Mobility Mike Resop
Physical Therapist
Seating and Comfort
Specialist

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Are We Thankful?

Have you noticed? The holidays are here with the Thanksgiving celebration behind us and the Christmas Season upon us. I wonder what’s the reading on our "thankful meter"?

Did we take time around Thanksgiving Thursday to thank Almighty God for: our health, mobility and the ability to get around, family, friends, food, shelter, country, the rights and privileges we enjoy, our careers, hobbies, entertainment choices and opportunities to travel?

Granted life probably is not exactly like we dreamed about while growing up, but aren’t we still blessed? Our health and vitality are probably not like the joyful energy displayed by our eleven year old son, Luke, but things could be much worse and miserable.

Many of us are in pain: but we have access to medicines, TENS units, chiropractors, therapists, exercise routines, and doctors to ease the discomfort: compare that to many in war torn, poverty stricken areas where these helps and helpers are scarce or non existent.

Mobility: some of us move slower, with pain, or need the help of equipment or another person to get out of a chair, travel on the level, negotiate steps or get in and out of a vehicle. It’s rough, but we have equipment and friends and family to help us. I contrast this to video clips I’ve seen through the Christian relief organization Joni and Friends where dear souls in other countries are secluded in a dark back room all their lives because of a disability, or they crawl on their hands and knees in public because they can’t walk and don’t have a wheelchair.

Family and friends: I’m convinced each of us is part of a family tree with a few nuts on it but God has gifted us with the opportunity of forgiveness, kindness and love to bridge those seemingly uncrossable family gaps. Our friends may disappoint us, but we have the chance to sow the seeds of friendliness so that better friendships grow and develop.

Food and shelter, careers and hobbies, entertainment and travel: some of us feel deprived compared to the lifestyles we see on TV and in magazines. People that have traveled the world will tell you the poorest among us live better than 90%to 95% of all others on the globe.

Our county and the rights and privileges we take for granted: yes, gas prices are up, our soldiers are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, people are worried about the housing market and the economy, things aren’t ideal. However we do have the right to vote- compare that to Cuba just a little south of us. We don’t have war and starvation within our borders like several areas of Africa. Gas prices are still lower and housing more affordable than many places in Europe.

Our lives, relationships, circumstances and political systems are not perfect, but we still have a lot to be thankful for. We have a choice to be frowning, dissatisfied and complaining, or smiling, giving and thankful. Let’s choose the attitude of gratitude-we’ll feel better, our friends and family will appreciate it, and the little part of the world where we live will be a bit brighter and happier.

Then we’ll be able to be in a position to contemplate on the Real Reason for the Christmas Season. Confused? Call me.

Why I HATE the Scary Side of Halloween
Mobility Matters by Mobility Mike Resop

Let me start with a true story... In the mid-1980’s I was working as a physical therapist at Wesley Long Community Hospital in Greensboro, NC. I ended up meeting and treating a sweet little five year old boy we’ll call Timmy. He suffered second and third degree burns to his face, neck, chest, shoulders and arms from a grease fire in the family kitchen.

Mom was frying chicken on the stove when somehow the whole pan boiled over and a raging fire ensued. She grabbed the flaming pan of hot grease and tried to get it to the sink. Timmy was hanging around Mom too closely ( as little kids often do) and got tangled up in Mom’s feet. Horror of horrors, mother and son collided and the flaming, burning hot grease poured over that dear little boy. Can you imagine the screams, anguish, agony, and pain that little Timmy and his parents went through at that awful moment? How about every day since then?

When I saw him Timmy had begun the process of skin grafts , pressure garments, and exercises to try to preserve flexibility and prevent as much deformity as possible. I’m sure there have been numerous plastic reconstructive surgeries since then. If you’ve ever experienced a severe burn or known someone that has, you’ve seen the disfigurement, scarring, and disability that can result. I wonder how ‘normal’ Timmy looks today, and how many taunts, teasings, and cruel jokes he’s had to endure over the years? How many times did he feel like a lonely outcast, excluded from normal kid and later young adult fun, because he was ‘different’? I try to imagine all the agony, regrets, and sleepless nights his parents, Mom especially, have suffered through: reliving that fateful day; and having to face all of the difficult tomorrows?

Have you ever noticed that many of the scary Halloween masks or printed advertisements look like someone badly scarred and deformed from horrific burns to their face? I wonder how Timmy felt looking at those Halloween ‘frights’ and then looking in the mirror? Sometimes these Halloween ‘monsters’ are outfitted with one eye missing , deformed, or out of place/ asymmetrical compared to the other: just like real living, breathing, feeling human beings in our community are outfitted. They were born with physical ‘defects’, asymmetrical faces, or are living with the aftermath of a disfiguring accident or surgery. I think about children and adults I’ve known that have cerebral palsy, or had a stroke or other neurological condition. The results can be a drooping to one side of their face, drooling, impaired speech, a crooked posture, often a limp. I wonder how these precious folks or their loved ones feel when they compare their "reality" to the mocked features on the Halloween ‘creatures’? Do they believe they’re viewed by society as repulsive, ugly, scary, to be avoided- just like those Halloween caricatures?

What message are we subsidizing and promoting when we buy these scary Halloween items, or visit one of those ‘fright houses or parks’? What are we teaching our children when we give them one of those disfigured, scary Halloween masks or costumes? Do they learn that if someone is less-than-Hollywood beautiful, has some deformity or disfigurement or disability, that the child should scream, be afraid , and run away and hide from that person? As they get older, do they accept the idea that the person that looks or acts different should be ignored, avoided, or made the brunt of cruel remarks and jokes?

This time of year when we’re asked to buy a ‘monster mask’ or go to one of those ‘ fright place’s: where the deformed, maimed, or different are viewed with disgust, shock, horror or glee- think of dear Timmy or the other precious ones out there. He and all others viewed as on the fringes of beauty and normality should be treated with love, respect, and dignity. They also were made in the image of God that loves them: they shouldn’t have to endure the prejudice the dark side of Halloween promotes. That’s why I hate the scary side of Halloween.

"Sheba, Our Chickens, and the Need to Belong"

Our family is blessed to live in the boondocks west of Gettysburg on a little farmette. We’re joined by our ‘hybrid’ dog, Annabelle, a Calico cat named Autumn, some goats of varied pedigree ( recently we’ve had five kids born-they’re "Oh so cute!), and a few chickens. Father’s Day we had an unsolicited addition to our farm family. We looked out the door and saw a bird about the size of a goose, but prettier. It turns out that our unexpected guest was a female peacock that we named "the Queen of Sheba", or now "Sheba" for short.

Sheba has been with us ever since, with her finally settling in and spending a lot of time with our chickens. She scratches in the chicken yard just like one of them, and even hops into the coop from time to time to get some of that ‘prepared’ chicken feed. Besides being about the size of a Canada goose, she can honk like one. Unlike a goose, however, she regularly flies up high in one of the pine trees to roost, especially to escape our feisty dog Annabelle.

What does Sheba the peahen have to do with people that have mobility challenges? Plenty, it turns out. Despite looking and acting somewhat differently from our chickens, she still has a strong need to "fit in" and be part of a "flock" {us humans refer to it as the need for community}. All of us whether younger or older, rich or poor, beautiful or average looking, able-bodied or with some sort of disability, have needs: to belong, be loved, be accepted, and be included in the lives and activities of others.

Sheba had the opportunity because of her wings to fly around until she found a place and a flock of fellow birds to attach herself to. Many folks with mobility challenges or some type of disability don’t have the opportunity or inclination to "fly around" and "find a flock" or group to attach themselves to. They often feel isolated from family, friends, church members, former clubs or associations. They can’t get around like they used to, perhaps one or more of their limbs ‘don’t work right’. They feel different or out of place, with maybe their speech and/ or hearing not being ‘ like it used to be’. They need help for everyday activities where they once may have been quite independent.

What about your circle of influence: family, friends, acquaintances, church or association members? Who don’t you see very often or hear from? Who is that someone that is more alone now, doesn’t get out much, views themselves as a "bother" but DESPERATELY needs your time, attention, love and involvement? Maybe they need assistance getting up and down the steps, or in and out of the vehicle. Perhaps they’re now in a wheelchair and need a couple of people to push or lift if it in and out of the van, making sure things go smoothly. Do their hands shake a lot making it hard to handle their knife and fork ? Without your help, it may feel less embarrassing and easier to stay home alone rather than struggle to do such a simple task as eating in public. Are they hard of hearing making conversation awkward? Could you encourage that person to accompany you to that next gathering or church meeting?

Here’s a good question for each of us to ask ourselves: "What would Jesus do?" Didn’t HE reach out to the blind, the disabled, the outcast, the discouraged, the lonely? Didn’t HE teach us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and reach out and care for the "least of these"? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if each of us in the month of February started to reach out to, spend time with, and include one ‘on-the-sidelines’ person in our activities? How much more love and meaning would flow? How many more lives would be enriched? I wonder...

We've come a long way- Mobility Matters

Eleven score and 10 years ago our founding fathers declared our independence from the oppressive rule of England. A long weary war plus numerous other armed conflicts followed so that we could truly say we're "The land of the free, and the home of the brave". The United States of America has come a long way compared to the overtaxed, underrepresented, ill-treated 13 original colonies.

In a similar way, the past and even fairly recent history of people with mobility challenges and disabilities in this country shows dramatic changes and progress. Look back with me at the plight of people 100 or more years ago. If someone had a severe stroke, or an injury resulting in severe deformity paralysis, or amputation, they often didn't survive the incident or make it out of the hospital. If they happened to come home they often were carried into some back room of the house, isolated from the community, with no hope of becoming full contributors to their family or community. Despite heroic, loving care from family members that did the best they could, (given their limited skills, knowledge, and resources); these folks often existed as dreary shells of their former selves.

If this person living a century ago was born with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, a facial deformity, mental retardation, or a missing limb, they typically lived a subhuman existence, shoved in a corner, so that 'polite society' didn't have to acknowledge or be bothered by them.

Fast-forward to today: As a country we've made huge strides and enjoy privileges not even dreamed of by the citizens of old. It would be ignorant and arrogant, however, to say that we've 'arrived' or even approach being "a shining city set on a hill". Similarly, the potential for freedom and independence increased exponentially for those with mobility challenges or any sort of physical or emotional or mental disability: but huge room for improvement exists.

An independent life: Now there's equipment quite readily available for people to: get out of their beds; in and out of the bathroom; perform their everyday activities independently, get in and out of their home, in and out of their motor vehicles; and get out and about via public or private transportation.

Exquisite Equipment: electric hospital beds, lifts, bathroom safety equipment, light weight wheelchairs, power chairs, scooters, ramps, elevators, automotive door openers, adaptive equipment, computers controlled by a hand held remote or a power chair joystick, vans , ramps, platform lifts, vehicle adaptive equipment to allow one to travel safely and in style; hand propelled bicycles; water and snow skiing equipment for the mobility challenged; motorcycles equipped and driven by those considered handicapped. It's amazing the technology and equipment available to help folks live life to the fullest.

Society's Stereotypes are slowly changing, due to the activism of people with disabilities, national exposure from celebrities like Christopher Reaves and Joni Eareckson Tada, and everyday folks with disabilities living their lives and being part of main stream life. Attitudes are changing and improving but we have a long way to go to accept and embrace those labeled as 'different' or 'disabled'.

It's a Wonderful Life: when Jimmy Stewart looked back with 'new eyes' on his life and realized the blessings he was part of he was able to exclaim in the Christmas classic "It's a wonderful life". When we look with eyes and hearts of understanding to say where our country's been, and what the progress that's been achieved for those with physical/medical/emotional/metal challenges we can say "We've come a long way baby" and "It's a wonderful life".