5 and ALIVE!

www.triumph-foundation.org

I have been more involved with this awesome non-profit organization, www.triumph-foundation.org.  Volunteering has allowed me to pay back (pay forward) the kindness that the founder and his wife brought to me when I spent my "Merry Christmas" in an Intensive Care Unit 5 years ago.  They hand out care baskets with informative "How to" brochures and goodies that help people newly injured with an SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) year round.  Extra love and cheer make them super special during the holidays.  He, like I, was injured and hospitalized during the winter holidays so we love to spread cheer and hope roundabouts this time.

Hope is alive as I've learned that the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation have expanded upon new fields of research to complement and create alternatives to regenerative medicine studies, a.k.a. stem cell research.  One such research involves Epidural Stimulation, while other new studies involve electroencephalography.  With bright hopes, the FIFA World Cup 2014 will start off with a paralyzed teenager making the first "KICK" of the games!  Things are definitely looking up!

Pairing this hope with a tangible hand to hold provides a light to help someone see the possibilities that life STILL affords an individual.  Triumph Foundation's motto is to help individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries to triumph over their disabilities and employs many resources to inspire and keep people moving forward with their lives by pushing themselves to get better every day

At the holiday party @ C.O.R.E., I was reminded of a powerful statement, "You'll find that your abilities far outweigh your disabilities and you ARE getting better everyday."  This motto is foundational to the way I approach everything now and can be applicable to anyone facing challenges, big or small.

A few weeks back I had a procedure.  For a moment I was saddened at the fact that I had to go in & go home ... alone.  People kept asking me how I was getting home or who was present with me to watch my stuff or sign paperwork, etc. and I had to keep repeating out loud, in my own words.

No one.

It's one thing to know this fact but to repeat it over and over again is just annoying.  1.  I don't want to dwell on the fact that I'm alone and 2.  I really can get around on my own, I'm fine, please stop asking me these questions.  (Don't get me wrong, I know it's protocol to make sure that someone who has been sedated doesn't drive themselves home, it was just poor timing for me.)

While waiting in the Pre-Op area, I had time to reflect on my current position, disposition, abilities, disabilities and came to the conclusion that I am really fortunate.  I do have seriously down days where I ponder about the "whys" of life, like, "Why would God would allow me to experience this?", but then, there's always this simultaneous up stroke, the silver lining which presents itself slowly when I pursue each day with a desire to allow my purpose to unfold.  I let go of the emotional insanity that can be easily aggravated by hormones, and choose to begin each day with gratitude and humbleness knowing that I am getting better in ways I never expected.

I love the phrase that states, "Sometimes we have to let go of things because they're........heavy."

So I begin my 6th year with gratitude and an eagerness to see what ,or who, will cross my path.

Oh, and I have a suuuuuuper cute chubby nephew to keep me preoccupied when I'm feeling down, and to add joy when I'm on top of the world. OH and a super cute niece born just 3 weeks after the little guy!

http://nesn.com/2014/01/walk-again-project-could-allow-paralyzed-teen-to-take-first-kick-at-2014-world-cup-video/