A Serious Wakeup Call

There are many things I have learned while at the clinic.  Just talking to my driver is an education in itself. Of the many things I learned--therapy can do many things for you--but you have to want it. Because if you are not willing to fight--if you do not want it--if you give only the minimal effort--or if you phone it in--there is nothing the clinic will change for you. And I mean it--you can come every day but without the drive to do what needs to be done you are wasting the precious insurance money that allows you to be here. There are many people I have met here--one such person is Skip. And he is a shining example of this amazing place. My driver told my about Skip who I learned was a lawyer.  He had previously told me that he wanted to walk out of here using a cane. We often shared a belief that we will walk out of here together--no cane--at least that is what I believe. Skip is truly the x-factor here at the clinic.  He works hard in a that makes of proud to know...

The Brotherhood of Brain Injury Everyday starts the same way. My wife and I start each morning with a blood pressure check, and I check my blood sugar. I choke down a large handful of pills and then I have breakfast--a yogurt and some milk. Usually my wife and I make my lunch before she shuttles me off to the "Center" when the shuttle arrives. I usually share some kind words with the driver who has warmed up to me and as I've told the wife--I unlocked her.  For a long time she didn't say much. We usually go to Hurst where we pick up Mr. R-----.  I cannot stress the importance of being on time--even my fellow patients have come to expect the shuttle. Mr. R---- is an older gentlemen who expects the shuttle to be on time. His house is beautiful with a front yard complete with foliage and a whimsical looking oak tree which has a face on the front of it--I call that Old Man Oak.   When we leave I watch as Old Man Oak disappears in the distance and topiary of Mr. R----'...

  We All Have a New Excuse  Sometimes I hear some of us casually speak about our brain injury--whether nonchalantly or with humor but each of us knows what we went through.  Recovery has been difficult and even at times joyful--almost humorous.  Our future is tedious but it is a brotherhood or sisterhood of men and women all linked by one common goal--we have suffered a brain injury and as I only half-heartedly speak of us in my opening sentence--we all have a new excuse.   Let me explain further--I started this blog writing about visiting a place in Edmonds, Washington called The Center.  I was depressed about the death of my father. My time at the Center changed me--cut to 2021, where after work with my wife, I had a stroke. After four weeks in both the ICU and Encompass Health I returned home, and I started attending a new center.  The Center for Neuroskills--where as my wife tells me, I got a wakeup call, a second chance and a new excuse. The ...