Since moving to Florida, I have become a mentor with the SCI RESOURCE CENTER
with the Tampa General Hospital.
I am not a psychologist or licensed counselor, but I like to think that I can help someone
just the same, if not more. Coping with a spinal cord injury, or any other disability, can be devastating, lonely & quite
depressing for many. No one plans to have a spinal cord injury, so the majority of people who are injured are uneducated and
unprepared to take on such a traumatic injury to the body. Its not like we wake up in the morning and think, "Today is
the last time I will stand from my bed because I will become paralyzed in a car accident," or "I feel like breaking
my neck today." We all take so much for granted in life and so many of us do not stop and observe what is really important.
My heart goes out to anyone suffering from an injury or disability, because we do not choose to be the way we are, it just
happens.
I was fortunate to have the personality and the energy after my injury to bounce back from the negative
and turn it into something great. Oh course I am not thankful for my paralysis, but I do thank God for keeping me on this
earth to impact the lives of others. We all have our unique stories and journeys that we have lived, and I feel completely
honored each time I hear a new one. So that's where this page leads me...
I have always enjoyed the privilege
of meeting new people with injuries. Its kind of nice being able to chat with someone that can feel my pain, anger and
sadness from living in a chair. Yes, I definitely have more good days than bad, and I can devote that to my addiction of laughing.
And, if I can make someone else laugh...even better! I am going to try a mentor program and see how it works. If you or someone
you know has a spinal cord injury or other disability that they are having a hard time coping with, or someone that just needs
someone to talk to, I am here to call upon.
Just shoot me an email and we can set up a time to chat! hopetowalk@hotmail.com
Its okay to ask for help sometimes. I am here to help!!!
Video
of Incredible Inspiration - The last Lecture by Randy Pausch (RIP)
Taken
from Daily Email Devotionals by Dr. David Jerimiah
Millions of people worldwide suffer from debilitating diseases like
Parkinson's disease, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. And no one can truly understand the frustrations of these illnesses
unless they are personally affected by them. Yet many of these individuals are so thankful for the health they do have, while
others who aren't plagued with a life-altering disease take good health for granted.
In writing to
his friend, Gaius, the apostle John said, "I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul
prospers."
Perhaps you've heard people pray, "Lord, we thank You that we are as
well as we are." None of us is in perfect physical shape; all of us are subject to illness. In heaven we'll
be perfectly whole. But here on earth let's thank God that we are as well as we are, and rejoice that in Christ
we can enjoy abundant living in body, mind, and soul.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and
he will make straight your paths.
