Beyond Physical Therapy: Be not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of standing still. —Chinese Proverb Upon my discharge from Spaulding, a physical therapist from the VA visited our home twice a week to guide my progress and offer me new exercises. I continued to strengthen my body with these exercises […]
Movement: The Body and Recovery Read More »
Finding Your Inner Chef: “You will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles.”—Helen Keller Food is about more than eating. It is strongly bound to cultural traditions and rituals. For me cooking brings me back to my grandmothers’ kitchens where I learned and observed traditions in action. When I
Cooking With Purpose Read More »
The Enchantment of Growing Things: “If the day and night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs… that is your success.” Henry David Thoreau I eagerly anticipate long, warm days in the Northeast. I am perpetually cold in Fall and Winter. The
Herbs: A Healing Presence in the Garden Read More »
Recovery Needs Assistance: People, Tools and Services: “The more one does the more one can do.” —Amelia Earhart We live in a world where we are constantly in motion. Movement is such an important aspect of recovery. Without it our bodies atrophy, and that can happen in the blink of eye. When our mom
Moving Forward, Making Strides Read More »
When You Believe: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein When I began dialysis, I was not conscious, but by the time I arrived at Spaulding Hospital I was alert and participating
Dialysis & Miracles Read More »
Becoming an Advocate: “Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” —Harriet Tubman Looking back on this now, everything seems surreal. I hope my narrative can help you as you navigate similar waters. We are a family familiar with extreme health
Giving Voice (Plus Blueberry Peach Pie) Read More »
The Surgery and My Hospital Stay “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” —Rumi April 18, 2022, was the day my world changed forever. My body, opened by the surgeon’s knife, withstood seven hours of surgery. When it was over, it was reconfigured with two titanium valves that kept my
A Critical Juncture Read More »
Starting at the Beginning “after the rain watch how nature flourishes and grows after the rain —you can too” Unforeseen events jolt us and shake up our world. They force us to forge new, unfamiliar life paths. The particulars of my experience will differ from your own. Nevertheless, my hope is that these
