“I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!”
When you think of a crazy person
running around with their hair on fire….
Welcome to a day in the life of
Haley.
For this reason alone I need multiple
supports in place to accomplish all of my responsibilities and make each day a
success.
Over the years I have had to do a lot
of reflection and ownership of bad habits and or weaknesses. I have to challenge myself each day and put
supports in order to function at the level I expect of myself.
I need support focusing. I try and create lists that allow me to focus
on each task in order of importance
I need support in getting to places
on time. I have all clocks set 20
minutes in advance.
I need support when speaking in front
of staff. I always create an agenda
I need support remembering the large
number of conversations with staff. I
write down highlights of all conversation each day in my personal planner.
I need support remembering where I am
suppose to be and at what time. I have
an iphone calendar, a daily planner, and a daily to do list that keeps track of
all my adventures.
These supports help function and meet
the expectations of not only my family and co workers but also of myself. This support function as a working tools that
helps me combat my personally character challenges. If these were not in place I would struggle
and most likely become very discouraged.
It’s unlikely that I would give up if I did not have these supports in
place but it is the supports that help define me as an individual. It is with this supports I find the inner
courage and strength to believe that anything is possible with hard work and
dedication.
If I were to choose a challenge to
walk a day and a life in it would be the challenges that a stroke survivor is
faced with daily. Being a survivor of a
massive and potentially deadly stroke has left me unable to provide for my
family, unable to drive, unable to speak my thoughts accurately, unable to physically
engage in physical activity that I was once capable of, completely dependent
upon medication to live day to day, and unable to fulfill my role a wife and
mother in the capacity I was able prior to the stroke. I need an alarm and a person who lays out my
medications and sets a timer to alert me when it is time to take my
medication. I have a cane that helps
assists me in walking and a disabled parking sign for the family vehicle so
that I do not have to walk long distances. I have family members who attend
speak therapy with me on a monthly basis to help me rebuild my communication as
well as tools to help them better understand me. I need the state to help me pay for my
medical bills and ensure that my physician will continue my care since I can no
longer work or get a job that will provide insurance for me. I have a golf cart that was donated to me
from the national stroke association for me to still have some short distance
safe driving capabilities. I have a husband that is loving and supportive and
has gladly stepped up to the plate of both mom and dad. If I did not have these supports in place
then my soul and will to live might as well have died with the part of my brain
that was severely damaged from the stroke. It is these key support systems that
allow me to sustain a life with dignity, respect, and self-worth. I did not choose to get sick; I did nothing
to cause a stroke. I do chose to keep on
living and this supports make it possible.
I like that you recongnize your weaknesses and work towards improving them by setting all your clocks to 20 minutes in advance, great stragedy. Also, writing hightlights down from your conversation with staff is beneficial for expecially if your daily environment is hectic.
ReplyDeleteHi Haley, I also use the strategy of setting my clocks faster to help me get to places on time. Some friends think I'm crazy and have asked how it works when I know the clock is faster. Somehow it just does, I know when the clock says 6:20 I need to be out that front door or else I'll be stuck in traffic and be late for school.
ReplyDeleteJust like Steffanie, I like your idea of keeping track of the highlights from conversations. I think that this is a good strategy and am going to try it out in the new academic year. Thanks for sharing.
When I was imagining a challenge, I thought about being paralyzed, unable to talk, but with full mental capacity. The thought scared and depressed me so much, that I had to change the challenge. You paint quite a vivid picture.
Thank you for sharing your experience and challenge. I did not imagine a challenge like that. It is scary to think of those challenging situations as I know I have been part of or experienced. Thank you for placing yourself in the challenge. It gives me a broader perspective and a sense of hope. Sometimes when you have a negative experience you feel that there is only one way.
ReplyDeleteI as well as you and others set my clock ahead the 20 minutes. I have done this for many years and I am on time. I am not sure what the concept is but it seems to work1 : )
I am sure having a husband in the military and moving around and having him gone for amounts of time you have had much support, This is a challenge that until you experience is a challenge. Thank you for hanging in their. This challenge must have been a hard one.
As we all read and speak to each other in this class on line, we all give a bit of support to each other through our discussions and blogs. What a great way to create relationships throughout the world.