my assessment, I was a little disappointed. I was really hoping that more muscles would be contracting specifically my quads and that didn't happen in fact nothing changed in that department. All the muscles that rated a 1 and or 2 stayed the same. My core increased in strength which is always good and I'm thankful. God is keeping me on my knees; I know it is His perfect time for the day of healing. I just can't wait! Please continue to pray for complete healing and patients on my part. Big Hugs Sandra 

Snow isn't wheelchair friendly

So of all years to have a lot of snow, this didn't need to be it. Sandra basically can't get around through the snow on her own, when I'm with her I can drag the chair backwards to  plow through  
But it isn't fun for either of us. The second issue is the wheels get full of snow and get her wet and we wait at the door for the wheels to dry when we come in the house.
What seams to work best is underground parking it is worth a little further drive to stay clear of old man winter. 
Another solution is to send her south, she will be visiting her parents in Florida at the end of the month. It is something she is excited about, just enjoy the sunshine. While Sandra is away the girls and I will take advantage and spend a few days skiing.
As I type this out Sandra is working hard, core and stretching again. It is good to catch up with the people here see their progress as everyone here is on their own journey. 
Till tomorrow, Mike

Time marches on!

Christmas has come and gone. The ball has dropped, Happy New Year! The kids are back to school and Mike and I are back on the road to Detroit. Isn't it crazy how time can fly by at times and be as slow as molasses another. Someone was asking Mike how his year was, they didn't know what had happened, but Mike's response was other than for 10 seconds, it's been really good. In a blink of an eye our lives can take a completely different path good or bad but it's up to us on how we choose to live out that change. Its been a crazy 8 months. I've looked back and have seen how God has been guiding us through every step but I've also looked back and have wondered why hasn't He healed me yet. Genesis 18:14 "is anything to hard for the Lord? No!" I was reading in our devotional and this was the key verse. It then went on to say "don't quit. For if you do, you may miss the answer to your prayers" Sarah and Abraham waited for a baby and just as she was too old to have a child she gets pregnant. Gods perfect timing.  I've been praying specifically that God would heal me completely leaving physically only the scar on my back as a reminder. Hebrews 4:16 "let us come boldly approach the throne of our gracious God, where we may receive mercy and His grace to find timely help" So I need to be patient because God knows the perfect time, not too soon, not too late. He'll be right on time. Emotionally and mentally I will never be the same nor would I want to take away what I've learned in this process. I'm so thankful for Mike and the support he has been to me and our girls. He has been an amazing example of what love is. I'm praying that I will keep my eyes focused on God through this process, being diligent and patient waiting for His perfect time to heal me. As we approach Detroit please be in prayer for a lot of positive gains during my assessment. Praying for Gods riches blessing on all of you for this coming year. Hugs Sandra 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas. 

As Christmas came this year I really didn't feel very merry about it. I felt that so much had been taken away from me. I was looking at all the things I couldn't do, the traditions that I've done with my girls seemed like they had been stripped away. It's been incredibly hard to sit and watch, yet I'm thankful to be alive and be still apart of there lives. 

Mike has stepped in and is becoming Mr. Mom, things I thought I would never see him do, he is doing with ease. This Christmas morning seems to be harder than I thought it would be, the feeling of sitting on the sidelines. My girls have been amazing through this all. Watching them take on some of those traditions has been a blessing to see them grow and mature. Instead of looking at what I can't do, I'm trying to think less about the traditions and more about what really matters. What has brought me through and will continue to bring me through this journey I'm on. What really matters is Christ. It's Him who I need to cling to. His promise that He would never leave me nor forsake me. It is Christ that gives me what I need for the day. God has a plan for everyone of us but we must be prepared to wait, wait on His timing. When Jesus came to this earth it was a normal day nothing special other than the special plan that He had. The plan to come and give all of us the opportunity of a life time. Jesus came as a baby, lived on this earth and died for us all. So that we would have the opportunity to accept Him as our Lord and King. He paid the ultimate cost. The punishment and pain He endured for me so that I would have the opportunity to know Him and to have a personal relationship with Him and one day to be able to stand and see Him face to face. I pray that all of you have taken advantage of this opportunity that God has given to each of us and have accepted Him in to your lives. I pray that this Christmas will be like no other and that you will be able to get closer to your King of Kings and Lord and Lords. It's only because of my relationship with God that I am able. 

