Status, May 2002

Apparently, my insurance company will pay for only two years of physical therapy - they stopped paying at that point. I struggled for most of the next year, trying (and failing) to keep up some physical activity on my own, until I finally thought of trying to go to the local YMCA

My friends with FCM helped a lot: three of them staged a benefit magic show in the area, and then at the international convention, the free-will offering one evening was given to me. Still, I had trouble using that money, because the "official" therapy would cost much more. Then I thought of the "Y".

Grand Rapids has a special bus service for wheel-chair-ridden souls like me. It costs $1.25 each way, so the first expenditure was for bus passes. More of the money paid for my membership at the "Y".

And the "Y" has been wonderful! One of the trainers "adopted" me; these pictures are his (Thanks, Dale!). The "Y" named me "Member of the Month" and displayed these pictures along with a brief description of my situation.

Lat Pulldown (upper Body)

The lat pulldown is the only machine that I can use while sitting in my wheelchair. It targets the arms, and I usually pull 70 lbs, three sets of 12. If I let it pull me, I get a fabulous stretch of the shoulders!

Leg Press

Leg presses are my favorite. I can transfer onto and off of the machine unasissted, but need some help getting my good leg onto the pressure plate. Dale first stretches that leg and then helps me position it. I usually do one set of 12 reps at 70 lbs to warm up, and then three sets of 12 reps at 85 lbs. Once I did one press at 115 lbs, but only one rep.

Leg extensions

Leg extensions are very difficult - transfering from my wheelchair to the machine is very difficult, and requires that Dale horse my legs up while I use the transfer board to move my upper body. Transferring back is easier; I just fall into my wheelchair.

I can only manage 25 pounds, and that only with a bit of help from the trainer. He pushes with his hand at the end, which enables me to get a full extension. I do three sets of 12 reps.

Leg curls

Leg curls are as bad as the extensions. Again, I need a lot of help from Dale to transfer onto the machine.

I can only move the left leg, and I need a little help to complete each curl. Still, I can only manage 25 lbs with each curl. The right leg (the bad one) twitches while I do these, but I think that's just hip flexion.

Standing (sort of)

I'm supposed to be sitting for this machine, and flapping my arms. It's a Lat Raise machine, but I discovered that by leaning on the machine, I take some body weight off my leg, and I can lift my butt up. Then I push up with my arms and I'm standing (sort of)!

I can't let go with my right hand; it's keeping the right leg from collapsing. But I can let go with the left hand and grab the machine farther up to pull myself erect. I do at least 30 of these each time I visit the "Y".

You can see how I reacted, by that idiotic grin!!!