October 2020

NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH—AND HALLOWEEN🎃🎃🎃

This month is National Physical Therapy Month.  I wanted to highlight this wonderful “movement medicine” by featuring the AWESOME Physical Therapy location where I have received services when needed for the past 10 years!  

At Banner Physical Therapy 2400 W Dunlap in Phoenix, Arizona, the following services are offered: Concussion Management, Dry Needling, Pediatric Therapy, Spanish Speaking, Sports Medicine, TMJ Rehab, Amputee Rehab, Work Conditioning, Telemed Eval.  Numerous insurances cover treatment.

I cannot say enough about this great place! The front office staff are courteous, competent, and caring. The PT staff are licensed and highly educated and their level of expertise is bar none.

They provide a friendly, upbeat, and encouraging atmosphere while also challenging you to do what is needed to get better.  This includes active participation on your part in doing home exercises which are individually designed for you.  Interns completing their PT practicums are also an integral part of the staff. All these services are provided in an environment of ample space and good equipment. (Personally, I love the music too!).  AND note, they decorate for various holidays! See pics!  

I started going to this location 10 years ago after suffering for 20 years with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, the result of a very serious car accident.  It took one treatment and I was cured!   Four years later when I broke my right radial bone, I went there for treatment, and again, SUCCESS.  I have had various ailments requiring PT the past four years and been treated successfully for every condition.  I am ready to graduate next week after treatment for my Concussion Syndrome.  I will continue on my own there in a personal wellness program specifically designed for me by my PT.  

I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to consider Physical Therapy as part of your treatment regimen if needed!  

Blessings, 

Carolyn Q

SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES CARLA’S FAMILY:    

One way to cope with grief on special occasions while at the same time honoring your loved one is to do a special activity or remembrance. Carla’s husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law, and grandkids each found ways to do this:  

Carla’s daughter Lindsey organized a fun get together for everyone on Carla’s birthday.  Carla in her last few months LOVED getting out with her family. 

Her son Bryan wrote a beautiful tribute and memory of a family project done on behalf of Carla.

“Finding the right words to describe who my Mother was on this earth remains to be a challenge. 

Carolyn, you have such a beautiful heart and soul. My Mother loved you dearly, as we all do. I cannot thank you enough for this tribute as it has brought so many memories back of wonderful times. 

For the sake of being brief, I’ll just tell one story. It was a crisp and sunny December in Kansas City. Her 3 “Living Angels”(Aunt’s Mary & Sally) and I had gotten into a bit of a routine, so the weather was noticeably beautiful. Meds? Check. Bed? Check. Garments? Check. It can truly be cumbersome as some of you know, and home health requires more than a couple loving people. Monday’s were always more eventful with visits from Doc, Hospice, and always a few admirers who had scheduled to stop by. We collectively knew the end was near.

With just days to live, my Mother insisted to us that we write as many letters as possible. I think she knew she still had the ability to leave each of us with a life-changing gift; something we could turn to in times of need. Her words, her love, her legacy. It was to be addressed to her Hospice Nurse. One of the many Healthcare professionals we grew fond of. In what now seems like her last few true breaths, Carla Drescher wanted to express gratitude.  Thanking someone who had impacted her on a large scale in such a short amount of time. Fitting because that’s the life she lived daily. She took a deep breath and said “Thank you so much for assisting me in my journey home.” She passed away days later, on the same day we opened our doors at The Blue Door Project exactly a year prior. Her very last and forever lasting impression on this earth was one of grace and love.”

Philip, Carla’s husband sent pics to share:

I am sharing a picture of a pillow we both had without knowing it, and when Carla found out, she said, “It shows we have good taste!” (We both had a love of Kirkland’s). I put two out every Fall!

Hope this gives you some ideas of ways to remember and honor your loved ones! I will be featuring more in the Holiday Season!  

Blessings, 

Carolyn

October 20th would have been my cousin Carla’s 62nd birthday.  I was totally caught off guard when I could not write this blog in honor of her.  It was anniversary grief (or shadow grief as my main grief teacher Sister Teresa called it).  The grief that happens around special occasions when you have lost someone who meant so much to you.

In the 24 hours I took to get through this, memories of Carla’s life flooded me:

*My shock when Aunt Gini, Carla’s Mom, showed up in her pink seersucker maternity outfit and laughingly told me she had “the 9-month flu!”

