it's a very hard thing indeed to try and come up with things
to do when you literally cannot do anything (physically). Last week – or was it
the week before? Anyway, I posted about being so bored that I put out a plea
for ideas. I know that quite a few of you attempted to have a good think but
were unable to come up with anything… Not that I was trying to make a point at
the time (I was quite literally crying out for help!) But I guess now in
hindsight, a point could be made. Which is: spare a thought for all of those
people out there who really cannot do anything for themselves, for whatever
reason it may be. If you have frail old grandparents who are stuck in front of
the TV all day in some nursing home – go visit them. Believe me, they'll be
glad of the visit just to break up their day. If somebody can't get to the
shops because they just can't walk that far, give them a lift! You get the
idea…
I am one of the lucky ones in that I am now in a position
where I get a lot of visits from my friends, phone calls from family and have
enough computer literacy to occupy my time with the Internet/technology-based
things e.g. online radio (thanks B! – She recommended some good stations) and
of course kindle for the laptop. I am also of course spending time writing my
blog… Amongst other things… But frankly one has to find motivation and it's
incredibly difficult when you have nothing to talk about. So – if I have
nothing to say, should I therefore not say it and just leave it blank? Entry
20: Nothing. No such luck for you guys! My brain is always wandering about, and
can always find something to ponder on :-)
this weekend is the London Marathon. Coming in the wake of
what happened in Boston, I have even more respect for the people running. Not
only are people running specifically for The Backup Trust and the SIA, but I
also have a personal friend who is running for Asthma UK. Oh good grief – my
upstairs neighbour's have decided to play Saturday afternoon jazz quite loudly,
which has totally wrecked my train of thought!
Okay, where was I? The London Marathon. I think this week I
will keep it brief and simple. I'm going to say please support those people
running… The Backup Trust have helped me get myself back together through telephone
mentoring, the SIA had a peer mentor coming to the unit when I was still in
hospital and also ran specific classes helping us to get to grips with
"the outside world". My friend who is running for Asthma UK has her
own reasons for supporting this charity, but from my personal point of view
this charity should be supported because if you have ever struggled to breathe
you will know just how scary and how dangerous it is. I have been readmitted to
hospital more times than I care to mention because of my asthma, coupled with
my tetraplegic. It is literally something that could kill me. That might sound
dramatic but believe it or not, it's true. For those who are reading this blog
and are not immediately aware of my situation, being tetraplegic means that I
cannot use the chest muscles a fully fit person or even a paraplegic might be
able to use. I have no cough reflex. Asthma, the tightening of airways due to
inflammation and the production of phlegm which also narrows the airways,
requires the clearing of this phlegm. Without a cough reflex it's impossible. I
literally have to be punched in the stomach… Or in medical circles be given a
"Assisted Cough", to help me bring up the gunk. Should bacteria get
in there and I'm pretty much on a one-way ticket to pneumonia.
So if I can figure it out, I'm going to leave you with these
– the links to those three very fantastic charities, and a you Tube clip that I
came across that literally brought tears to my eyes when it comes to supporting
your loved ones…
Challenged Yet?
O.K I went at 2.43 !!!!!!!
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