TODAY IS THE DAY....

[Birde]

As far as anniversaries go this one is not worth celebrating - let alone remembering! Not like anyone has sent a card like most anniversaries, no one has even said anything-probably for the best, I might start to blubber uncontrolably! Yeappers, today is the day.... ONE YEAR! In reality, it seems no differant than any other day since the accident. Same sh*t. Am I sadder today than most days? I guess, if I stop to think about it, but I try not to think about that too much. That chapter of my life. Let me just ask you guys, does it ever get easier? Are you ever REALLY able to be happy, I mean REALLY HAPPY again? Oh, sure, I am happy about little stuff, I laugh once in a while, but deep down to my real exsistance, I am SAD, all the time. Is it just me? CRIPES!! I take "happy pills", but they don't bring back that zest for life I once had. I think it was lost the night of the accident...perhaps it was located in the lower part of the my body and it was paralyzed too! Ya think?!! I think that is what happened, paralyzed hopes and dreams and happiness as well as legs. HMMM, I may be on to something. Oh well life goes on, just thought I would let ya know that I have hit the one year mark today. I can now say I am 1 year post! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif

[This message was edited by Birde on July 29, 2001 at 01:21 PM.]

[Curt Leatherbee]

I would say it does get easier. You get to point after a few years where it becomes more like second nature, you are also less consumed with always thinking about what happened as time passes by. You will also find many new interests and ways of doing things you never thought possible with being Disabled.

One thing I find useful, is I try and get out of the Wheelchair wherever possible. When I watch TV I transfer out of the Chair onto the couch, when I go to the beach, I throw a large towel down and lay down on the beach. Riding a hand cycle is great because it gets you out of the chair. Lifting weights is good because I jump around out of the chair to the individual machines and hop on the floor to the mats to stretch. For Quads, I would suggest having someone lift them out of the chair when Possible. Nothing like having a picnic and sitting on the ground on a blanket rather than in the wheelchair. If need be, put you're cushion down first and sit on that, I just sit on the ground and move around a lot, have not had any problems.

There is still a lot of stuff for you to do out there that is still enjoyable, its just a question of being open to it.

[Scorpion]

I say look at it as one year you lived where you could have been dead. At least for me, that's true. I broke my neck surfing and I wasn't breathing when they pulled me out. You can be happy (without pills in my case), but that doesn't mean the pain of missing your life before SCI goes away. It just means it gets easier with time. I'm generally a happy, upbeat person as long as I don't focus on what I can't do. My personal feeling is, forget 'happy pills.' Focus on what you still have that makes you happy.

~Rus

[Wise Young]

This is why we have to beat this thing, not only so that the people who are injured now don't have to look forward to more years of loss but so that all people in the future do not go through this. We can and therefore we must. Wise.o

[Scorpion]

Well said, Wise! While part of me has a hard time believing I'll see much of a 'cure' in my lifetime, another part of me believes it can happen, and I'll be hitting the waves again, in some manner--maybe not exactly like before--in the future. But paralysis die to SCI needs to be abolished so the kids of today don't have to live a life like this simply because they landed wrong doing something they loved. Hopefully, some of us 'chronics' will benefit too!

~Rus

[smokey]

Hey Birde, Voyeur guy here, I been injured 24 years, half my life now. Fear not, it got easier for me as time went on, but it all depends on your brain NOT your body. Life can suck in OR out of a wheelchair, it is a mental thing 100%. You know there is always another bump in the road whether you are paralyzed or not, there are good times ahead also. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[This message was edited by smokey on July 30, 2001 at 02:26 PM.]

[racinsc]

hi birdie i see you are from wisconsin what part.i live in door county wisconsin.i have been in my chair 9 years now i was a truck driver before seen all of the united states from my rig but i really didnt look at people or places very close back then .now i enjoy life more than ever god let me live so i could enjoy my grand kids take camping trips go to badger football games and alot more life is so short dont let it pass you by.that is not to say i dont wake up some days an cry because i do that is part of life god lets me greive my loss of of my legs an arms but he gives me the stength to look for the sun shine also.so if you would ever want to talk to someone just let me know ok. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Shaun]

Im just a few days short of my third year,and i find it's just another day.I dont think about it nobody mentions it,i would like to forget aug 4 98 altogether without a dought the worst day of my life..
.........\/PEACE
~Shaun~

[Max]

Hey Birdie,

you are still sophomore http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Im six years post...July 28 was aniversary

The best of the best in our club http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

Take it easy...But take it!!! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

Max

[max bench]

I will be coming up on my 4th in September,,, it is begining to become just like my wedding anniversay and other dates I am suppose to remember, if somebody doesn't remind me I forget.

At least I don't get in trouble for forgeting my injury anniversary.

[SKYCO]

Hi Birde,
I beleive it does get better,I remember when I first got out of the hospital I could'nt do anything,now I get around great.I'm 2yrs.5-14-99.It kind of sucks because it's 2 days after my wife's B-day and it brings her down.But ya just gota hang in there.

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/confused.gif WHERE YA GET THEM HAPPY PILLS?

[Birde]

thanks everyone for the support! I need to clarify myself so that you don't think that I am some "drug-crazed" person!!! Happy pills are what the doctor has provided for me...for depression....I think they are wellbutrin?!! Whatever they are they don't make me happy. I don't sit around the house and cry all day either. I am active! I have to be. I get out of the house and do a ton of stuff! I just meant that when it comes down to reality, I am not happy like I used to be. that's all. Again, thanks for the kind words and support!!

[Scorpion]

Birde, I assumed you meant a doctor prescribed antidepressent. it just seems to me these medications, like many medications and antibiotics, are overprescribed. If they're not helping you, why continue to take them? A generic form of wellbutrin helped my aunt quit smoking after decades of nothing working, so I believe antidepressents have their place. But it's not like you have a chemical imbalance, you're paralyzed. In my humble opinion, dealing with that can't be fixed just by throwing pills at it. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

~Rus

[max bench]

Found out what was depressing me, the price I was paying for the meds!!!!

[omeleteman]

I FEEL JUST THE SAME WAY YOU DO, BIRDE.
JUST DON'T TAKE HAPPY PILLS AND HAVE 6 MONTHS ACCIDENT ANNIVERSARY BUT FEELING IS THE SAME.
HOPE WE GET BETTER WITH TIME, AS FRIENDS ARE USED TO WISH.
JUST TELL ME STH... I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE IN USA AND THINGS THERE WORK BETTER THAN HERE BUT YOU SAID YOU'RE ACTIVE AND GET OUT.
I STILL DIDN'T GET OUT SINCE FEB/2001 WHEN ACCIDENT HAPPENED. I STAYED 2 1/2 MONTHS IN HOSPITAL AND I'M HOME SINCE THEN UP TO NOW.
IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO ACCELERATE MY INDEPENDENCY?
THANKS

[Birde]

Fernando, I guess because we are still considered "newbies" would be the reason we seem sad and don't go out so much. I have to get out as I said because I have two young children and they need that from me. They have been a life line for me (I'm sure that they are unaware of that). I guess you need to understand that you may be sad and alone or you can be sad and not alone...I chose the latter. I figure that with time it will get easier, perhaps not "better" but at least easier. Who knows, when I go to Ecuador for this operation with Dr. Kao, I might be better, that is the hope I have...I will let everyone know either way. Just know that you are not alone! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif