After a spinal cord injury, it is important to get back into the community and life's activities. Get back into life! Develop some goals for yourself -- decide what it is that is important to you. Then, work toward achieving those goals! Replace achieved goals with new ones and you'll be surprised at how far you will go!
For me, I wanted to drive again. It took three years of continued physical and occupational therapy at home before I was able to drive again. By that time, my son, Jeff, was seven and very involved with Little League. At first, I could only drive him to the games but was not always able to get to the bleachers. I was happy enough to watch from the car but getting to the bleachers became my next goal. Eventually, that goal also became a reality. I was able to cheer for my son as well as socialize with the parents sitting near me.
But my family has also helped me develop and achieve another goal. I have always enjoyed writing. After my injury, I began writing with renewed interest. I had something to say, something to write about: my family. Most of my stories center on how they've helped me over the “rough patches” and also made the good times even better. Some of them have even been published!
Two of my stories are now posted in the “
Tell Us Your Story” section of the website. The first is linked as “
Donna's Story”. The title is “Jeffrey's Gift”. It is the story of my first Christmas home after my spinal cord surgery and how my son helped me put things into proper perspective, truly the most wonderful of Christmas gifts!
My second story is about taking some pictures, losing track of the film and ultimately finding the pictures again, in time to serve as an incentive to me during my therapy. That story is "
More Than a Thousand Words”.
All of the stories posted in this section are wonderful and have a point to make. Even though there are days when you feel like you are all alone, these stories tell the same tale: there are others who share our circumstances. Read the stories -- these are some of the ways we have coped and succeeded.
Then, share your story.
Waiting to hear from YOU!
Donna
Submit your story, here's how.Editor’s note: Donna is an Information Specialist in the Foundation’s Paralysis Resource Center. Donna was spinal cord injured over twenty years ago and has since dedicated her life to helping others living with paralysis.
