Therapy is a full-time job!

After months and months of physical (PT) and occupational (OT) therapy she could honestly say that therapy is a full-time job!  She had started therapy at Upstate Hospital in Syracuse with initial steps in walking and using her arm.  She remembered the first day in their gym when they showed her four stairs to climb.  Still feeling very weak and foggy from the brain biopsy and 2 months of intensive chemotherapy she remembered the sheer determination that propelled her up and down those steps.  She collapsed into her wheelchair visibly shaking with fatigue but she had proved to herself she could do it!

Now three years had passed by and she continued with OT and PT determined to improve muscle and nerve activity in her right arm and leg so that she could live independently.  As she looked back she realized there were improvements, ever so slight and ever so slow, but she had never gone backward in her strengthening and mobility.

God was with her, ever standing by her side, constantly whispering words of encouragement .  Some days the challenge seemed overwhelming but she would hear a small voice, "Come on, Janet, you can do it.  I'll help you.  I am with you."  And then her step quickened, her shoulders drew back, her head lifted, and she faced with confidence the new challenge.

Her weeks at MaryFreeBed made her feel exultant!  Liz and Janna worked patiently, tirelessly and professionally.  She was amazed at how they knew what muscles needed more work and more exercise.  They were able to identify the areas of weakness by monitoring her moves, by touching the muscles.  One day she said to them, "I can see that you don't learn about OT and PT by reading a book or attending a lecture.  You learn by doing.  Only 'hands on' experience can teach you."  Yes, these therapists knew and that is why they could help her.

Every time she left MaryFreeBed after therapy she was exhausted but on a high.  What they helped her do.....what joy filled her from their positive encouragement!  And she would return home confident she could continue the exercises and progress on her own at home.

On March 15 she entered a new phase of therapy.  Dr. V., the physiatrist (nerve/muscle) physician on staff at MaryFreeBed injected her right forearm with a series of intramuscular injections (using 27 gauge needle) of Botox!  She had met with Dr. V. a few weeks earlier and had discussed with him the Botox therapy.  One friend commented after hearing about the new therapy, "Oh Janet, you are going to have the most beautiful arm!"  But she wasn't interested in beautiful arms, but only in well functioning arms.

The injections were basically painless, just pricks and some discomfort.  But she was amazed.  One injection in her forearm was felt all the way up to her bicep!  The intent of the Botox therapy was to eliminate the 'tone' and 'spasticity' in her forearm, especially the wrist.  The damage done in the left thalamus of the brain from the cancer had effected the nerves and muscles of the arm so that they were not performing correctly.  The Botox would relax the forearm muscles and nerves so that with the proper exercise and stimulation the brain would remind the arm of its proper function.

Now, this is where the Bioness arm device comes in.  She had recently acquired the arm device which when applied to the arm stimulated the nerve endings via the electrical conductors.  Now with the muscles relaxed from the Botox, the Bioness device would be able to achieve better results.

So, while in Dr. V's office she put it on to show how this would all work.  To simplify the application Dick removed the wrist band that, if necessary, prevented the device from falling off the arm.

The Botox procedure proved overwhelming....new procedure, new environment...all scary with a lot of 'unknowns'.  So she was exhausted, drained and emotionally weak after they left MaryFreeBed.  Upon returning back to Holland, after lunch and a nap, they took the Bioness device out of the bag to start her   daily 90 minute applications for phase one and two.  All of a sudden they realized the safety strap was missing.  They fretted over that, wondering where they had left it.

It just so happened that at that moment the phone rang.  Dick answered.  The nurse from Dr. V's office at MaryFreeBed spoke.  "We have your safety strap from your Bioness device.  We'll send it over to Liz and you can pick it up when you come in on Monday for your OT appointment."

Then the most amazing message hit her.  "That was a God thing," she told Dick.  "The Lord gave me a message...'I am taking care of you Janet'!"

In the reality of all she was facing...OT and PT challenges, continual struggles over physical functions, fatigue, frustrations, emotional ups and downs, she had a concrete reminder.  YES, God was taking care of her!  "If  God be for us, who can be against us?"  (Romans 8:31)

By Sunday, the wrist was flat (no more 'tone') and the fingers were relaxed.  Praise the Lord!  He is good!