Small Victories – Part II (I’ll Meet You at the Finish Line)

As I promised, this is the second part of the story. I don’t want you to think that, contrary to what I had almost convinced myself of, I was destined to remain immobile. Down through the years I’ve had people who have helped me along the way. Those are the people who makeup my Village.  The second part of this story is about two very special people (I\’ll call them T&R because I didn\’t get permission to use their names) who have been lovingly grafted into my Village. Every year for quite a few years, I played March Madness with a group of people (most of them I’ve never met).  I winded up getting involved because one of the radiologists that I used to work with approximately 10 years  prior to that time (T), played in a pool. So each March I looked forward to hearing from his wife (R) about playing March Madness. In life there are just some people you meet that you know will always be in your life regardless of time or distance, such was the case here. This was a great way to keep in touch at least once a year get an update on what was happening in each other’s lives. Well that year after I went through my “tale of woe”, my friend offered to take a look at my MRI film. Nayda helped me upload the images and I was able to forward them to him. After consulting with his group, the advice was split between surgery and physical therapy. Apparently there had been some studies done of patients with problems similar to mine who elected to try a particular type of physical therapy – called “McKenzie Therapy”(1)* rather than go with the surgical approach. In this particular focus group after five years, there was little to no difference between the two groups (one group having had surgery, and one group participating in the McKenzie therapy.  Since I worked at an MRI facility I had seen plenty of patients who came for MRIs before and after surgery.  One man in particular stood out in my mind. He had to eventually have five surgeries on his back. He came into the facility after one surgery and he could barely stand up for 30 seconds without having to lay down. He was in so much pain!!! Not only did they recommend this type of therapy but also located a place in my area (they all were in Kentucky and I was in Maryland) where I could go. I was able to get an appointment and I must tell you that the day that I went, I walked in and declared, \”you have to help me, I need to get back to running because I CANNOT be a \”fat girl\’!!!! I could barely make it to the office and that very day, I left there walking almost normally. The beauty of the therapy is that it involves NO PAIN!!!! In fact the first exercise I did involved me only laying down in a certain position for 3 minutes at a time every two hours. What a blessing that turned out to be. I continued with therapy for almost six months and was in recovery mode until the next September at which time, I signed up for a 5K race hosted by The Ivy Community Charities of PG County http://iccpgc.org.  My girlfriend (who is on the Board of Directors) was so afraid for me because she had seen and gone through that year with me of recovery.  I normally participate in this charity event every year. My next challenge was to be ready to run that year. I could have walked, but I was determined to run the entire 3.1miles (although I’m not fast). I elicited help from the best coach ever, that daughter of mine, affectionately known as “coach Nayda”. She proceeded to give me various workouts to do. Each time I completed one, I felt so accomplished. Of course initially I was a little tentative about running. I started out walking on the treadmill at home and then after some time, I got brave enough to go back to my favorite place (the lake). One lap around is 1-¼ mile. I was so fearful that I wouldn’t be able to make it all the way around. What would I do if I got half way and couldn’t make it back to the car. First attempt I only went a quarter of the way and then turned back. I immediately did my exercises upon returning. OK, things seemed to be alright. 2nd attempt I went a little further. Before I knew it, I was making it around the entire lake without stopping. I knew I had to be ready for race day. I knew that it would be challenging also because the race path is concrete and I only run on rubber, grass or dirt surfaces which is a lot gentler on your limbs (so important for a youngster like me).

Finally it was race day. I put on my headphones and was ready to go. Half way through I was pretty exhausted but I kept reciting that line from an old favorite childhood book, “The Little Engine that Could”….. “I think I can, I think I can” and guess what?  I DID IT!!!!!  Not only that, I received a medal. It’s funny to me how things work out. God does indeed send people for my life to encourage and help. I knew from the first time that I met my radiologist friend (T)  that he was special. The bonus came when I met (R)  I thank God for sending them, T&R, into my life at just the right time. I thought I’d never get to see them again after they relocated to Kentucky, but as fate would have it, my middle child actually lived in Kentucky for a short while and I traveled there and was able to see them.

As for me, some 7 years later, I’m still running (just probably a little slower). Every now and then I have those flare ups of back pain and immediately I start with the valuable exercises that I learned in therapy. As for T&R – they are still going strong and even though we’re not playing March Madness together anymore, I still manage to stay in contact. What a blessing!!!!!

”Someone said that friends are angels in disguise. If this is true, I have been surrounded by angels for most of my life”……..Hank Stram

_______________

1. The McKenzie Method® of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy® (MDT) is an internationally acclaimed method of assessment and treatment for spinal and extremity pain developed by New Zealand Physiotherapist Robin McKenzie. It has been widely used all over the world for more than 30 years.