Melissa never got why I was so happy that my hemiplegic hand helps me scoop up chopped onions. I brought a pile of chopped onions to therapy and showed her what you see in the photo. Melissa's analytical response was "You use your hemiplegic hand as an assistive hand." I should have made Melissa use one hand to pick up a few pieces of slippery onion at a time until the whole pile was back in my container instead of letting her watch me do it.
The Releas splint helped my hemiplegic hand hold an envelope while my other hand stuffed a return slip from a bill and a check in the envelope. I was so happy I said "Look Cathy" and grinned while I waved the envelope in the air. Cathy gave me a small smile that seemed to say, "That's nice." Nice? I want the local TV station to come film me for the evening news. First of all, holding an envelope while putting a check in it is something I haven't done for eight years. More importantly, it is something I thought I would never do again for as long as I live. Finally, I live alone and pay the bills so this new skill is useful.
Why don't therapists always act excited? Fatigue may be one reason. Rushing from client to client when a therapist treats three people at once doesn't leave much time or energy for celebrating. Therapists also don't get to see how far I've come. They were not there when I wept because flopping my limp hand in the air made it look like a dead fish strapped on the end of a stick. Having a floppy hand that can now hold a thin envelope feels like a small miracle instead of one small step forward. The next time I'm thrilled and don't get much of a reaction I'll remind myself to have faith. I'll say "Some day in a quiet moment you will see my grinning face and feel good about what you helped me achieve today."
I guess I'm lucky in that respect. I've got an OT who gets as excited and thrilled as I am at small gains. It doesn't matter if I'm her first patient or her 16th. She works almost exclusively with brain damaged folks like us too. She is my second one and I'm glad she was assigned to me.
ReplyDeleteMy first therapist was a stick in the mud like you mentioned. I quickly asked for another.
It doesn't feel like my therapists are "sticks in the mud." A key word in this post is "sometimes."
DeleteTrue, I was being trite. I imagine when you were an OT there were times you felt like your therapist did sometimes. If we've been in a job long enough, it happens. On average I give a therapist a minimum of six sessions- 2-3 sessions a week, if the attitudes don't change I give up on them.
DeleteI didn't think you were being trite. My post described strong feelings that can disrupt therapy. I had one ST and two PTs who acted very detached and I asked for another therapist as you have. I've been lucky with my OTs.
DeleteThat is really a shame that they missed the "moment". As a HCP myself, seeing my patients triumph, succeed, was what it was all about...it makes all the hard work worth it...Why anyone would miss it is beyond me. Congratulations to you for winning and recognizing it...even if it was a one person party!! ;)
ReplyDeleteBravo about the onions! Even the people who are the closest to me sometimes miss some milestone, because life gets busy. I'm getting pretty good at being my best cheerleader ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out Grace.
DeleteAs a fellow stroke survivor, I totally "get it". Our small accomplishments are like climbing mountains to us. I get delighted when I reach down and pick something up with my affected arm/hand. I just want to shout out:" did you see that?!"... but no one cares/notices. :(
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