Tuesday – 3/20/2012
I hope everyone has been able to enjoy the beautiful weather the Lord has blessed us with this past week. I have no choice but to be thankful when I am fortunate enough to enjoy 75° weather in Northeast Ohio during the middle of March! It’s been great to get outside for a little bit each day and enjoy the sun’s energy. I certainly have been doing my part to soak as much of it in as I can.
And speaking of energy, congratulations to my alma mater, Lehigh, on their amazing performance in the NCAA basketball tournament! Unless you’re a Blue Devils fan, the Lehigh/Duke game was an exciting feat of David vs. Goliath proportion. I have no doubt all of the North Carolina fans took pleasure in the Mountain Hawks victory!
While we are on the topic of victory, I continue to celebrate the small victories I make each week during my physical therapy sessions. My hip flexor and quadriceps muscles continue to grow stronger, in turn allowing me to activate them for longer periods of time during the workouts. After a strong table workout today I was able to get on the FES bike and ride for a couple miles using my own muscles to do most of the work (while being electrically stimulated). As I was rolling across the parking lot towards my vehicle after the workout I experienced a tingling sensation throughout both of my legs – something which I have not experienced before. I took it as a good sign that the nerves in my leg muscles had experienced some type of signal as a result of the morning workout.
I’m thinking of adding an extra day to my workout regimen to further help strengthen the muscles and restore any potential nerve activity. Myself, as well as others, have actually noticed that my legs have put on some additional mass. Furthermore, I recently received some “wearable therapy” wraps that will stimulate and increase muscle mass in my glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and ankles while hopefully waking up the nerves at the same time.
Nerve regeneration in the spinal cord after injury is a very tricky and delicate undertaking. In general, human nerves regrow at the rate of a millimeter a day. However, there still exists debate on whether or not the spinal cord nerves are able to regenerate. There are those who operate under the school of thought that regeneration is minimal at best and unlikely to lead to any recovery or function. There is another school of thought that believes that repetitive exercise and patterned neural activity can assist in helping to “wake up” dormant and damaged nerves. This process, known as the “Dardzinski Method”, is the basket of thought I’m placing all my eggs in. Patience is absolutely mandatory. In most cases, it can take several years of constant repetition of the same motion to restore function. Nonetheless, I’m in it for the long haul and am so very grateful to the many people who have donated funds to my Discretionary Trust. I hope you take some heart in knowing that your donations are having a real impact on my physical progress!
In other news, I will be speaking at Perry High School next Tuesday evening as part of the “A Walk in Their Shoes” program. I have also been invited to speak at a conference in Austin, Texas in August. Provided some logistical issues can be worked out, I’m looking forward to accepting the invite. I also received word from the IRS that my 501(c)(3) application currently resides in the “Applications for Expedited Review” pile. They are currently reviewing applications submitted last July. Considering my application was received on October 20th, I have abandoned all wishful intentions that their stated 90 day expectation for a response will be met.
Rather than begin this journal with a quote, I wanted to close with one that was shared with me by my friend, Nicole. I hope that anyone dealing with their own challenges and demons can find some solace in its truth – and put its truth to work for them, choosing to focus on the positive no matter how dark it can tend to get at times. It is from Dr. Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor:
“Everything can be taken from a man, but for one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. And there are always choices to make.”
God Bless and Stand Strong!
Scott
14 Comments
Allison Trentanelli
March 28, 2012Hi Scott,
Thank you for sharing your story at Perry High School’s event last night. You clearly have a gift for inspiring others, and we are blessed that you shared it with our community.
Thanks,
Allison Trentanelli
mark
March 28, 2012hello scott, my 11 yr. old daughter (lydia) and i attended the walk in their shoes event at perry high school 3/27/2012. she’s in the “kids care club” at the school. thank you for comming out and sharing with us. i really enjoyed the event, drew some tears for me, but thats a good thing. i became a follower of Jesus in 1996. i was at the end of my rope with a multitude of health problems. i’m so pleased i was drawn to God (john 6:44) i want you to know i have begun to pray for you and your team of helpers. i fully expect you to continue to advance in your recovery. All things are Possible with God. i know this to be a Truth Fact. oh lydia says hello and she liked the way you spoke about yourself. Peace and Love to you….mark and lydia
David
March 26, 2012The thaw has begun. Fairbanks is above freezing. Feels very warm as the snow soaks up the sun and the mounds of snow deflate and blankets of snow shrink and recede. Time to put away the winter jacket as the midnight sun fast approaches. Double days are almost here with 24 hour light. Soon Fairbanks will boom with green.
David
March 25, 2012The mind knows what the body needs. This morning I biked in balmy weather above zero to a coffee roaster cafe complete with awesome cinnamon rolls and frothy hot chocolate. Take home some homemade cookies and the return journey with a walk the bike thru the world class ice carving park should round out another Sunday morning in Fairbanks.
David
March 24, 2012Funny how the mind and body adapts or acclimates to its surroundings. The temperature is around 30 degrees and it feels steamy warm. Fairbankians talk about balmy weather anything above zero. Funny how you can condition yourself to do about anything. A four mile bike ride becomes a blink of an eye. Another fantastic meal at a great restaurant becomes commonplace.
David
March 24, 2012The mind knows what the body needs. After a warm and snowy four mile bike ride I was able to snag a pancake with icecream and chocolate syrup, apple salad with grapes, oranges. All served in an atrium with AstroTurf as carpet and no heat about 10 degrees. Like I say warm and we have fantastic restaurants in Fairbanks
David
March 23, 2012The brain is like a computer. It is constantly working on healing the body. Just have to get all the techno golly and medicines out of the way and let the body and brain do its thing. Just feed the body with some good nutrients and the brain will do the rest. I recommend lots of good music all the exercise you can manage and let the body heal itself to the best possible extent possible.
Cherry Marsh
March 22, 2012What wonderful news. Keep on keeping on the same path. This with you unending faith in God will continue to serve you well.
God bless,
Cherry
marilou buffum
March 21, 2012Fabulous news about the tingling! Any sensation indicates some kind of response, I would think. You must have been apoplectic about Lehigh! Love, Aunt Marilou
David
March 21, 2012Exercise is critical to mental and physical health. You are doing the right thing focusing on physical therapy. As someone who has divorced their car and relies solely on exercise I understand the benefits more than most people. This techno golly is ruining everything. Can you imagine a world without cars?
Mary McFeely
March 21, 2012Thanks again for ALWAYS inspiring. That quote will be shared – how powerful!!!
I’m so glad to hear of your progress – you have such an AWESOME attitude.
God Bless You,
(Bobbi’s friend)
Pauline Garvey
March 20, 2012Scott, thanks for sharing that quote. I’m thinking your physical therapy sessions are accomplishing more than small victories. You are an amazing young man.
Donna
March 20, 2012That is wonderful news, Scott. It must be a high to feel your legs tingling. I haven’t stopped thinking of you and want to come visit soon. Perry High School is a lot different than when I went. They took down the old high school building.
Jody
March 20, 2012Great progress, Scott. Its Dardzinski all the way!
Also, that is a great quote. Thank you for sharing it.
Jody