I had a lot of time to think when I was in the hospital-this can be good and bad for a young child. I spent many hours trying to lift my paralyzed legs and move those infamous toes! Things were happening very quickly in my recovery so I never knew what tomorrow may bring. It’s funny what happens when you lose the use of part of your body.
I was so thankful that the paralysis that was high in my chest Continue Reading »
I’ve had the pleasure of being a member of the National Speakers Association since 2002. This year is very special to me because I have the honor of being President of the National Speakers Association/Colorado Chapter. Over the years I’ve heard the best speakers in the world and been exposed to their books and fabulous wisdom. One of those speakers is Continue Reading »
At the bottom of my hospital bed stood my Doctors, Dunn and Hall. They were surrounded by my mother, Henry my physical therapist and several nurses. Doctor Dunn looked at me-grinning from ear to ear and he said, show them Steve. Move your toes! I garnered all my strength and suddenly the big toe on my left foot moved-I wish you could have seen the look on my mothers face. Continue Reading »
My Doctor wasn’t the only one who bugged me every day about moving my toes. One day a slight man, with blond hair and blue eyes came bursting through my hospital door. He had the most contagious smile I had ever seen on a person-his name was Henry Swenson. Henry was the hospital physical therapist and he was now overseeing my physical therapy efforts. Since there was no movement in my legs Continue Reading »
There were two phrases that I grew sick of hearing in the hospital: “Can you move your toes” and “Maybe tomorrow”. Since I asked when I could go home every day I heard the phrase maybe tomorrow until I could scream! . Soon, it seemed to me that my whole life revolved around tomorrow.
I bring this up as a heads up to parents. It’s critically important for a child to do a daily task-however minimal. It gives them a feeling of accomplishment and more importantly, Continue Reading »
I had many friends and families visit me continuously in the hospital. I noticed right away that my attitude set the tone for their visit. My observation was that if I was smiling visitors immediately felt more at ease. I wanted to please adults so I quickly learned whether it was my Doctor or visitor-a smile and Continue Reading »
My stay in isolation did not not last too long. They discovered that people were coming and going from my room and not coming down with any terrible diseases! It was fabulous to be moved out of isolation and into a regular room where I could sometimes talk with other boys. There were no TVs or ipods so I kept myself occupied reading, talking with others and fantasizing about walking again.
I was very fortunate Continue Reading »
My second day in the hospital led me to my own private room. There was plastic on the windows and the door. The only people allowed in my room were Doctors, Nurses and of course my mother. Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado had never seen a case like mine. At first they were amazed that I could be running in the morning and paralyzed from the chest down eight hours later. That amazement had now turned to mild terror Continue Reading »
On that fateful Monday I remember walking back to the drinking fountain in the back of my first grade classroom to get a drink. Going back to my desk I had to hang on to desks and pull myself back to mine. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the police officer standing in the doorway watching me. The police office was my father Continue Reading »
It always amazes me how resilient children are-they are much tougher mentally than most people give them credit for. That is except for you parents who make your child wear a helmet with their bicycle and training wheels-sorry, couldn’t resist 
I have observed hundreds of kids over the years in hospitals who were dealing with some kind of physical disability-but they were able to keep that song Continue Reading »