Sometimes we easily forget during these busy days that we have a Savior that cares so much about us the love that He has, grace, mercy, dependable, strength ... Jesus, who was a baby once and is always a forever God. That is what holds us keeps us whether or not we can carry out our traditions. May our decorations, gifts and festivities or lack of them never block our views of him but always point us toward Him. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Hugs Sandra

Acupuncture ??

Well today Sandra is going for round 3 of acupuncture. It is something I never considered before but with no side effects we thought it is worth a try. It is early in the process but it seams to be helping with her temperature regulation. The highs aren't as high and the lows aren't as low. It is hard to tell at this point if it is the actupuncture or if we are starting to catch on. We are also hoping that it will improve the nerve pain and reduce spasms. This will be well worth it if Sandra can remain off medication as we want to avoid "dulling" the nerves.
Not to sound like a broken record but Sandra continues to see improvements however slow it might be, changes keep happening and we take them as improvements. A strange one is what we call "creepy crawlers" it feels to her like spiders are crawling in her back and butt. It comes and goes but I look at it as at least she is feeling something, and it is different then it was.
Mike

Assessment Day!

What a time in Detroit. It was nice to see everyone again, its amazing how you build a relationship so quickly. They are a great bunch of people and its been fun getting to know them all. They had no mercy on me. Monday they got me right back into it. I started off with a lot of core exercises and one of my tuffest trainers was impressed with my strength. Tuesday my therapists from Ottawa joined us and the trainers we're happy to show them how they get me to crawl around the track (toucher me). It was nice to have them come and see how they do things here. I believe both benefited from there experience in the field. Today was a big day, assessment day. My core had an increase of 5 to 20% depending on where they were measuring from. I now have both muscles on the inside of my thighs. On the left they rate it as a 1 which means I'm able to flex the muscle, on the right a 2 which means I'm able to initiate movement. One of the tests they do is to see if I feel movement in my feet/ankle. How they do this is simple, I close my eyes and they move my foot slightly up or down. I then tell them which direction they moved it. I was able to get four out of four correct this time on my left foot, last time I got four out of four correct on my right foot. All in all I was pleased to come back and be better than when I left. God continues to answer prayer. I am so thankful for His healing hand on my body and continue to pray that He will heal me completely. Thank you to all that continue to up left me in pray before our heavenly Father. Hugs Sandra 

Here we go again!

Here we go again, back to Detroit. It's been three wonderful weeks at home with the girls getting back into life. Mike has been working full time again, well almost. He goes in everyday but might leave a little early here and there to help me with appointments and the kids schedules. He's been able to get back into hockey and even started to attend church board meetings again. Between work and home it's like he's working two jobs and doing it with a smile. Its been nice to be home with the girls and get back into there daily life. They have been a huge support to me and have been helping out, Mike and I are so thankful for them and there response  to all of this. God is definitely at work in there lives.

 l have my van now with hand controls, so I'm starting to gain a little bit more independence, which I love. Its amusing to watch people watch me, as Mike picks me up and puts me into the drivers seat.  I've even been able to pick Emily up from school a few days. This is just one of the little things I've missed, its part of being a mom. 

With Christmas fast approaching we, I have been having to figure out what it's going to look like this year. I had a dear friend come over and help me decorate my home, the girls decorated the tree this year placing all there special ornaments front and center. It's been hard letting go of some of our family traditions but praying that God will gives us some new ones that we will hold just as close to our hearts. 

I received my standing frame on Friday and was able to stand for 40 minutes. I was so pleased, I haven't been up for three weeks and I wasn't sure how long I would be able to do it for. The goal is always 30 minutes. This week I will be getting another assessment and I am anxiously awaiting to see how I'll do since I've been away for three weeks. I'm also excited as my two therapist from Ottawa will be joining us. 

Mike and I have received so much encouragement and support from so many of you and we are so grateful. It means so much and it helps us to keep on pushing. I'm continuing to pray, hope and believe that God will heal me completely. Thank you to all of you that have been praying and supporting us through this journey, I can't imagine doing it without you. One day I would love to be able to sit no stand and have coffee with every last one of you. I will rise ... when He calls my name. 

Hugs Sandra