Walking Spirit

Last week I chose to talk about feelings and emotions as opposed physicalities. This week will be much more grounded in the happenings of the physical world. As a result this may seem a little disjointed (and a little long winded), partly because I have to go back and fill you in on last weeks happenings and some other stuff that has been behind the scenes. I'm sorry for the delay in getting this out. Sarah and I have Pilates on Thursday nights now and I don't have the energy to think afterward. I would have done the update earlier in the day on Thursday but I was driving. (Yes, the car is finally modified!) Since I am now working Mon, Tue, Thur, and Friday I'm going to try to start updating the blog on Wednesday's again. Not sure how I'll schedule it next month when I get back to full time but, I'll find a way to keep it up!

Last Monday (almost two weeks ago), as I was walking into my office, my right socket buckled. I didn't fall but had that foot forward and couldn't shift my weight onto it to walk any further. Luckily someone was in the office and he grabbed my wheelchair so that I could sit down. When I got the leg off there was a big wrinkle in the socket. It was no longer usable. Mike, the Prosthetist, ordered the permanent sockets and I got them last Friday.

Unfortunately when the old socket buckled it also sheered off a small portion of grafted skin on my leg. The skin hasn't healed yet. Last Friday, when I got the permanent sockets, I bandaged the skin so that I could try the new sockets out. I'd stand and walk in them, tell Mike where they were pinching or rubbing, and then he would take them and make adjustments. This went on for about three hours. We got them as close to perfect as possible and I took them home. Due to the open wound on my leg I haven't been able to work with them much.

I did wear them to a funeral this past Wednesday where I walked a little. The new sockets are, for the most part, more comfortable than the temporaries were. They come up a lot higher, which occasionally causes some pinching in the groin (ouch!), but also offers a lot more support. In fact, as I was standing at the graveside portion of the funeral I realized that I was putting very little weight on the crutches and was almost standing on my own! The other benefits to the new sockets are that they have a different suspension that makes them easier get on and off, and they have allowed me to lose about an inch and a half in height!

At the funeral I also had the opportunity to reconnect with my friend Zenmandan who, based on his comment from last week, is very ecstatic about the upcoming benefit concert (he is a musician after all). One of my Fathers co-workers has a connection to two accomplished vocalists who apparently expressed interest in working with the performing arts students at Broad Ripple High School (my Alma-mater). From what I understand the two vocalists will be working with the students for a week and then performing a concert (mostly classical I think) at the end of the week. My Fathers co-worker took it upon herself to ask the Superintendent of IPS and the Principal at Broad Ripple if they would be willing to turn the concert into a benefit for me. Both said yes. I'm so touched, and can't wait to walk the halls of my high school once more!

The concert is on Friday, May 18th, from 7pm to 8:30pm. Tickets are on sale now, $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students.
For information people can call Dot at(317)502-8412 or Julia at (317)226-4791. Julia has tickets at the IPS Education Center, 120 E. Walnut St, Indianapolis, In 46204 on the 6th floor. Hopefully Zenmandan and his lovely wife will join us!

This past Monday I received a call from my councilor at Indiana Voc Rehab telling me to drop my car off at Superior Van and Mobility on Tuesday. The hand controls were installed on Wednesday and I picked up the vehicle on Thursday afternoon. Today I drove to work for the first time in over a year! It felt great although, to be honest, I missed the company of my Mother, Father, and JoAnn Hatfield who have been doing the majority of the driving. I promise I will get a picture posted soon. The weather has been pretty nasty and I want to give a great shot.

In regards to the recipe book, sales are going well. However, if you've sent orders to Maureen hopefully you've noticed that her e-mail address on the info I posted was missing two important letters. Her e-mail address is actually cornelim@ips.k12.in.us. If you didn't notice please resend your orders. We want everyone who wants one to have an opportunity to get it. I'm very excited about both fund raising projects and extremely thankful for all of your support.

Lastly, while at a church dinner after the funeral on Wednesday, I met several people who have been following my progress since the accident. A few of them mentioned that they would love to make comments but don't know how. In order to make a comment click on the link below the blog entry that says "comments". This will bring up all of the comments people have made to that particular entry and there is a place on the right hand side of the screen to enter your own comments. I love hearing what people think about what I'm putting out here so, even if you don't know me personally, please feel welcome to share your thoughts.