During my session last
week with Christina, she wrote up a list of all of the routine/activities of
daily living – ADL – that I'm able to do. At the end she noted that more than
half of them I am able to do without any help from Ron.
Then we moved on to a
list of things that I enjoy that I'm able to do. Whether or not any of these
can be expanded on I don't know. I think that doing this gave her a better idea
of my daily life. It also gave me concrete evidence of how far I have come.
The buttons - plus a few
bigger items - are a visual for me, of all the stuff I've done in recent weeks. Some routine,
some not so much.
Since doing this
exercise with Christina, I realized how much I have maintained even while
trying to stabilize from my setback the beginning of October. Maintaining my
ADL is a big deal.
I also remembered that
when my mother emailed me that it was impressive that I had gone to a furniture
store with Ron and Leena to pick out new dining chairs, I had downplayed it.
But it was a big deal – difficult yes, but I did it!
I managed the Saturday a
couple of weeks ago when our old living room windows were taken out, and new
ones installed. Thinking through to make sure that the pets were safe, and
dealing with the disruption.
I realized when talking
about pacing with Ann (VT) that I underestimate what I am actually doing. Given
the fact that I am living a new normal, I really need to give myself credit for
all of the challenges I DO take on.
It's so, so easy to
focus on the deficits, so I am going to make a point every week to focus on
what I'm accomplishing.
here's some of the
buttons I sorted, a visual accomplishment -
I'm incredibly grateful
that my medical team - Dr. Margolis, Ann, Christina and Joyce – for never
giving up on me even when I'm struggling.
Finally, I am fully
aware, and very, very grateful and appreciative of the support I get from
family to be able to still be traveling this medical journey of mine.
