My all time favorite Physical therapist’s name is Gretchen. She is very enthusiastic about her craft. Sometimes she looks at me like she is studying me like a puzzle to be solved and that is when she comes up with some pretty bizarre ideas on things to have me try

These ideas are usually scary for me. One time she had two male interns carry me on their shoulders and run. My feet were dangling and barely touching the ground. I was told she was reminding my brain that I know how to run.   Another day, she had me walk with large rods instead of my walker. She had me use them like ski poles which means I had to balance and walk. Another time she had me step up on the exercise table, which by the way, is a very large step also making me depend on my bad leg (left). My heart is usually racing after such sessions.

She also takes videos of my walking on her phone and shows it to me so I can see what I am doing when I walk. For example, by not using my left hip to push my leg forward, this causes me to hop up during my walking stride. It is very helpful for me to see this so I can correct it.

She is very inventive and seems to really care about my progress.   She also encourages me to tell her what is difficult for me. For example, I told her that I have trouble pivoting myself into and out of a chair at crowded restaurants. She then showed me how to maneuver myself by using another chair and scooting over.

Gretchen gave me visual cues to remind me on my walker that say, “Pick it up” on the left side of my walker and “Pass it up” on the right side. When I am walking to push myself to walk even faster, I chant this mantra over and over in my head. This seems to really help me.

Another challenging maneuver she showed me is an exercise using only my left side to turn myself over on top of the exercise matt. At first I didn’t think I could do it and she stood up on the mat herself and helped me do it with a little guidance. Then I did it on my own! She makes me feel that anything is possible!