Fiercely Independent Pam

Category: helpful products

  • Discharge Day: Accomplishing Goals And Getting It Done! It’s Really Time to Go Home and Live My Life Again!

    Today is my discharge day from acute rehab. I have been working super hard the last week or so. Therapy has been three hours a day plus other work. I still didn’t meet all my goals, but it’s time to move on and reclaim my schedule.

    This time has given me a chance to build different kind of routines, most notable goals being my prayer/bible time each morning. I am absolutely loving following along with the Adventure Bible.

    I also have been enjoying reading or in fact listening to a book through Audible (right now I’m “reading” The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah. It is a long story but helping me reach my goal of reading a book each week.

    I feel a little disappointed that I didn’t reach all my goals, most noteworthy of being able to stand completely on my own, but it is time. I will use the slide board if needed, but I think I will have that behind me soon enough.

    So, my goal moving forward is not to panic or get stressed about the transition back to my apartment. My brother, Tim is going to meet me and help me get a little settled. I have a lot of packages to open and put away. Then, I have a special package to deliver to Yvonne (I ordered her a copy of Wicked), I want to print the newsletter and deliver it,

    The next steps are going to be busy, but good. It’s a lot of waiting too- I need to wait for my Aflac payment as well as waiting for my plan G documentation.

    I put in for extra help from Home Instead including an extra laundry shift, I think it will help on Monday when laundry will be due again.

    I will need the tech to help pack up my clothes and assorted stuff that I’ve collected over the last couple of days. It’s a goal to have it organized. The plan is coming together.

  • And It Is “GO Time!” Just Need To Stand Up! Eager To Try Today!

    So, I think I figured this out! A new post means I can share what I am up to. I am still trying to figure out my Woobles- Grumpy Bear- I really messed it up but will start again. I am eager also to try to stand- it just needs to happen today- going to try to use a walker and just stand.

    I am also reading The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. She is the author of many different books including The Women. I enjoy these books and look forward to reading even more. I challenged myself to reading a book a week. Often I was listening to the books on the Nustep and people tried to talk to me despite using my AirPods. I also need to practice standing.

    I am looking forward to getting back on the Nustep each day and building back my cardio rehab plan. It’s important to get back to my 21 minutes (plus 3 minutes each week) to build up to 45 minutes. In addition, I will begin using my Zeen to build up endurance. Hopefully I will be able to stand and walk into my Zeen. It will be important that I stand as well.

    Once I am able to stand, I can put away the purchases I made. My brother Tim is going to come over and put up some shelves I bought to put over the toilet as well as putting together the beach walker I purchased (I’ve been looking at this for quite sometime- it will allow me to get to the beach and have a mobility device to use on the beach).

  • 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.