#thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback

day 560 : a tiny progress update.
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first, i moved. AGAIN. that’s now 5 times in 4 years, and twice post-paralysis
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second, currently not doing any physical therapy so i’m using my natural environment. not that that’s any different from any other of the last 560 days. #nevernottraining #letsfixthis
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thankfully these are the only stairs in this house!
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third, glad i made the decision to buy two packs of wool socks because my feet have only been winterfell-level cold, not beyond-the-wall cold this winter. also just proud that i crushed my #birksandsocks goal this year. couldn’t even dream of them this time last year.
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meh…a bunch of other big news circling around me. big things, regardless of good or bad, throw me for a spin and make me feel like the depression and anxiety win every day. just kind of hunkering down, feeling the feels, and waiting for the storm to pass.
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also, it wouldn’t be one of my videos if i didn’t almost fall in it. double eye roll i had just done it seamlessly!
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keep on keepin’ on y'all.
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#spinalcordinjury
#scirecovery
#incompleteparaplegic
#thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback
#whatparalysis
#bionicbadass
#disabledandcute
#lifeaftersci
#walkingparaplegic
#mentalhealthawareness
(at Paris Mountain State Park)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsrDmx9B0Mk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1x46n45k6nrom

day 520 : FINALLY a solution for the ice blocks attached to the end of my legs.
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two days ago i made a grave mistake. i got into a pool (a lap pool that was pretty chilly because, you know, exercise) and then immediately went into a sauna. i had never been in a sauna and was excited about the idea of being warm for a quick minute.
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boy, was i wrong.
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although i was only in there for a few minutes, i had no idea how much it would mess with my neurological system and already-present temperature control issues due to SCI.
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i spent that night sleepless, drenched in sweat, and colder than i’ve ever been, despite wool socks, two thick blankets, warm pants, and a chunky sweater.
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yesterday was spent in pure misery and confusion as my skin would get warm but i felt like the outside was just a warm covering over the ice that was inside. nothing, nothing, nothing worked and i constantly fluctuated between burning and sweating to freezing and sweating from half a second to the next.
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lessons learned.
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thanks boyfriend for the good ideas and for spoiling me way more than i deserve.
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sci friends : if you have chronic cold feet, do yourself a favor. the effects of this warmth lasted like 12 hours!!!
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#coldfeet
#paralysisproblems
#scirecovery
#spinalcordinjury
#footbath
#paraplegic
#thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback
#dominoeffects
#whatparalysis
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrWK7L0BI5T/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hs47jjgk2qfb

day 520 : !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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don’t tell my pt’s at @uptsm that i did tigerFIT or multiple instances of jump rope today…three weeks post knee surgery is enough, right?
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my goal was just to clear the jump rope past one foot - almost fainted when i cleared BOTH after a few tries!
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jumping has been my new obsession. every day gets better and better. cannot wait to get after those tuck jumps! #impatience
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#whatparalysis
#tigerfit
#exerciseismedicine
#spinalcordinjury
#scirecovery
#incompleteparaplegic
#moveyourbody
#thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback
#jumprope
#practicemakesprogress
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrGYcpzBVAs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=k2ur88s5ir8y

day 508 : be. still. my. .
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i’m usually a bit of a (ok, maybe more than a bit?). i’m pretty grinch-y during the holidays, and thanksgiving is just ughhhhvdjskxnrkdjdjd….
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but i’ve found myself feeling an unexpected wave of gratitude the last few days for the short list of things going well right now.
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i forgot my cane and parking tag galavanting through the carolinas yesterday. bless @timberland boots for allowing this paraplegic to feel confident over most terrain, especially big gravel like the kind i ate it on about a year and a half ago lol. #walkingparaplegic
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i also walked up that big hill in the background, and felt really good about it?!?!
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i’m thankful for this sunshine of a man that was a bright light at a very dark time in my life. thanks for being stubborn when i was pushing you away
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thankful for two loving parents that came to me when traveling was just too much for me this year.
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thankful for the best pup pup that could ever happen to a person with sci. or any person. lucy, i dont know what i’d do without your dragon noises and cute zoomies every day.
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also the fact that you’re an obstacle course because you refuse to move from taking up the entire hallway every time i walk by. my dog is daily physical therapy.
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in the past few weeks, something has happened to my legs. i got up from a regular height chair with no hands yesterday. also a low-ish toilet.
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and about two weeks ago, the top half of my left leg like, came back. sort of like it walked back in from vacation and was like, “what’s up?” it’s the weirdest thing ever.
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anyway, i don’t like wine, but i drank wine. and i’m getting better at drinking and walking.
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#spinalcordinjury
#scirecovery
#timberlandboots
#paraplegic
#incompleteparaplegic
#thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback
#whatparalysis
#moveyourbody
#depression
#mentalhealthawareness
#endthestigma
#movember
#moustache
#ambulatorywheelchairusersexist

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqko4V3hkwb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ghnaej9xvicb

day 447 : let me tell you about how joltingly honored i am to have been included in this first-ever women’s empowerment and powerlifting event benefitting an organization near and dear to my heart, @smartfitgirls.
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feeling the boom of #intersectionalfeminism and meeting some of the most powerful, badass, and confident women i have ever encountered has been beyond humbling.
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i’ve been sick with worry the past few months thinking, how am i supposed to get in front of people and talk about this injury and my life. i’m in a dark place, paralysis is heavy, and what do i currently have to offer to help anyone.
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but, as i’ve made #vulnerability my commitment, i went up there, spoke my truth, and didn’t fall on the stage
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my soul is bursting with magic at seeing how amazing this event was and how impactful coming together to truly support one another can be.
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@chrissy_chard and @smartfitgirls, thank you for letting me be a part of this revolution, and let this be my insta-official notice that i WILL be powerlifting at this event next year. even if i can only crush the 15-pound bar!
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to every person i’ve met this weekend - i am grateful to know you and have heard your story. thanks for sharing your good juju with me.
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#uniteforstrength
#womenempowerment
#strongishappy
#thefutureisinclusive
#thefutureisaccessible
#spinalcordinjuryrecovery
#sci
#wheelchairlife
#wheelie
#thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback
#exerciseismedicine
#moveyourbody
#vulnerabilityisstrength
#healingisnotlinear
#ambulatorywheelchairusersexist
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoC-LzThXZe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1p3g4zosf5lwp