It has been just over five months now, and I just wanted to share something with you. Last week in a transverse myelitis group that I’m in, someone shared a book recommendation for a memoir by a woman named Victoria Arlen, called Locked In: The Will to Survive and the Resolve to Live. At the age of 11, Victoria contracted both Transverse Myelitis and another serious neuro injury called Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. She gradually slipped into a vegetative state and was like that for a few years before waking up and fighting hard to recover and regain her life. Then, after 10 years of being paralyzed from the waist down, she underwent intense physical therapy and regained the ability to walk. It’s a story of amazing grit and determination!
Reading her story, it gave me renewed hope and determination of my own to never settle for my current physical state, but keep working and challenging myself to continue improving. It’s hard, and often frustrating that my gains are so tiny now, but I have to keep reminding myself that they’re still gains! And I don’t want to give up hope that if I keep working at it, I will eventually see my goals of being able to hike, run, and dance again.
Hope is a hard thing. It’s fragile and easily broken. One has to guard it so closely. For me, ultimately my hope is in the Lord and I know that no matter what happens, He will carry me though. I know that He made this body of mine and can help me have wisdom in how to continue to strengthen it and rebuild my nerve connections.
And I know that there will still be seasons when I’ll struggle with hope and doubt. But today? Today is a good day. 🙂
And if you want to hear an inspiring story, take a few minutes and watch Victoria’s story below:
