Brrrrr Is winter over yet?

January has come and gone. Now if only the snow would go.  Thankfully I’ve been able to escape the cold. My sister and I were able to go and visit Mom and Dad in Florida for 10days. While Mike and the girls, took 4 days with friends in Tremblant skiing.

People ask me how my weeks are, well on the most part busy. I work Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Physiotherapy every Tuesday and Friday morning with acupuncture in the afternoon. I’m still doing my bike 3 to 4 times a week and than I find myself climbing into bed at 9pm. Physiotherapy is still a lot of work. I’m mostly doing body weight support activities. We are working on trying to get my knees to lock so that I can pull myself up to stand, holding long enough to be able to transfer more easily.

Mike and I have been praying about what would be best for us in the way of housing. We have had two assessment on our current home and we feel that it would be best to build a new bungalow that would be adapted to suit all my needs for living. We have been looking for property for the last 6 months, which has been more difficult than we thought. We were just able to acquire a new lot in Followfield Village, our new address will be 6 Goodfellow Court. We are so thankful and praise God for His provision over us.  Now even the harder part starts, the design. We need to make sure to include everything that will work for our family. Please be in prayer as we go through this process that we make the right decisions. We are hoping to start in the spring and be in by the fall.

Thank you to all of you for your continued love, support and mostly your prayers. Its going to be a busy summer but and exciting one.  HUGS Sandra 

Merry Christmas, boy how time flyes!

On November 28^th I had my first MRI done. Now that was an experience. I never thought I was claustrophobic but that was on a whole other level and boy is it loud. I found myself praying to the rhythm of the banging and clanging just to keep myself calm. I’ve been looking forward to meeting with Dr. Tsai to hear the results. In the meantime, I had an appointment already made with my rehab doctor. During that appointment she mentioned that she got a copy of the results. She mentioned that I have a pocket of fluid, which is called an Srynix located below my level of injury. This can be both negative and or positive because it can affect motor function. If it was to move and go above my level of injury it could affect my arms so…. Does that mean it’s affect my legs? We have so many questions. We know that this can be drained but don’t know the pros and cons, yet. We just found out that I need to have another MRI done. The first one was done incorrectly; Dr. Tsai needs it to be done using a certain process for her to be able to gather the correct information for the trial. I’m a little frustrated and a little impatient as I was hoping to have some information and answers but we are in a holding pattern. Please be in prayer that I will be able to have this done soon although I’m not looking forward to it.

For the last 8 weeks I’ve been having acupuncture therapy twice a week. I can’t say for sure but it seems since I’ve started my function has increased weekly during my physiotherapy appointments. Every week I seem to be getting stronger. To which I am very grateful for.  I continue to pray that one day when I wake up God will have healed me completely and I will be able to just sit up and throw my legs to the side of the bed and stand.

The last few weeks have been difficult, as we have embarked on this Christmas season. I think of all the things that I was able to do with such ease. Now I’m fortunate if I can do them at all. I need help with most things. Shopping is a challenge, I can’t carry anything and push myself at the same time, getting through a parking lot with the snow is nearly impossible without someone pushing me through the piles. Nothing is simple or quick. Everything has to be thought out and planned. I have to keep thinking about the plan and purpose that God has for me.

God had a plan to have His son come to this earth as a baby, live on this earth and than give His life as a living sacrifice for us. Giving us the hope and choice to live eternally with Him.  During our trial we don’t know why or what He’s up to. Mary couldn’t have known the implications and impact that was going to happen while she was being effected by the trial that she was going through but she choose to be obedient in it and because of that God was able to use her in a way we could never have imagined. I know that God is working in and on me through this trial; I pray daily that I will stay strong and choose to be obedient to Him in it. It’s not easy and I find this time for some reason harder than others. I find myself getting tired dealing with life and what it brings.

A dear friend shared these verses with me just a few days ago.

 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

It makes you realize that we have zero control over everything and anything but she reminded me that we know the one that does ….Jesus.

So, I am thankful for these Christmas season that we have the privilege that we can celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ and that He has given us that choice to follow Him and He is all we need.

Merry Christmas to all of you and may you feel God’s work in your lives and the many blessings He has for you in the New Year.

HUGS Sandra

When Life is Hard!

That is the title of a book a dear friend gave me. James MacDonald, one of my favorite authors, writes it. He begins by saying “What separates us is not what we’re going through, because into every life tribulation comes. The great divider is, how we handle the times when life is hard.”

This trial has been a hard one and yes, it makes life hard, but I am so thankful for the many promises that God has given me to cling to. Jeremiah 29:11 “He knows the plans He has for you, plans to give you a future and a hope” Job 23:10 “When He has tried me, I shall come out as gold” God’s plans are far greater than my immediate problem or trial. I know that something good will come of this. He has brought me to a new level of dependence on Him. One that I never thought I needed. Boy was I wrong.

I take one day at a time. Struggling, frustrated and tired of being in this chair has been hard. Dealing with discomfort daily that’s hard. Everything takes so much more effort. Holidays... that’s hard when you can’t participate they way you did before. Watching everyone around you doing what you used to enjoy doing. It’s hard!

Another dear friend, shortly after my accident, encouraged me to write down all my blessings. That wasn't so hard. I didn't have tolook too far to see the many blessings that God provided for me leading up to this accident and after. I continue to be showered with them daily. God is taking care of my every need.

Some exciting news is that I have continued to increase my ability to move my feet on the treadmill. I have attached a video for you to take a look. I am still in a sling, but as you can see I am able to move my feet forward without any assistance. I am thankful and continue to pray that God will make me stronger and stronger.  Every week I seem to be getting stronger and I am able to do more than the week before. I pray that God will continue to give me a positive spirit and that I will be able to be used by Him in and through this trial.

“My grace is sufficient for you .” James MacDonald said “ The grace of Jesus is not fully seen until weakness is fully experienced.” I can’t get through this without grace from God.  “Exactly what I need to do is exactly what God wills for me to do – that’s the grace. It’s wisdom, It’s strength. It’s perseverance. It’s discernment. It’s faith. It’s courage. It’s confidence. It’s comfort it’s conviction. Good things always come as grace from God” He is the Grace.

Thank you to all of you that continue to pray, encourage and help me in practical ways. You are all on my blessing list and I know that God placed each and everyone of you in my life for a reason and He has an amazing plan for all of this.

BIG Hug Sandra

A great few weeks!

We took a family holiday from the 19th to the 27th. It was a great time to recharge and spend some time together. The real exciting news came the day before we left while Sandra was in physio. As she has explained before the therapy she is doing now is being suspended in a harness over a treadmill, her trainers move her legs in the motion of walking trying to retain her muscles. On the 18th Sandra was able to pull her right leg through on her own, just needed help placing it properly. Then on the 29th she did the same with her left leg. This new motion is being instigated from her hip flexer.
This is a big step, still a long way from walking independently but we are very excited with this progress.
Muscles are graded from 0-5, with  5 being an able bodied person and a 3 is being able to resist gravity. From the very beginning we have been told "we can't make your muscles go from a 0 to a 1 but once they are a 1 we can make them a 3." Some volitary movement clearly puts her at a 1 or 2 on the scale, now we just need more muscle groups to engage.
Please continue to pray for continued improvements, Sandra's MRI on November 28.
Mike

So much to be thankful for......

So how are we doing? It's a good question that we get asked a lot . Under the circumstances we are doing well but it is a continual adjustment to our new life. 

Sandra has recovered well from her surgery at the end of June. The removal of the hardware has eased her upper back pain and improved her range of motion.

These are great improvements that we are thankful for but she continues to be in pain everyday. Sandra has burning or twitching all the time since her injury. The burning can be in her thighs, her feet  or anywhere in between or all over. She continues to resist taking medication to ease the pain, as they all have some sort of side effect. These side effect can effect the outcome of her recovery, dulling the nerves while they are still try to sort themselves out.

On the therapy side of things Sandra has progressed to wearing a harness that supports her weight on a treadmill. This is exciting to watch her "walk" with assistance. The harness supports her weight and her therapist help in moving her legs to simulate the walking motion on the treadmill in hopes of engaging her muscle memory. It reminds me of a child's development, just at a slower pace, initially after the accident we were excited to see Sandra sit up unassisted, no small feet for having zero trunk. We then saw her move on to crawling in Detroit this was also very difficult for her to do, and actually difficult sometimes to watch her struggle with.  These are simple actions to us but incredibly difficult for her.  

Last winter Sandra moved to assisted standing at our kitchen counter, then to moving (swinging) her leg forward and back, side to side. The story isn't over yet, we (mostly she) presses on working for every bit of recovery she has seen. 

We have so much to be thankful for. Sandra has started back with acupuncture with a new doctor and although she has only had 3 sessions she has started to feel a difference in her pain level. Also, on Friday she received a phone call and has been accepted into the functional MRI trial. This is a huge answer to prayer! We will go to the civic Tuesday and have a meeting to find out more details. God continues to prepare the way for us. 

A few prayer requests for the next while

1) Sandra will continue to improve and therapy goes well

2) The MRI trial will go well and be of great benefit to Sandra and others

3) Sandra's pain and spams will decrease, 

4) improved sleep for Sandra 

5) God's direction in our housing needs 

Happy thanksgiving, we do have so much to be thankful for don't we. Wishing you all a relaxing weekend with your friends and family. Mike

Change!

I've been getting a little bored with my physio therapy so we decided to switch it up a little. For the past few weeks instead of staying at home, I've have been going to the clinic. It’s been interesting and very different. They place me in a harness that supports me, putting me between even bars that I hold onto. Then I try to lock a knee, shift my weight over that knee and move my other foot forward. Although I can’t move my foot forward, my therapists do it for me. The idea is to stimulate the brain into thinking that I am in hopes of waking up some nerves. It’s exhausting but I am hopeful that this will be worth the effort. 

We are also looking into starting water therapy. It will be a little challenging getting ready for the swim but it’s been known to be very beneficial as there is zero gravity. A lot of people are able to move more muscle groups in the water than they can on land.  

I am still using my FES bike and am able to bike 50 -60 miles a week. My muscles are getting strong and my cardio is right up there. I may have the strongest legs that don’t walk. But I am ready, whenever God is ready to glorify Himself through healing me completely.

Please continue to pray that God will continue to give me what I need for each day and that I will be able to honor Him in my actions and thoughts. That one day soon He will heal me completely and allow me to walk again. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement and most of all your prayers. 

Big Hugs Sandra     

I Choose Joy!

I have to be honest and say it’s been a little more difficult the last few weeks for some reason. I’m struggling to be thankful in all things, to choose to be joyful.  I’m not looking for the reason why, I just want God to heal me completely. While in the process of Him doing that I am trying to honor and glorify Him in all things, which at times is easier than others.

So, what does God do? He gives me a verse to encourage me. While doing my devotions I read James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” My devotions was entitled “What happens when you choose joy”

Like the first century followers of Jesus, we have to be taught that trials are what God uses to develop our endurance. Unless we've been told how God works, our response to trials is likely to be anything but JOY. Trials …troubles, or something that breaks the pattern of peace, comfort, joy and happiness in someone’s life.  And I am supposed to choose JOY? It doesn't come naturally. Knowing and doing are two different things. Knowing what God can do with trials isn't the same thing as doing life with that knowledge. It’s our privilege to respond to God’s work through the testing of that trial by choosing joy.

There are so many things we can choose, anger, discouragement, bitterness and or sadness. But JOY is a much better choice! Not JOY for the trial but for what the trial will accomplish in deepening my faith in God.  All of these feelings will produce endurance but I desire the endurance that will deepen my faith with my Heavenly Father.  

So “I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Phillippians 3:14 I’m praying that God will teach me to count it all joy because I know that joy improves the possibility of endurance. I also know that I can’t do this alone; I need the strength of the Lord to help me to endure. Nehemiah 8:10 “for the Joy of the Lord is your strength” I pray, that He will give me the strength to endure and to be joyful through it. That others will also see that joy and hope that I have in Christ Jesus. Although hard at times I'm Choosing JOY!

Hugs Sandra