*Gini softly singing “Toura Loura Loura” to Baby Carla as she rocked her.

*Riding around with teen Carla as she shared the secrets she did not tell anyone else.

*Carla participating in the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps all over the USA, head of the cymbal section. (One of her lifelong fondest memories).

*Staying with Carla and her husband Tom.

*Attending Tom’s tragic funeral a few months later with the memory of pregnant Carla needing to be escorted from the casket as she lingered.

*Attending Carla’s wedding to Philip with Grandma Stevenson, our social services role model and woman of devout Catholic faith.

(And Philip picking little Lindsey up when she plopped down in the aisle and holding her throughout the ceremony).

*Providing support as her mother was dying from metastatic breast cancer, and my fear she would get breast cancer too, which she did.

*Carla joyfully sharing she was taking instruction to become Catholic.

*Feeling so much pride as Carla had gotten her BSW and MSW (making us the only social workers in the family at that time); her career in Child Welfare and as Mental Health Director in the State of Kansas, even as she went through treatment for breast cancer.

*Visiting with Carla, her daughter Lindsey, and newborn granddaughter Addison.  Carla tossing off her wig to reveal her lovely newly growing hair!😄💝😍

*Visiting with Carla as she proudly gave tours of the Blue Door Project, a former monastery being renovated for 16 foster adolescents, her last act of love and faith done with her family in Kansas City.  (Her son and wife managed it full time upon its opening).  Much of the reno was donated by many Christians!  

*Finding out that Carla’s breast cancer had spread and she was given 8-10 years to live.  

*Then it was found to have spread further and when she was only given a few weeks/months to live, going to KC for two visits.

*Carla setting a major goal to make it to her 60th birthday which she did and celebrated with a huge birthday party!   And to Christmas, if she could (“the cherry on top of the icing!”)  She crowded all she could into her short time, wearing out her loving family caregivers at times!

*She made it to December 15, passing peacefully as the sunlight streamed through the windows.

All the lives she had touched were evident in the number of persons who came to say goodbye at her visitation and funeral Mass, in spite of blustery weather.

It is said that some persons crowd so much into their lives because they are with us only a short time.  And that was Carla:  Wife, mother, Nina, daughter, social worker, a woman of faith!  All these roles were her joy and lifeblood!  

