what a day

Today started off by going to our home church for Kauai, Calvary Chapel on the North Shore. It was uplifting and the message was fantastic, the Pastor talked about how sometimes we murmur about what we don't like or don't have. We should focus on what we are Blessed with and have in our lives. I thought about my left leg and how I cannot walk, run, swim and such but what I do have is a nice comfortable life, health care to cover the majority of my expenses for my treatment. I have much that I have been Blessed with so much. I did do some snorkeling later on today, or at least I tried. It was not as easy as it was last time. The time is still enjoyable and I will continue to learn my normal though I admit sometimes what is frustrating is that others forget my normal and I try to keep in mind that it is me not them.

What a week

I know it has been awhile since I updated my blog and I am sorry for the lapse in time. I have been very busy doing so much it was hard to get online and update it. I am in Kauai enjoying the beautiful weather and quiet time. I have gone snorkeling once and did some great video underwater. I am going to try to post the video on my blog if I can learn how to do it. I also went fishing on the ocean and had the honor of catching seven tuna all together. Basically I have accomplished things that I NEVER thought possible going back a year which is when I was experiencing my first on set of seizures. Thinking back to my surgery and that I could hardly move without a walker and yet now I am here snorkeling pretty good and deep sea fishing. What a thrill. I will admit that my leg and foot get tired even the walks are a bit much they are great exercise for me. Over all I am compensating where I need to and going forward when I can.... Aloha

LA

Who would have thought? When we landed in Atlanta I requested a wheelchair as I had to go quite a distance. I felt guilty as I was being pushed in a chair and everyone else walked to keep up. As we boarded for LA I requested a wheelchair for LA. Well they had it waiting as soon as I stepped from the plane to the aisle way. We made our way up the gangway to the airport as we arrived at Gate 58. As we started to make our way my wife informed me that our departing Gate was 59. It was a whole thirty yards away....

Life is nice

Well this is just a short update. Landed in Atlanta and waiting on outbound to LA.... The weather is much nicer and mentally healthier....

Friday - Good Day

Well as usual I had my physical therapy this morning and things went quite well. Starting out on the bike I must have had a lot of energy because I set a new record of 1 and 1/2 miles. That is a quarter of a mile more than I have ever been able to pedal before. That was so nice to have a good ride. The rest of the activities went well to as for my therapy goes. I am just hoping that my so called Insurance Company starts to see that having my left leg experience paralysis so I cannot walk without assistance due to a 2 1/2 inch tumor removed from my brain is 'medial'. After therapy I had breakfast (two hours long) with two people I use to work with and haven't seen in about four years. We had a great time, sharing memories, seeing what each other has been up to, and best of all we compared grandchildren. As we did one shared with me that his grand-daughter calls him PaPa just like Molly calls me. :-) That was so cool. Over all the day was a nice day and very rewarding all the way around. I also did some exercises in my therapy which were new because I am still gaining more and more muscle control over the left leg, not 100% but still it is a gradual increase! ! !

When up is down

Well as usual my day was filled with teaching and lecturing lessons to my students. That was very enjoyable for the most part. I love to help students who desire to do better and learn. After the end of the day I went to my Wednesday physical therapy visit. I had a surprise waiting for me, seems my insurance says my therapy is suddenly not medically related. No one could understand how in all their wisdom at BC/BS, they could see my therapy for a left leg paralyzed due to a brain tumor is 'not' medical. Well someone from Benefits stepped in to call and help me out and made some headway. My first reaction was that my therapy was going to end and I would have to go it alone but hopefully it won't be that way. I did think as I was pedalling away that one way or another I was going forward and still going to work on getting as much use of my leg back that I can.

Good Friday

What a great day it was! No not everything went the way it was suppose to but it was a great day. As I said in my last blog, I had physical therapy this morning. I was talking to a therapist (an intern working with me) and the next thing I did was look up at the distance on the bike machine and I ended up pedaling myself a mile and a quarter. My farthest was a mile and a tenth so I was so pleased to see that. My routine has been changed around because of my growth. That is so fantastic, I am working on balance as I said earlier. Walking backwards, doing the sobriety walk (heel to toe), and having to walk an obstacle course stepping over objects and up and down steps as I go. I think back to just last December when I could not balance even 30 seconds without needing assistance. I see how much has been accomplished. When the neurologist and neuro surgeon first talked to me the verdict was that only about 85% of the tumor would be removed by surgery, I wold need to be in the hospital 10 to 14 days and I would have a lot of paralysis to deal with. Well God had a different thought, they got the tumor 100%, I was out of the hospital after eight days, and I am still gaining more ability which means less paralysis. I am not saying I will have none, I won't have full use as even the therapists say, but I will have a lot more use than they originally said. That was before I even got to my office to see clients today.

Clients went well, not all is good though. I do find such satisfaction in helping others find a path of help. Life for me is great, tumor, seizures, paralysis has little meaning, this is Good Friday and my life is VERY good. I am BLESSED and I am thankful for what I do have.....