Have you ever lost the ability to participate in something you are passionate about? I lost a lot of them after suffering a spinal cord injury. I loved golfing, hiking in nature, traveling, grabbing a bite to eat, and much more. One thing I maintained was reading. I now listen to audiobooks exclusively because I Continue reading

It’s been a busy week with appointments. I had an illeoscopy and electromyography (EMG) at Blodgett Hospital this past Monday, March 13. I have periodically had blood in my stool these past several months. Fortunately, nothing was detected and I’m given a clean bill of health. Then I had an appointment at Mary Free Bed Continue reading

Do you remember the teeter totter on the playground? It was fun playing on when I was a child. It’s not so fun when it’s going on between my ears. I struggle with extreme thoughts. One moment, I feel hopefulness but then the opposite end of the teeter totter swings upward and hopelessness takes over. Continue reading

It was a busy week with medical appointments. On Monday, February 27 was a urology appointment to change my supra pubic catheter, which drains urine into a leg bag. Next, was a visit to the wound clinic. I had developed a blister on my right heel from rubbing against my night braces. The nurse practitioner Continue reading

I’m pretty discouraged by my current physical condition. The constant pull of my muscle tone is debilitating and contorting my body. I had a baclofen pump surgically inserted next to my stomach back in February of 2019. It has been an adventure since. Baclofen is a muscle relaxant medication used to decrease spasticity for an Continue reading

A couple of months ago the therapeutic rec department started a few different Coffee and Conversation Groups to get residents out of the building and interacting. Covid put a wrench on group outings for a couple of years. I am grouped with three other guys roughly my age. I jokingly call these outings ‘play dates’ Continue reading

Weekends at Sojourners residential are pretty chill. There are no therapies like on weekdays. It’s more laborious during the winter as we are stuck inside. I spend a lot of time outdoors during the warmer months, frequently wheeling down to Calvin University’s natural preserve to connect with nature. There’s none of that this time of Continue reading

Being paralyzed in in a wheelchair, I struggle with feelings of being less than whole. I felt very self-conscious in a wheelchair, being inferior and a lot of shame. My self-esteem was in shambles and lost my self identity. I was consumed about my shortcomings and was very self critical. There was more to achieve Continue reading

Four years post injury and I’m starting to walk on my feet. Not literally but figuratively. I’ve been on two community outings with friends these past few weeks. First, what is a trip to Schuler’s bookstore to meet a couple of friends and former colleagues, Melody and LaVange for coffee. Melody stopped at Sojourners beforehand Continue reading

I finished listening to the book “The Seven Decisions” by Andy Andrews. I don’t agree with all points made but there are some to live by. Decision number one is the responsible decision. The buck stops with me. I accept responsibility for my past. Challenges are gifts and opportunities to learn.  I still have difficulty Continue reading