Libbyc
New member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2018
- Messages
- 8
- Reason
- CALS
- Diagnosis
- 05/2018
- Country
- US
- State
- Oregon
- City
- Portland
My dear friend has been in ICU for roughly two months as we negotiate all the issues with finding care and housing for him, but we are almost there. He has been understandably depressed, but hesitant to try new things to help improve his mood. He has lost the ability to use his hands and lower arms, so writing and guitar, two of his sources of happiness, are impossible. He hopes to be able to write with the help of a eye-tracking tablet, but that hasn't arrived yet.
His fondest activity, and probably a huge source of strength, serenity, and peace is long-distance bike riding. Prior to any symptoms, he was a bike courier, even at 65. Now being vented, or at least on a bipap 24 hours a day, he assumed his biking days were behind him. Last week, however, PT arrived with a set of mobile foot pedals. A readjustment of the hospital bed and a tweak of the pedal resistance, and C was at it. I feel so lucky that I witnessed such joy. Just in the simple action of pedaling, without a bike or even wheels. It was as if he wasn't in ICU, or even indoors. To watch hope blossom and grow in someone who tries to be strong every day was a moment I will never forget. (I'm now looking into some kind of recumbent trike for his eventual release! Who knows what's possible?!)
Just wanted to share my gratitude and happiness with you all.
His fondest activity, and probably a huge source of strength, serenity, and peace is long-distance bike riding. Prior to any symptoms, he was a bike courier, even at 65. Now being vented, or at least on a bipap 24 hours a day, he assumed his biking days were behind him. Last week, however, PT arrived with a set of mobile foot pedals. A readjustment of the hospital bed and a tweak of the pedal resistance, and C was at it. I feel so lucky that I witnessed such joy. Just in the simple action of pedaling, without a bike or even wheels. It was as if he wasn't in ICU, or even indoors. To watch hope blossom and grow in someone who tries to be strong every day was a moment I will never forget. (I'm now looking into some kind of recumbent trike for his eventual release! Who knows what's possible?!)
Just wanted to share my gratitude and happiness with you all.