Category Archives: Challenge

LOCKED IN

We talk about being locked-in but are you aware there is a medical condition of being locked in?

Medically known as Pseudocoma, “it is a rare neurological disorder in which there is complete paralysis of all voluntary muscles except for the ones that control the movements of the eyes. Individuals with locked-in syndrome are conscious and awake but have no ability to produce movements (outside of eye movement) or to speak (aphonia). Cognitive function is usually unaffected.” NORD (National Organisation for Rare Disorders

I first came across this disorder while reading The Diving Bell and the Butterfly the story of Jean-Dominique Bauby the editor-in-chief of French Elle and the father of two young children, At the end of 1995, he was the victim of a rare kind of stroke to the brainstem and after 20 days in a coma, he awoke and found his body had almost stopped working.  One eye only was still functioning.

This is a book showing man’s desire and ability to overcome almost anything.  It’s well worth a read. I am going to reread it while sitting in so-called locked-in.

Interestingly, again according to NORD

“The first description of the locked-in syndrome can be found in The Count of Monte Cristo authored by Alexandre Dumas. To describe a patient with a locked-in syndrome, the author used the following words:

‘Sight and hearing were the only senses remaining…. It was only, however, by means of one of these senses that he could reveal the thoughts and feelings that still occupied his mind, and the look by which he gave expression to his inner life was like the distant gleam of a candle which a traveler sees by night across some desert place, and knows that a living being dwells beyond the silence and obscurity. In his eyes, shaded by thick black lashes, was concentrated, as it often happens with an organ which is used to the exclusion of the others, all the activity, address, force, and intelligence which were formerly diffused over his whole body; and so although the movement of the arm, the sound of the voice, and the agility of the body, were wanting, the speaking eye sufficed for all’.

In this way, he brilliantly highlighted the potential that these patients have to maintain a meaningful life despite their extreme disability.

It is amazing where our mind goes when we are looking for things to occupy us.

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Making Memories, Finding Friends.

“Lazy Sunday afternoon
I’ve got no mind to worry
I close my eyes and drift away-a”
Small Faces  1960s –  an English rock band from East London 

Sunday afternoon and it’s here before anywhere else in the world. Well, this Sunday was great.

The day started with a late rising, followed by a chat with my daughter and then another chat this time on Facetime with my good friend Chris at Bridges Burning. We regularly chat and although we’ve never met in person, we are firm friends. Maybe if one of us wins the lottery we might get to meet. Waterloo, Ontario is far from Wellington, New Zealand. Aren’t we lucky we live in a time when the internet makes connecting with friends so easy?

Then after lunch, a ‘short’ run to the supermarket for a very few things. As my daughter says “why go to the supermarket on Sunday afternoon when you have all week?” No answer to that one.

Now it was time to sit in the sunshine and relax. So teapot and cup close at hand I logged into my site. I wondered what I had been posting about last year and the year before. I knew there wouldn’t be much in 2016; that’s when I had my misadventure.

Then I thought about the time when The Architect was first hospitalised and diagnosed with the brain tumour. What did I share with my blogging pals then?

I had been nominated by Cat at Catterel to take part in the Five Day Challenge – post a picture each day with some prose to accompany it. Well, I did that and as directed nominated another blogger each day to take part. Unfortunately, very soon after writing those posts, I was taken up with hospital and medical things so I really didn’t give those bloggers the attention they deserved. I have rectified it this afternoon.

Catterel a poet who was born in the UK, spent some years in Germany where she became a German citizen and now, after spending more than half her life in Switzerland, she has decided to apply for citizenship. Join her at Catterel.wordpress.com to see what else she has been up to.

So to Sallyann at Photographic Memories, Darlene at darlenefoster.wordpress.com; Patricia at Patricia’s Place and Granny at Granny 1947.wordpress.com, thanks for joining in and apologies again for not reading and commenting on your posts at the time. I have tried to remedy this but some posts were not available.

And Finding Friends? Well in reading the posts by the above-mentioned bloggers I discovered other bloggers and went over to see what they had to say. And now I have subscribed to some of the blogs.

