Just a "zebra" trying my best to live life to the fullest with EDS and POTS...and loving the ride.

A++

Written by Katie. Posted in Ehlers-Danlos Awareness, Favorites, My Creations, Other Appointments, POTS Awareness

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If you recall a while back, at my last monthly appointment with Larry (Sports Med doc and the “captain” of my medical team), I was given an old fashioned homework assignment.  After having a mental breakdown in his office, he gave me this task…To watch Apollo 13, and relate it to my EDS and POTS by creating any craft project I want.  All he told me was he wanted me to pay attention to the energy conservation theme. 

I watched the movie on Monday (yes, I had a whole month and procrastinated until the day before just like the old days) and ended up taking 6 pages of notes.  It took me 4 hours to watch the 2.5 hour movie because I kept rewinding to make sure I had info, space lingo, and quotes correct.  Then I went to work on my “crafting.” 

I took my poster board over to my Dad who helped me with an outline of the capsule.  Then I changed my mind and decided I wanted a regular spacecraft (even though I realize most of the action takes place in the capsule)…So we flipped that poster board over, and my Dad helped me pencil in an outline of a space shuttle since I CANNOT draw.

I took my poster home, and with my notes began creating.  This is what I came up with…

“Apollo 13 and EDS and POTS”
 I can’t get this picture to flip.  On the wings I wrote the parts of the movie I identified with in regards to having POTS and EDS.
  • No negativity in the capsule. It doesn’t help.
  • It takes a team of people and support to achieve success.
  • Must know when to “power on” and “power off.”
  • Must use the tools I already have to survive.
  • Takes being prepared, trained, and disciplined to be successful.  Simulator=Therapy
?
 I couldn’t get this wing to flip either.
  • When the “warnings” start going off, I must pay attention.
  • “What do we have on the spacecraft that is good?”  Spacecraft=My Body
  • So important to learn and understand what I have in reserve.
  • Must know how hard I can push and how much I need to back off to survive and be successful.
  • Knowing my “spacecraft” (body) and listening to experts will also help me succeed.
  • Faith, hope, and courage are the foundation for all successes.
 I surrounded the spacecraft with the quotes I loved from the movie that were very identifiable for me in regards to EDS and POTS. Especially this one…
  • “I don’t care what anything was designed to do.  I care what it can do.  So let’s get to work!”
and these…
  • Let’s work the problem.  Not make the problem worse by guessing.”
  • “Failure is not an option.”
  • “The belief that anything is possible.”
  • “Power is everything.”
  • Despite the variables against them-“With all due respect sir, I believe this will be our finest hour.” ?
I included the pilot (ME) and my copilots-my husband, my doctors, my physical therapist, my family, and my friends.  Under the pilot and copilots is my “cargo bay”
  • Amazing doctors
  • Compression stockings
  • Medicines
  • Wheelchair
  • Neck Brace
  • Prolotherapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • An awesome attitude
  • Amazing family and support system
  • Rest and Recovery
  • Faith and Hope
To get me “off the ground” and to keep me moving forward, I included what I believe are crucial to strength, recovery, and my success.
  • Fire
  • Drive
  • Determination
  • Persistence
  • Hope
  • Faith
  • Great attitude
  • Courage
  • Inspiration
  • Hard work
  • Perseverance
?So now, I’ll brag just a little…I took my project to my appointment yesterday, and it was so cool to see how proud Larry was of me.  He read it all, took a picture with his phone, and gave me a big hug and an A++.  He said since I did so well, he was giving me a new assignment, which is due at my appointment in May.  Stay tuned for that one…
He wrote to my physical therapist about it, to make sure I showed her.  Well, I just happened to have therapy after my appointment with Larry.  I took my assignment to PT and my therapist took it around to all the therapists to read.  They asked me if they could frame it and hang it on the wall in the therapy gym.  I told them I couldn’t let them, because I was instructed by Larry to hang it in my bedroom so I could read it everyday.  I still gotta talk to Brad about that one 🙂
We obviously talked about a lot more at my appointment than just my assignment…We came up with more goals and plans.  Larry also wrote me a prescription for open toe compression stockings!!!! SCORE!  Like I always say, I don’t know what I would do without him. 

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