I thought that some of you guys would like an update on how Kim is doing.
I took her to the Auburn/Arkansas football game at Auburn last weekend. This was her first game since the hit and run. We did this against the advice of some family and friends, who thought that with parking, getting to the stadium, getting seated, etc., it was going to be a disaster. Although it was exhausting for both of us, we had a ball! We did not use the wheelchair section. My season seats are in an upper deck, ten rows up and near the end of a flight of steps with a handrail. I wheeled her to the lower end of the rail, and she walked up to her seat using the handrail. You should have seen her, standing and balancing herself in the steep, high deck and dancing in time with the band (with the old man anxiously prepared to catch her, of course). She has always been fearless. The only problem we had was when coming down the steps after the game. She encountered a five-foot gap in the rail and became very angry with me when I would not let her try to negotiate the crossing by herself.
She now goes to water therapy twice weekly, and last week walked alone twice across the 25-feet wide pool. There is an elderly, very heavy lady there who is a stroke victim, and who has been adamant about not wanting to try to walk or do her exercises in the water. Kim immediately took her on as a "project", and after walking across the pool, persuaded and challenged her to do the same, welcoming her with a big hug when she made it across.
She has recently become even more fiercely independent, adamantly refusing help with almost anything that faces her. We have some conflicts when I decide that something is just too dangerous for her to attempt alone. She now by her own choice prepares her own meals, loads the dishwasher, does her laundry, makes her bed, and I discovered her awhile back attempting to mop the kitchen floor! She is also writing songs, poems, and short stories. She gets in the floor and exercises almost every day. She can now do a pretty good half-pushup, and does 30+ full sit-ups, more than the old man can do.
She gave the EU17 her two thumbs up seal of approval last week. I have a pre-ban Colt AR in 7.62 x 39, and she used to love to shoot it. We are going to take it to the range sometime soon and see if she can still shoot. I would not bet against her.
I took her to the Auburn/Arkansas football game at Auburn last weekend. This was her first game since the hit and run. We did this against the advice of some family and friends, who thought that with parking, getting to the stadium, getting seated, etc., it was going to be a disaster. Although it was exhausting for both of us, we had a ball! We did not use the wheelchair section. My season seats are in an upper deck, ten rows up and near the end of a flight of steps with a handrail. I wheeled her to the lower end of the rail, and she walked up to her seat using the handrail. You should have seen her, standing and balancing herself in the steep, high deck and dancing in time with the band (with the old man anxiously prepared to catch her, of course). She has always been fearless. The only problem we had was when coming down the steps after the game. She encountered a five-foot gap in the rail and became very angry with me when I would not let her try to negotiate the crossing by herself.
She now goes to water therapy twice weekly, and last week walked alone twice across the 25-feet wide pool. There is an elderly, very heavy lady there who is a stroke victim, and who has been adamant about not wanting to try to walk or do her exercises in the water. Kim immediately took her on as a "project", and after walking across the pool, persuaded and challenged her to do the same, welcoming her with a big hug when she made it across.
She has recently become even more fiercely independent, adamantly refusing help with almost anything that faces her. We have some conflicts when I decide that something is just too dangerous for her to attempt alone. She now by her own choice prepares her own meals, loads the dishwasher, does her laundry, makes her bed, and I discovered her awhile back attempting to mop the kitchen floor! She is also writing songs, poems, and short stories. She gets in the floor and exercises almost every day. She can now do a pretty good half-pushup, and does 30+ full sit-ups, more than the old man can do.
She gave the EU17 her two thumbs up seal of approval last week. I have a pre-ban Colt AR in 7.62 x 39, and she used to love to shoot it. We are going to take it to the range sometime soon and see if she can still shoot. I would not bet against her.
Remember to take care of yourself also.
