I love learning. The process of learning what therapy was
for stroke survivors was fascinating for me. As a teacher and would-be perennial student,
learning about the benefits and machinations of occupational, physical, and
speech therapy was exciting. I knew it was critical for me to observe John’s
process and progress from the standpoint of being an advocate for his care.
However, once I was able to be at his appointments as much as possible, I got
hooked on the process itself. It was as if I was back in college, taking a new
class, cracking open a fresh smelling new textbook and diving into a new
opportunity to learn something completely different.
Looking back at my reaction to learning about therapy, I
realize how grateful I am now that I found Therapy 101 so exciting. My
excitement put me on a gratitude ship that allowed me to sail right through the
tragedy of why John and I were really in all of these therapy classes. I was
able to focus on the goals of his improvement without looking back at the past
at all. I locked my panic about John’s condition in a footlocker and tucked it away
in a musty closet in the hold of the ship. As long as I didn’t dwell on the
panic and fear inside me, I could enjoy my new titles: Chief Advocate and Captain
Support.
I felt empowered. I
could throw him the lifeline that would help him improve. As long as he grabbed
the other end of that lifeline, together, John and I could do this! Our team
attitude that was well developed from our music performing careers together
kicked in. We could get him back to his
former self. If we practiced daily and kept on the same page of the score, he
would be walking and talking in no time. All he had to do was pick up the other
end of the lifeline I threw to him.
At least this was my plan, this was the theory. I learned
many lessons along the way about that plan.
2014 Nancy Weckwerth