Fiercely Independent Pam

Category: Accessibility

  • Dreaming of Wet Noses Again… Gaining Strength and Making it Happen…

    Well it was bound to happen… I made a giant leap and ordered my first new pet product. It’s a smart collar that is almost like a fitbit for a dog. I was excited to do so and being then”gadget queen” I just knew it was a good purchase. But now I wait. PAALS is accomplishing amazing things, with this, being their 20th year. I am excited to hopefully attaining/befriending my service dog this year.

    I have learned a lot more about the process that PAALS uses to place service dogs with clients and am very ready to take on training, fundraising, and the hard work that is needed to build a bond between dog and handler.

    I spend a lot of time dreaming about a service dog and all it will be able to do for me. I think of dropped items, holding doors, accessing areas of the grocery store that I can’t access now. And the biggest thing- companionship- I long for sharing my bed with a sloppy, lovable beast of sorts. It’s been a long time since my dear Sofi was able to come into bed with me, but I remember it well, and it felt so perfect.

    Next steps include a site visit that will be combined with a community visit. PAALS is going to bring a service dog to help me negotiate the grocery store and gain some skills with cues. I so appreciate their willingness to help with transportation since the beach and Columbia is not the closest. It looks like this visit is going to take place in either March or April.

    I am also enthusiastic about the training process. I love learning new things and processes. Learning cues, signals, and directions are right up my alley. I am looking forward to daily training exercises and getting outside for walks several times a day.

    October is the big deadline. My 25th College Reunion is in October in Baltimore. I am so looking forward to seeing my friends, and having my service dog and making the big travel plans by flying to Baltimore. I missed my 20th reunion because my dad was dying so being on campus is even more important to me. It sounds like its a long shot to have my dog in time for reunion, but patience is the name of of the game and I will demonstrate that the quality of the process is more important than than the timing.

  • Rough Times Ahead! Working Oh So Hard At Building Strength!

    So, things aren’t going as smooth as I thought they would. I am definitely on the struggle bus for strength and ability to transfer. I’ve gotten stuck in more places than I chose to share but I cannot say enough good things about the fire department (lift/assist). They have been wonderful in getting me out of unique situations. It is a combination of not enough strength and complete fear of falling and being on the ground. I started with PT yesterday and just need to keep building strength so that I can stand on my own. Once I can stand, all will be fine. In the meantime I am using the transfer board as needed.

    On top of all of this, I am dealing with a crazy amount of thrush in my mouth mostly from the steroids. It’s quite painful and limits how much I want to eat or drink. I have medication, so I am hoping that makes a big difference today.

    I also am almost caught up with my Bible in a Year Podcast- I fell behind while I was in the hospital and it’s a lot to catch back up, but this is happening too! I got so much out of the Rosary in a Year, that I thought I would try the Bible in a Year!

    Then, once I have gained enough strength to stand, I am looking forward to trying out my new Zeen. It has the ability to move me from sit to stand, so that is a good thing and I can even get some exercises done on it.

    I also have a lot of organizing to do and unpacking of some shopping adventures- looking forward to seeing what I was able to get. The biggest adventure for today is to not get stuck anywhere(especially on the toilet) and not end up falling on the floor.

    I GOT THIS!!!

  • It’s Beyond Time to Get Home and Reset…

    So, I finally got a new picc line– a little different than imagined, but it’s in and I am able to get my IV antibiotics through it as well as my IVIG infusions. I am so thankful for the team in IR this morning that “just made it happen.” Then I got back to my room and my breakfast was waiting for me! All good signs of things to come.

    If I haven’t said it before, chronic illness is expensive. My 3 weeks of IV antibiotics is going to run over $3000 and that’s with excellent insurance. Told them that I was just going to have to make small payments towards that expense.

    My first priority in getting home today is having an amazing lunch with an old friend who we have been playing phone tag for a long time. It will be great to catch up with her. My apartment is going to be a little bit of a mess as I organize my new mobility devices, like my ZEEN. I am hoping the Zeen is really the change I require to gain some strength and independence.

    Tonight will be about showering and organizing a little with one of my caregivers. Hopefully, after a shower tonight and moving around today, I will gain some more strength. I won’t lie, I am very nervous about getting “stuck” on the toilet due to low strength, but it will be what it will be!

    Then it’s back to my regular schedule- newsletter this weekend after taking my niece for facials for her birthday! I have a lot going on at times, and other times, nothing but crickets!

    I have a ton of follow up appointments, and eager to find out what is next for this giant kidney stone. Apparently it needs to get “blasted.”

    All of this will pass as well and then it’s back to getting ready to welcome my service dog. I am hoping the committee meets soon and I am able to schedule a community visit. I really want to see some progress in bringing this game changer to life. My 25 year reunion is in October of 2026 and I am eager to travel back to Baltimore with my new service dog and flying for the first time in 5+ years. BIG things are happening!

    Also on the agenda, is getting back into tutoring- specifically dyslexia tutoring. I have always enjoyed tutoring 1-1 with students. I use the Wilson Reading System and have a lot of materials. Please reach out to me if you have any leads in this direction.