I am on my road to recovery from three major chronical disease: dementia, cancer and autoimmune diseases. I take pills for all three. The auto immune is the worst for me getting around. I do some exercises – not much.
I asked my rheumatologist whether she felt that I may be recovered from my autoimmune disease in time for golf this season. She said that she didn’t think so. I would love to prove her wrong.
I came home from the hospital about 15 months ago. My usual day is spent in my TV chair watching the politics in the USA on TV. I try do do at least 1/2 hour exercises in the basement three times per week.
I can now walk around the house without a cane. I can also take short walks outside with my urban walking poles. No driving yet.
Sunday was my best day in 16 months. I decided to take the first of my ‘baby steps’ and drive into town and go into two stores. My trip’s experience is as follows: I actually went out into town, driving and back home for the first time in 16 months.
I woke up Sunday at 10 a.m. – a good nights sleep. After doing the bathroom stuff and having my pills (cancer, autoimmune and dementia), I felt good. So I decided to go into town, driving and go into a few stores.
I put on my winter clothes and boots and managed to get down the five steps to the garage. Then I opened the garage door and got into the car, feeling a little nervous. It had been a long time. My first “baby step’” was in getting down the five steps into the garage
I then backed the car out into the street without hitting anything (I have six inches on each side of the garage – I was nervous backing up). At this point I was ready to drive to town, about two miles. I took the back roads – no traffic and no stores, etc.
When I got to town, my first stop was to pick up flowers for my wife from Blooms, the florist. Getting out of the car, walking into the store unaided was a first for me, alone. I was a little unsteady so I held onto the car before letting go and venturing into the store. This was successful and I got into the store and picked up the flowers. It was great talking to the florist in the store.
I managed to get out and into the car. My next stop was the drug store. I was going to take a CBD oil (cannabis) and I wanted to check with the pharmacist whether there would be a conflict with any of my other drugs. Great, no conflict. Walking from the car into the store and back to the car was a major accomplishment for me. I was feeling good. Baby steps were successful, so far. Not much left to do.
Next stop was Timmies for a latté for my wife and an iced mocha for me. I didn’t have to get out of the car but when I went to order, the attendant couldn’t hear me and I couldn’t hear her. I finally drove up and ordered leaving a long line behind me. I guess that I had caused a hold up in the line..
I escaped; now it was time for the drive home. All went well and I got into the garage OK. Getting the flowers and two drinks into the house was another matter. Getting up the five steps from the garage into the house was difficult but I made it without flowers and drinks. I had to call for my wife to get my deliveries but she was OK with that. She was just happy that my excursion went well.
This was my first excursion on my own. I sat in my TV chair and enjoyed my iced mocha. This trip may not mean much to you, but it means a lot to me.
My next trip will be a 1/2 hour walk in the neighbourhood streets with my urban walking poles for balance. Progress comes in small steps, but at least it is progress. Feelin’ good and moving forward in small steps.
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Bob Murray is retired from the graphic communication (printing) industry and has been living in Seaforth since 2015. Murray was diagnosed with Dementia in 2013 and works hard to stop the progress of the disease. Follow him on his blog entitled Voyage with Dementia – https://myvoyage553264702.wordpress.com.
