MY GRAY WOLF

I had a disheartening experience over this past Labor Day weekend: I had a bad fall, which set me back in terms of my mobility, and the use of my left arm. Since then, I've been working hard to regain the ground that I lost. I hate the experience of falling, It really does a number on me, psychologically. Now, every move I make is made with safety in mind. And I am happy to report that I have regained much of what I lost. My doctors all tell me that I am tolerating treatment very well (Meaning my maintenance chemotherapy and my Optune device.) Though I do not always feel as if I am tolerating it well. I know it could be a whole lot worse. I have been at least temporarily discharged from physical and occupational therapy. The therapists have determined That I am able to do my therapy regimen at home. Allen now serves as my physical therapist. He continues to take very good care of me, along with taking care of all the household business, things I used to take care of. He amazes me every day.

I have found that three different activities help to make my days go better.:

(1) spending time in my spiritual practices.

(2). Successfully completing my prescribed physical therapy and occupational therapy exercises. My body doesn't always want to cooperate, but I do my very best, and experiencing success and making progress is emotionally gratifying.

(3). Working on a writing project. What interferes with my writing is my Post-tumor Visual impairment. I can look at the computer screen for only a limited time before I experience severe eye strain. Writing is slow going. But I have managed to complete another story and get it on my website. This story is entitled “My Gray Wolf.” It highlights the issue of neurodiversity, which is a type of diversity not often discussed. We are not all wired the same, and we experience the world around us differently. And we interact with that world differently. I know a little bit about neurodiversity from firsthand experience. After experiencing two brain traumas: a traumatic brain injury 13 years ago, followed by the brain tumor and the surgery to remove it, Neurologically, I am not the same as I was before all this happened. I miss who I used to be. But the only thing I can do is to accept who I am now.