Consider this verse from the Tao Te Ching (Mitchell, v. 22):

If you want to become whole,
let yourself be partial.
If you want to become straight,
let yourself be crooked.
If you want to become full,
let yourself be empty.
If you want to be reborn,
let yourself die.
If you want to be given everything,
give everything up.

Your devoted, and very proud, Aunt Sharon

aim for some cute nurse and kick her right in the a**.

i’m a little behind in my reading. soooo stoked for you.

Dan – The feeling of movement in limbs that have sat dormant for months is… it’s indescribable. It certainly is amazing, to say the least. At the same time it can be frustrating because it takes much more effort to effect previously thoughtless movement. But that should change with time.

Thom – Glad to hear it! I may be up your way for a bit sometime soon, as I’m evaluating some different options for out-patient therapy. One is an intense program to be done locally with a therapist, but requires a one week evaluation at one of their major centers. I’ll be sure to let you know if I’ll be up that way.

Lasko – I don’t know if I can do that.. Kicks in the ankle are your job – and I have the permanently swollen ankles to prove it!

Prince – hahah.. Come on by – this looks to be my last week in the hospital, then it’s back home. Finally.

Kanishah – hahahahaahhaha I like your thinking. The other day I mentioned to my attending that I’d be happy to even walk abnormally. He joking told me, “Now you’re at the bargaining stage.” But he’s right – why bargain? I couldn’t be happy with my response to this difficult process unless I give every last bit that I’ve got towards full recovery. In our group discussion two weeks ago, we talked about what qualities of our own that help us to deal with the challenges of a spinal cord injury. For me, it’s either stubbornness or perseverance. It’s a lot easier for me to fight for this than just go through it if I put my head down and deal with what’s immediately in front of me, rather than trying to worry about where I’ll be in a year.

Soon I’m going to discuss some of the specific therapies I’ve been doing here at Sinai, and how they’re helping. The really exciting ones are also so freaking EXHAUSTING! But they’re fun.

I’m sure this post is going to be followed by many more in the same tone. Target, CNS examination : Normal.

I’ll come by this week sometime so we can….
(yes i know)

KICK IT!!!!!!

-Prince