n mid-April, 2006, a flyer arrived at my home. Usually, it would have ended up in the recycle bin or got plopped upon my table already laden with inches of “read later” mail. I am not sure of why this particular flyer caught my interest but it did! Being in a rather procrastinating frame of mind, to my own surprise, I telephoned the number provided and, after an initial “hit and miss”, I met with AssistantInstructor Nate Patterson, whom I called Nate, not knowing the proper pro- tocol. The rest is history, a history still to be written….but it will be of a most positive nature, I am certain!
Just for some background, in October of 2005, I had a rather severe fall. My dogs, who are “escape artists”, with a combinedweightofabout120lbs.,andwho,afterhavingbeenretrievedbymeandputintotheir harnesses,(Ihad wrapped the leashesaround my wrist to get a better hold and held the leashesvery taut) pulled/dragged me hard on the way home. Having no leverage as I was wearing improper shoes, I went down unto the asphalt when they saw a dog acrossthe street. I just could not free my wrist in time so I fell into the street with my right arm outstretched but I don’t remember much from that point on. I was in a comatose state (as I was told later on…little solace… my be- loved dogs sat right beside me and barked at everyone coming near), until, some time later, an ambulance arrived. I did suffer hematomas, brain contusions/concussions, bruised right side of my body, as well as a fractured humerus (at the shoulder), and brain damage. Black eye (I look good in purple but green and yellow…hmmm…not my color), hematomas all along my right side but luckily, no fracture of hip or wrist. After a few days in the hospital, arm/ shoulder immobilized, I was stuck at home, unable to drive anywhere on my own, dependent upon some medical home care servicesmy insurance provided, the kindnessof friends and my children. I followed a regimen of “go see this doctor, this neurologist, this orthopedic physician,go there, do that, don’t do that”…but eventually, I had to dis- continue the physical therapy ordered due to expensesthat my budget did not allow (I am a retired employee of our local school system).
In March of 2006, after suffering a series of mini-strokes (paralyzing the entire left side of my body), again, I was hos- pitalized. Ct. Scansshowed bleeding on the brain, to put it into non-medical terms. Another “cat scan”, MRI, angio- gram, etc. were done but finally, I was dischargedwith “undetermined cause”. There I was, once again, without per- missiontooperatemyvehicle,witharatherhighlevelofcholesteroltoboot….allbad(eventhe“goodone”). Iwas prescribed a statin-based drug. After two weeks, I could not even hold a postage stamp. I discontinued taking the drug andstillshudderatthethoughtofhavingtakenit. Nextvisitthedoctorbroughtdiagnosisofosteoarthritis,something I had not heard about before, in addition to other medical problems, i.e. high blood (long treated and controlled) pres- sure. I also have a benign brain tumor (Acoustic Neuroma) which affects my ability to hear in my right ear but mostly, it affects my balance….andthen, there was the matter of neglected teeth needing repair…on and on it seemedto go. I wondered, it had been 40 plus years since I had been hospitalized (last was when I delivered my youngest child)…. What gives, I askedmyself?
My morale was at a very, very low point!
Backtothepositivepartthough. After“waddling” in(Ihadleftmycaneinthecar)totheschoolofOomYungDoe and having met with who was to become my future instructor, it was an almost instant decision on my part to partic- ipate in the two months programoffered.
Now, after two months of almost daily sessions….Whatcan I say? With the guidance and teaching of two Assistant Instructors, as well as input from a visiting instructor at a higher level, with support of fellow students, friends, even family members, the range of motion in my shoulder is near where it should be, my balance has improved, my skin no longer has that sallow hue, muscles are regenerating, my balance has improved, my overall health has as well… perhapsevenbetter thanbefore(manydays,IfeellikeIaminmymid-thirties rather thaninmysixthdecadeoflife). I no longer “waddle” and can “skip” down the aislesat my local grocery store. Better still, my energy level is higher thanever,myoutlookispositive. TheresponseIamreceivingfromothersisabsoluteamazementandpositivefeed- back.
The best yet though, after having lost a granddaughter in 2004 (she could only be with us for three or so weeks) I nowcanscoopupandholdmynew18monthsoldgranddaughter. Wegoforwalks,steppingoncracks(shecalls them “quacks”), feed the fish in my goldfish pond, toss balls for “touchdowns”, and act silly asgrandmothers are al- lowed to do.
I still freeze up and wander in circleswhen I becomefrustrated (the latter word that really is “banished” from my instructor’s vocabulary)but,inmyestimationand,thoughnottotally mastered,IcandosomemovementswhichI, previously, thought of asimpossible.
Still, I have to work on calming my mind, abandon some self-destructive habits of long-standing. It may take a long time to achieve true balance of mind and body so to achieve harmony in my life. LIFEISGREATwhereI am now and onceagain,enjoyable! Perhapsitwas“divineintervention”. IamnotparticularlyreligiousbutIbelieve,itmaywell have been.
Justrecently, I extended my associationwith the Schoolof OomYungDoein Largoand signedup for the senior de- gree program, not so much to obtain a degree but to keep in focus and learn the discipline that will keep me on track andontherightroad. Challengesareaheadbut,inmymind,Icouldnothavechosenabetterinvestmentforthe future to improve my physicaland mental health
Mind, Body, Harmony! Sigrun“Sigi” Donegan Largo, Florida
June 2006