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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:40 pm 
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OK, so I used to be an actual runner who ran ten miles every day before starting my rapid slide down the giant razor blade of multiple sclerosis, but this was still incredibly exciting for me. I "ran" this thing with my arms. :-)

My son (age 12) and I decided to do this local zombie run. A local filmmaker wanted to have regular runners running from zombies, to have extras for a film he's doing. I thought, well, what better way to make an attempt at trying to get back into sports than to do a run where you're *supposed* to look like you can't move right? So we entered as zombies - my son dressed as an undead doctor in scrubs, and me as an undead hospital patient -- the perfect way to work in my wheelchair.

The irony of being seemingly resurrected into a "regular" sporting event by being a zombie, rising from the dead -- YOU JUST CAN"T KILL US MS PEOPLE! -- was not lost on me, so I wore the hospital band from my CCSVI procedure, to complete my outfit. I also had a bright red biohazard bag pinned to my nightgown in which to keep my iphone. :-)

I honestly did not know what to expect, and I did not know if I should even have tried to do this. I was the only wheelchair participant there, but people were really excited to see a wheelchair zombie. I decided to go with the excitement energy.

The regular runners had little red ribbons dangling from their torsos, and to "kill" them the zombie runners had to grab a ribbon while running. This seemed impossible for me, since I had to use my hands to keep moving. So at one portion of the race course, I took a cut-through and then hid behind trees, etc., so I could surge out at the racers and use their shock to gain an advantage. I actually did make a couple of "kills," to everyone's delight, and I then concentrated on finishing the course, with the kill ribbons brandished between my teeth, zombie-style.

Everywhere I went people were so excited to see someone doing the race in a chair, and I kept hearing them yelling for me. I appreciated every bit of encouragement -- it was SO HARD. I felt like time disappeared and I was just in this zone where I was alone with myself and the sounds came from far away, and I was just feeling my body and my heart and my throat and just thinking, I can do this, I can finish this!

Incidentally, you should know that I have a manual wheelchair, ultra-lite, that also has power-assist wheels -- so it's not a power chair, but I had some help from the power-assist or I could never have done this at all, since the streets where I live include some very steep slopes. My arms don't have much strength. I also have had a very hard time with trunk strength, just staying upright, as well as balance. And then there was the aerobic element. This was a whole body effort!

Long story short, I know it was only 3k, but it felt like a marathon to me -- but I did do it, and I wasn't even the last one through the finish. (Someone told me that two people came in after me.) I am SO SORE and stiff but I am exhilarated. After we came home and I got clean and washed my hair, I sat outside in the sun and thought, wow, I really feel alive!

:-)

Compare -- last year, at Halloween, I was lying down in bed:

Image

This year, rising from the dead!

Image[/img]


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 Post subject: zombie girl
PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:53 pm 
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bluesky, you are awesome! and i have such admiration...by the way, I LOVE those witch shoes.

zina


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:58 pm 
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Fantastic!!!! Congratulations! You always bring tears to my eyes.....happy tears!

You're an awesome mom and an awesome woman! My thoughts and prayers are always with you.


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:28 pm 
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What a get-up!!! That's an amazing story, sounds like so much fun and hard work! It's great that you shared the experience with your son too. :)


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:51 pm 
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Congratulations, Trisha!! I am SO PROUD of you!!

From the day we met in cyberspace ten years ago, you have never stopped being my inspiration -- my tears share your joy.

LOVE the photos. :D


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:52 pm 
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Great story! Thanks for taking the time to share it us. I hope you get rested up quickly and can find some more adventures! