DON'T TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED - APPRECIATE YOUR BLESSINGS
Have you ever wondered how you would manage if you were suddenly physically incapacitated? You can imagine how debillitating it would be if you have a broken leg, or arm, or if you are right handed broke your hand or wrist. You would be very difficult to carry out daily tasks that you take for granted every day.
How often do you take things for granted? Little things you do every day without a second thought.... Its not until an event takes place that we stop and take notice when something happens to make us dependent on others for the most menial of tasks that we took for granted.
I am an extremely independant person, so when I returned home from hospital several years ago after back surgery, (I had a two herniated discs, a double decompression of L4 & L5) I returned with a greater appreciation of my independence, or lack thereof. Back injuries affect your every movement as our back supports our whole body. Every movement we make requires a healthy back.
LEARNING TO ADJUST DAILY ACTIVITIES
While in hospital I had the nursing staff there to attend to my every need, however when I returned home it was a different world! I am a Senior, live alone, with no spouse, and only my three very young grandchildren. I had to hire a caregiver to assist me in the morning to get the children their breakfast and walk them to the school bus, then attend to my needs. She left at 10:00 and I was alone, confined to my bed until 3:00 when the nanny arrived to care for the children. I had to ensure the morning caregiver left me a sandwich and sufficient to drink near my bedside where I could access it.
I LEARNED TO APPRECIATE WHAT I HAD
My surgery reduced my physical abilities more than I could have ever comprehended...and little challenges presented themselves on a daily basis. I had the TV remote, my portable home phone, cell phone, and laptop on my bed. The night table held my medications and enough water or juice to last the day.
I am a single grandmother raising three young children... I had to hire a support worker to come in the moring and get the children ready for school. Make their breakfast and lunch. She then prepared some food for me, some breakfast, drinks and a sandwich for lunch so I could keep it on my bed. She then left and I was there alone until the children came home from school around 3:00, and the nanny arrived.
THINGS I LEARNED TO APPRECIATE
- rolling over in bed without assistance
- getting out of bed without assistance
- take a shower without help
- using a stool to sit on in the shower stall
- not wash myself as I could not bend or twist
- walk without the use of a walker
- I was confined to the upper level of the house
- I needed someone to carry the walker downstairs for me
- Dropping the remote control was a challenge
- Trying to reach the cell phone, an inch out of my reach was fun
SOME PERSONAL THINGS I NEEDED
- Using a chair in the shower as I could not stand without support
- Needing assistance washing myself,
- Assistance to wash my own hair and had to have someone else do it
- I had to have someone dry me after my shower
- I needed someone to dry my hair for me
- I needed somone eto put the toothpaste on my brush, as I could not do it with one free hand, using the other one to support myself.
- I could not bend so it was a challenge to get dressed and I had to get very creative!
- Comb or style my hair with one hand, as I needed the other one to support myself.
Well, you get the picture, I'm sure.
I have a greater appreciation of good health and the gift of independence that it allows. The surgery was successful and I am happy to report I have made a full recovery and I am now free of pain with full mobility restored.
Think about and appreciate your blessings each day.... You never know when they could be taken from you, AND take care of your back.. make sure your lift things properly and don't over exert it!! Take good care it, and it will take care of you!
