My Speech

Some people have to learn how to walk all over again after their legs have been injured. I have to learn to SPEAK all over again after the speaking part of my brain was injured.  It's not easy.  I need constant reminders to  NOT open my mouth when I want to say something.  I have to CLOSE my mouth, breathe in through my nose, put my chin down (and control it from not going back like it always wants to do) and then speaking (slowly and clearly - only ONE WORD AT A TIME) while I am exhaling through my mouth.  I need a LOT of practice learning how to speak this new way, but it is what I am being taught to do in Speech Therapy. Everyone has SOMETHING they have to learn to deal with in life and speaking so that anyone can understand me is definitely MY biggest challenge.

My Birthday

I had a very nice 32nd birthday on June 8th. Brandon Ayers, my marketing manager of ATrue Productions, made it special by taking a few hours out of his busy schedule to come by and visit with me. He brought a huge bunch of Happy Birthday helium balloons with him. Several photos are posted on my facebook.  It was exciting to see that 65 of my friends on facebook also took the time to wish me a happy birthday. I think life is all about having friends and being there for them.  Facebook has given me so MANY new friends....I LOVE it!

Physical Therapy

Brooks Rehab in Jacksonville has a new gym for people like me with neurological disorders, or brain injuries, to use!  My mom took me to be evaluated there today.  I don't think she was very happy with me because all I did was complain that I was cold and it hurt to use any of their equipment. I don't think I will ever choose to have more pain by forcing my body to move.  I always like to sit with my head leaning back in my wheelchair because my hips hurt if I sit up straight (probably because my back was fused with rods about 10 years ago). There isn't much you can do if you can't even sit up straight without pain.  I know she was hoping that I would become motivated to want to start going there once or twice a week, but it just wasn't for me.  Since my body and speech don't function very well, I'm sure glad my brain is still sharp so that I can continue to be an author of children's books.