I have a new friend. Marian Beaman was brought up as a Mennonite girl in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I’ve enjoyed reading about this. Her memories are so interesting: her childhood so very different from mine. Visit her at www.marianbeaman.com.

Barbara at March of Time Books lives in the UK.  Barbara  blogs about all things that interest her, “vintage books, postcards and ephemera” but as she says ‘you will also find me musing on many other topics.” Shoot over to her site to see what she is musing about now.

Barb at www.barbtaub.com Her blog is full of humour and easy reading for a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Chuck Jackson is a retired accountant living in South East Florida. He is a writer, having had three books published. You can read synopses and some excerpts from his books on www.chuckjacksonknowme.com

So another Sunday afternoon came to an end. There’s laundry to fold and dinner to make. But I shall go back to read more from/about these new friends soon.

“Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart” 
Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884 – 1962
 American political figure, diplomat and activist.

 

 

 

 

 

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Independent motion – can you help?

This young  man has really been living in a nightmare. He’s doing all he can to live a normal life. He has to be congratulated on what he has achieved through determination and the will to live.

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What would you give to make a dream come true if you woke to find yourself living a nightmare? What would you feel if you could never again walk on a beach? Or go out alone in the snow…feel t…

Source: Independent motion – can you help?

A Helping Hand…

It was a vicious attack on an old man. He had been walking his dog in the local park when he was approached by a couple of lads. They looked alright and didn’t appear to pose any threat. They were chatting and laughing as they approached him.

“Good afternoon sir” said the younger one and suddenly he knocked the old man down. Laughing he kicked him in the ribs and then just as suddenly walked away chatting to his friends.

This attack was witnessed by a number of people but only one, another older man came to the victim’s aid.

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The challenge is to write a story in 100 words having been given a word.  This week’s word is Vicious.

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Note – this is based on a real life happening.  My father was out walking when he was approached by a gang o youths.  they were chased away by another elderly man while the younger folk looked on.

Tea Drinkers Unite

It had been a tiring day. Visit to the hospital, discussions with the doctor, the therapist and of course, her mother. It was very distressing that her mother barely recognised her; she often thought her a nurse.

The one bright moment in the harrowing afternoon was when an orderly brought the tea tray. At that moment her mother reverted to how she used to be, graciously pouring tea into the bone china cups and offering cake and biscuits.

This ritual of offering and accepting the cup of tea brought her mother back to her, if only for a short time.

The 100 Word Challenge is to tell a story in only 100 words.
This week’s theme is “Cup”

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Writing 101: Personality on the Page

Today’s Challenge and I still haven’t caught up but decided I should like to do this one now.- The Challenge is: – We all have anxieties, worries, and fears. What are you scared of? Address one of your worst fears. Today’s twist: Write this post in a style distinct from your own.

This looked like a real challenge.  Where to start?

I have breezed through life with very few fears but

  • I have always been afraid that something bad could happen to one of my loved ones
  • I have been anxious about my aged parents on the other side of the world; both now dead
  • I was afraid of cats until I took a course of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or Tapping as it is sometimes known.  Now I am no longer afraid of cats and have even been known to stroke one but
  • My worst fear was realised at 2.28am on April 22 1998.  My Dashing (not so) Young Scotsman died.

I wondered/ feared :

  • How would I live without him
  • How could I live without him
  • Where would I live without him
  • How could I go through each day knowing he wasn’t waiting for me at home
  • How could I smile and pretend that life was “normal”
  • What was normal anymore
  • When would the “time heals” kick in
  • When would I stop counting the hours, days since he died and move onto the months and years

And I found that while my worst fear had been realised on that ghastly day, I could:

  • Live my life without him though I missed him madly
  • Move house and so find where I could live without him
  • Go through each day with his memories to help me
  • What became normal was different to anything I had expected or experienced
  • Time didn’t heal although the hurt was lessened as time passed
  • Now I say he died 16 years ago.

And now after so long, my whole life has changed as I have a new partner and we are making a new life together.

Note: I don’t know if I have met the challenge in the way in which it was designed.