SO CARLA, WE LOVE YOU, WE HONOR YOU, WE MISS YOU.  One day we will see you again, just as your song “I Can Only Imagine,” plays joyfully in our Reunion!! 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is from October 1 through October 31. Today and next week I
want to honor and highlight this most important month!
I am sure we all know someone, either a family member, friend, colleague, client, or ourselves
who have battled breast cancer. I have known each of these up close and personal.
Cancer and cardiac are the two big C’s in my family. For years, I secretly dreaded someone in
our family would go through breast cancer. And finally, it happened. My aunt by marriage,
Virginia was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer which had unfortunately already
spread. She lived an incredible length of time before losing her battle.
Then, her husband, my maternal uncle Jack (who was my godfather) was diagnosed with breast
cancer a few years later. Yes, men get breast cancer, too! He went through treatment which
was successful and had no recurrence. Jack and Gini's daughter Carla was diagnosed a few
years after that. Her valiant story will be featured next week.
Professionally, I had the honor of working in oncology for many years as a social worker and
then as an RN in radiation oncology. I had many clients with breast cancer from all walks of life
and all levels of income. Breast cancer is an equal opportunity disease! I provided emotional
support both individually and in support groups for those going through initial and follow up
treatment and evaluation. Some of my clients did not make it while others did!!
Many women have fibrocystic breast tissue. I am one. My first breast cancer scare was in my
thirties before I was in nursing school. I am sorry to say I was pretty ignorant in those days,
although I remember being afraid. Fortunately, I was clear.
I am also sorry to say I was not diligent about monthly self-check ups even after that initial
scare. I have been very lucky to have primary care physicians who are persistent about yearly
checkups.
Fast forward to this year. Within a matter of weeks, two friends and I were faced with breast
cancer scares. One was diagnosed with breast cancer, one had to go through a biopsy which
was negative, and I had to go through advanced testing. It was a VERY stressful time! I was
much more scared this time. Fortunately, I was ok this year. I reached out for support which is
something I have not done in the past.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET SUPPORT, GET YOUR YEARLY CHECKUPS, AND
DO YOUR OWN SELF BREAST MONTHLY EXAMS! WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN
OUR FIGHT!
Here is a link for this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month from the Breast Cancer
Foundation which is very helpful and informational.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is from October 1 through October 31. Today and next week I
want to honor and highlight this most important month!
I am sure we all know someone, either a family member, friend, colleague, client, or ourselves
who have battled breast cancer. I have known each of these up close and personal.
Cancer and cardiac are the two big C’s in my family. For years, I secretly dreaded someone in
our family would go through breast cancer. And finally, it happened. My aunt by marriage,
Virginia was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer which had unfortunately already
spread. She lived an incredible length of time before losing her battle.
Then, her husband, my maternal uncle Jack (who was my godfather) was diagnosed with breast
cancer a few years later. Yes, men get breast cancer, too! He went through treatment which
was successful and had no recurrence. Jack and Gini's daughter Carla was diagnosed a few
years after that. Her valiant story will be featured next week.
Professionally, I had the honor of working in oncology for many years as a social worker and
then as an RN in radiation oncology. I had many clients with breast cancer from all walks of life
and all levels of income. Breast cancer is an equal opportunity disease! I provided emotional
support both individually and in support groups for those going through initial and follow up
treatment and evaluation. Some of my clients did not make it while others did!!
Many women have fibrocystic breast tissue. I am one. My first breast cancer scare was in my
thirties before I was in nursing school. I am sorry to say I was pretty ignorant in those days,
although I remember being afraid. Fortunately, I was clear.
I am also sorry to say I was not diligent about monthly self-check ups even after that initial
scare. I have been very lucky to have primary care physicians who are persistent about yearly
checkups.
Fast forward to this year. Within a matter of weeks, two friends and I were faced with breast
cancer scares. One was diagnosed with breast cancer, one had to go through a biopsy which
was negative, and I had to go through advanced testing. It was a VERY stressful time! I was
much more scared this time. Fortunately, I was ok this year. I reached out for support which is
something I have not done in the past.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET SUPPORT, GET YOUR YEARLY CHECKUPS, AND
DO YOUR OWN SELF BREAST MONTHLY EXAMS! WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN
OUR FIGHT!
Here is a link for thIs year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month from the Breast Cancer
Foundation which is very helpful and informational.

https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month

Blessings for now,
Carolyn

In the midst of all the tumultuous events of the past week, I have had to soul search for what brings me comfort. So today and in upcoming midweek posts, I will share what brings me comfort, and also with the hope to inspire you to share what brings you comfort!

What brings me physical comfort?

*Since early childhood, the satin on a blanket which I always wear out!

*A cup of coffee in the morning.

*Staying in my jammies all day when I do not feel well.

*Simple stretching exercises.

     **What brings YOU physical comfort?**

What brings me emotional comfort?

*Being in nature in the change of the seasons!

*Decorating my home for each season/holiday.

*Listening to music that speaks to my soul!

    **What brings YOU emotional comfort?**

What brings me mental comfort?

*A sense of Humor (all kinds—mine and others!).

*Inspiring words and thoughts.

*The artwork of Rebekah Krevens and my “sis” Janet Rose Bailey.

      **What brings YOU mental comfort?

What brings you social/relationship comfort?

*In times of COVID, contact with family and friends however I can!

*Facebook groups such as “I Freaking Love Quotes,” “Traveling Back to the Old Days 40’s—80’s,” “Soul Sisters Tribe.”

*Donating to food banks in these trying times!

   **What brings YOU social/relationship comfort?

What brings me spiritual comfort?

*Certain Scriptures which have comforted me since childhood:  Psalm 23, 42, 46 (“Be still and know that I am God.”).

*Old hymns:  “In the Garden,” “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” “It is Well with my Soul.”

*Facebook support group:  Foothills Caring and Connections.

*The support/prayer network of my maternal family.

     **What brings YOU spiritual comfort?

I INVITE YOU TO POST WHAT BRINGS YOU COMFORT AND MAY I SHARE IT?  It may help someone else!  

Blessings,

Carolyn Q.