Howard Falkinburg

I was inadvertently placed into a role of a Parental Guidance counselor recently. It’s hard for me not to put my social work hat on. I was talking with a residential staff who confided that her 10 year relationship with her partner recently ended. She has primary custody of their daughter who is in first… Continue reading

I go on weekly therapeutic recreation outings to improve my emotional, social, physical well-being. It has helped reduce stress and build confidence in my ability to reconnect with society being wheelchair bound. This wasn’t a problem prior to my injury. I had a wide variety of interests and opportunities to participate. Golf was my favorite… Continue reading

I achieved a significant milestone yesterday. I was able to power on and change the channels on the remote control from my wheelchair. First time ever. I had to maneuver the wheelchair and raise it a few inches. I stretched my left arm to pull the remote closer and reposition it. Then Booya! This new… Continue reading

The Neuro Rehabilitation Gym at Hope Network’s Sojourners program is a happening place Mondays through Fridays. A variety of programs happen simultaneously. Physical, occupational, and recreational therapists may be working with their clients. It’s an active place full of energy and hard work. The weekend vibe at the gym is tranquil. The only noise heard… Continue reading

Rant: Passwords will be the death of me The one thing that triggers me into a rage are freakin’ passwords. I have about 100 no no accounts that require a login name and password. I try to be diligent to keep these updated and store them in a password keeper app. My iPhone has the… Continue reading

The five year anniversary of my accident is approaching. I still have raw emotions associated with this. I have shared my losses, challenges, and triumphs on this website and the caring bridge website. I have avoided writing this event down. The acknowledgment of my injury can help release conflicting feelings regurgitating in my soul. I… Continue reading

I attended my first football event in six years this past Saturday. This was an event because technically it was a scrimmage. This was a significant event because Calvin has never had a football team before. The campus is literally next-door to where I live. I hang out at calvins nature preserve getting in touch… Continue reading

The trial has begun! I started using Prialt as an alternative medication to Baclofen a couple of months ago.  Amy is my nurse through Pentec Health. She comes to my place at Hope Network every two weeks to provide intrathecal pump management.  My initial dose of Prialt was minimal but I could feel the effects… Continue reading

CPAN panel I put on my social work hat this past week. I was invited to participate on a panel to a town hall meeting addressing Michiga’s auto no fault law change. Cousin Terry was also on the panel. We received awesome news last month when the Michigan state Supreme Court upheld a civil suit… Continue reading

I was surfing the web recently when I came across a series of articles regarding happiness. I’d like to connect this to my search of finding happiness and purpose after surviving trauma. After my accident in 2018, it felt like my life was just ripped away and essentially over. I lost my marriage, house, independence,… Continue reading