Category: LP-ESP disc information

The last couple of weeks have been rather intense between full-time work and volunteering at the Orlando Wheelchair Games on my days off. However, this event marks an important milestone in this stage of my recovery: Emergency Management and volunteering at sports events (especially involving disabled athletes) have always been a huge passion of mine. I remember when after hurricane Harvey hit Texas last year, I got the phone call from the DEMPS coordinator to activate and deploy me to the disaster zone. I was so entirely torn that I said “yes” initially only to call back 10 minutes later to let them know that I was too disabled to go! I had trained a long time for events like this and put my heart and soul into this role, only to be too crippled with pain when the call for deployment came. I cried for the rest of the day in frustration and slipped deeper into despair and depression… So, with that being said, putting on my uniform and volunteering at the Wheelchair Games was a big deal to me!

One very moving moment during my airport tour-of-duty occurred when a female athlete wheeled up to me and asked, “weren’t you at the Invictus Games two years ago?” I replied that I was indeed on the medical team back then. She then said “Oh, I knew it was you! Thank you so much for being here, you just made my day!” She then hugged me and rolled off with her team to board the shuttle to the hotel. I must say, she made MY day!

Later that evening I met Perry Price, an Army veteran who lost one of his legs and is now a professional basketball player! When I told him that I am more a soccer-girl, he got out his basketball and made me play soccer, right the in the airport! Let me just say, I am not quitting my day job….

The remaining days I spent at the convention center to volunteer for the clinic and the opening ceremony. What a great event!

So, what else was I up to during the last couple of weeks? Well, I got to bike in the Seminole State Forest! Due to the rain, there also was some mud involved, and the heat was rather intense. However, it was a beautiful outing and as taxing as it was to pedal up the hills, the effort was rewarded with fast downhill sprints, which are so much fun! I hope to start exploring more single-track trails that offer a more diverse terrain. Ok, I am not planning to do highly technical rides but a bit of speed and jumps should be ok…

Did I mention how muddy some of the trails were…?

This little clip captured the victory of climbing a hill that I had not been able to pedal up on a previous occasion prior to the surgery. I remember dismounting and crying in frustration the last time I was there, so to conquer this trail segment was a huge victory to me! Aaaand I got to race down the hill on the other side, whoohoo!😊

Last but not least, I also had my 2-hour mock-deployment training (virtual reality) for DEMPS (Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel), which means that I am reinstated and ready to deploy if disaster strikes (hopefully not, but if it does, I am ready). Getting my life back together, one piece at a time!

 

 

 

 

Over the last couple of weeks, I have seen the following pattern: especially during very stressful shifts at work, my back (at T3) gets very tight around the “tender spot”. In fact, the soreness is quite palpable when I push on it. Interestingly enough, rest (as in sleeping) as well as physical therapy tend to reverse those episodes. That shows me how important structured physical therapy is for the recovery process. Everything, from basic stretches to high intensity activities (rehab and recreational) has been essential in my recovery. I am still very careful and selective in what I do and try to listen to my body, though. I hope that in time I can reduce or even eliminate those episodes of “tightness” altogether. I have to remind myself that I am only four months post-op, and I think it is pretty amazing how well I am healing.

Overall, I feel really good: I can bend, twist, carry groceries, pick up my dog, and perform many other activities I wasn’t able to do anymore before the surgery. I am still amazed about the lack of pain when I move, and I will never, ever, take my back for granted again! It is safe to say that I re-discovered my joy for movement!

So far, I was able to stick to my once-per-week PT sessions, and I even got a nice bike ride in, even though frequent thunderstorms and downpours have made it difficult to discover the outdoors. I don’t mind getting wet so much but I have come too far to be hit by lightning now! I sometimes wonder if the titanium addition in my spine would actually attract a lightning bolt, lol!

Speaking of the great outdoors, this time we explored the Orlando Wetlands Park. We discovered the leftovers of a gator snack (poor turtle), lots of birds, and a couple alligators swimming here and there. Unfortunately, it was way too hot for gators to sunbathe on the side of the trails (a common sight during the winter).

The trails within the Orlando Wetlands Park are overall very rider-friendly but have some segments that are quite difficult for my still weak chicken legs to keep up with. I forgot how much effort it takes to pedal through higher grass while avoiding deep ruts. In addition, the weather was incredibly hot and steamy, and I guess I lost about half my body weight in sweat. At one point, I was surrounded by group of vultures while riding the trails, but even though I was quite cooked, I was not ready to become dinner yet.

Biking the Orlando Wetlands

Next week, I will reach another mile stone: my goal before surgery was to be able to be a medical volunteer at this year’s “Wheelchair Games”, which are about to start at the end of July! I signed up for three shifts during which I will help disabled athletes in need of medical attention. It is actually ironic to use the term “disabled” in conjunction with these incredible athletes. I remember seeing a guy who lost both legs and one arm during the war, chained to a rowing machine and winning his heat in the indoor-rowing discipline at the Invictus Games in 2016. This definitely puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?