Thomas' Tourette's

I watched a Ted Talk about a guy named Thomas White who has Tourette's Syndrome. I highly recommend anyone to watch this video as he explains what he has gone through with Tourette's, and how he is still dealing with it. He explains that Tourette's Syndrome is due to multiple motor and vocal tics that can include repetition and involuntary cursing. He in fact has to deal with both. Although throughout the video you can tell he is struggling with the Tourette's, he manages to make light of the condition and his obvious tics, and make the audience feel enlightened and educated about his neurological condition without bringing negative connotations to it as the world can be cruel and do that very thing. I really like the fact that Thomas does not let it hold him back, or let it control his every day life. He is independent, he went through school, the only thing different is that occasionally he told it like it was (unconsciously). Although, he said that the tics and outburst of comments or words are not exactly what he is thinking and often apologizes. He does not let this control him and his life/lifestyle, and I admire that because most people think Tourette's syndrome is very strange, and hard to be around without laughing or getting offended. This is where becoming educated with the neurological condition and having compassion for those who suffer from it come to play. I especially enjoyed the way he ended his speech with how the Tourette's does not define who he is and that instead of the condition speaking for him, he speaks his own words. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0szLOMIt9SQ

Breea's Story with Multiple Sclerosis

 Imagine... it's senior year. You're looking forward to the next football game because cheerleaders get front and center to support their fellow classmates against a rival team. You have so many friends, and everything is blissful. Until. You're on the floor, partially paralyzed, and blind in one eye. This is Breea's story. You could say she has a normal life, until this tragedy struck. It happened on December 8th, 2011. Her life changed in an instant, even though her original symptom began with a little coordination imbalance, by 24 hours she experienced all of the aforementioned affects from what was soon diagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS). A quick definition of what MS is the attack of the myelin around nerve fibers in the central nervous system. Breea was diagnosed with severe MS so it was imperative to act fast. At this point she could not talk or swallow as well. She spent 6 weeks in the hospital relearning the basics, and then began the journey to walk again with the help of therapy services. In the video, even though this seems like such a catastrophic event to happen to a vibrant, and active 18 year old (which I am sure there were ups and downs throughout the journey), all you see is so much support from family and friends, and laughter/smiles, and encouragement/motivation. She decided to stay focused on the positive, and laughed through the triumphs. By day 46, she was discharged and began in home therapy, and there was only more improvement to be made from there. Through her good attitude and determination, 8 months later she was performing assisted back walk overs! She ended up going to prom, getting in to college, and has hopes in becoming a cheerleader again. With her kind of grit, I personally think she could do it. 

In watching Breea's story, and the amount of support that she had throughout her journey made me reflect on how blessed she was, but how unfortunate others are who do not have that. Which brings me to my point about how health care professionals should remember that and take that into consideration especially in therapy. As a future OT, I remind myself how much of an impact encouraging and motivating a client has on them and their progression. Even though therapy is in sessions, it is important that they feel supported within the few hours that you are with them a week. OT's to me have a reputation of being impactful, and I can only hope that I have a client like Breea one day, so I could experience the impact that is not only made on that individual, but the impact that it would make on my life. All experiences teach us life lessons whether they happen directly or indirectly to us. It is important I think to remain humble, kind, and focused just as Breea did. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfD9s1_TN0s

CSI for SCI

I watched a Ted Talk on a guy named Janne Kouri who endured a spinal cord injury (SCI). He is a courageous and hopeful guy, whose identity was changed (or so the doctors thought). Before his injury, he was very active and athletic until the unfortunate event that left him instantly paralyzed, leaving him worried about his future. Doctors were so unbelievably discouraging and again leaving Janne with no hope for his future, saying that he should get used to playing games like he was a vegetable who was incapable of ever doing anything ever again. However, with the persistence and help of his girlfriend, and Janne's positive attitude, they were able to find a perfect fitting rehabilitation center that could actually help him. Even after battling an extremely high fever, severe pneumonia, and coding twice in the intensive care unit at the hospital for two months. Here's the kicker. This rehab center was across the country, in Kentucky. They lived in California, and decided to leave everything behind in order to provide him with the best care possible. Not only that, but with the ONLY doctor that said there is hope. So, they went. Through a therapy called locomotive training, he was able to regain some function, and improve his overall health while training there eight hours a day. After a while, a health care worker asked him to try and walk. A couple times of doing so, he began to wiggle his toe, which was something that the previous doctors said he would never be able to do much less regain function to live and lead an independent life. During his whole journey, he got to thinking why did he have to travel this far to have access to this training and rehab facility, and why are the others who are here not able to receive these benefits? Well, even though he was going through his journey, he soon discovered that his mission was to make a difference and correct this issue in the health care system. He was determined to make this locomotive training available to everyone. If you have never heard of locomotive training, it is where a client is strapped into a harness and trainers/therapist assist in helping you simulate movement such as walking. Because of this awesome innovation, he was able to walk a little bit with a walker, and give his wife there first dance. A special moment indeed, all thanks to the people who had hope and passion to strive for better than playing board games for the rest of their lives, and to actually live life instead. I think as a future OT, this reminds me to never give up hope on a client, even if I am not the one who could help them, but even pointing them in the right direction. It is our duty as (future) health care providers to have their best interests at heart, and do good because that is simply the right thing. In doing all of this, we should be more like Janne even through the toughest moments of his life. Keep smiling, keep laughing, and find a reason to be happy every day no matter what it is or what you are going through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCxCFjmruSg