Nine years ago, I had my last position of gainful-employment taken from me because of Ataxia. He didn't really want my job, (Ataxia's pretty much a laze about), he just didn't want me to have it. So because of that, I found myself looking at a new stage of life that had initially begun eighteen years prior to this...when I first heard the words, " incurable Neurological disease". These were words that began a journey...and presented an unavoidable path from the one that I had blissfully, and unknowingly, been meandering down. I say that this new path was unavoidable...because it was as if I had reached a thick cement wall...with a sign hanging there, and an arrow pointing to the right, that stated,"road ahead closed...use alternative route, (but not a warning to proceed with caution). The funny thing was that no one got to accompany me...indeed, as soon as I began to move in the alternative direction, the wall came down and everyone that came behind me was allowed to proceed on the original path.
This new path was bleak...and I felt as if I were traveling it alone. I soon realized, however, that I really wasn't...that others were also having walls of varying thickness, and other various obstacles, fall right in front of them...forcing them to also travel along new paths, and side roads. In fact, there are so many, that I can imagine that if all the side travels were recorded into a map form...it would appear as if Google and Apple maps had collided, exploded...and been turned into a disastrous mess called Goopple maps.
Anyway, I have learned a lot since those earlier days...and when I think back, realize that quite a bit has been accomplished. I've written two different Blogs, lead two Support Groups, wrote a book, spoke at a College, had several radio interviews, an interview by a local news station, and had the honor of being one of the main speakers at the National Ataxia Foundation's Convention in two-thousand and seventeen...which was held in San Antonio, TX.
The inventor of the Balance Wear Vest was in attendance that year. I ran to her vendor booth eager to try one on...(in reality, I tripped, and stumbled...all the while trying to make this look casual...like it was a personal walking style instead of one in which I didn't have a choice). She and her assistants surrounded me, pushing and prodding in their quest to discover my weak points. Once established....that being, that basically I am not so much a series of multiple weak spots, but rather one large weak spot...the experimental weights were applied to the Vest, and I tried it on.
I was then set free from their administrations to walk on my own, and discover if the Vest was going to make a noticeable difference. To my extreme shock, and joy, it did! I hadn't walked that straight in close to twenty years. My overall balance was greatly improved, and I could also tell that the Vest would be a big boost to my confidence...no, I was not going to sign up for a marathon, or go out looking to get into trouble in a heated game of hopscotch...but this was a definite improvement.
It has taken me five years since that initial trial...but I finally went and got one, (and if Melissa is reading this, I should mention that she wanted me to get one from the moment I tried one on). We were rather concerned that I had waited too long, and I had advanced to far. The Physical Therapist (who was in contact with, and trained by the inventor) that I went to for the fitting assured us however, that it was never too late...and I had high hopes of a repeated performance from that of five years ago.
Unfortunately, it is not the dramatic change that the original experience had been. I remain positive however, and have been wearing the weighted Vest for almost two weeks, in combination with the ankle weights, (I tried with and without the weights and settled on with them), the hip belt/brace, and the exercises given me by the same PT. Wearing the Vest does provide me with more confidence and balance. The Vest is also a training tool for your body...and while there was not the immediate change that I had hoped for...I am confident that if I maintain my vigilance that there will be improvement.
Nothing is perfect...but I will take any steps(stumbles) afforded to me to make things a little better...and the Vest defiantly does that. If you are interested in looking at this option for yourself, the website is motiontheraputics.com
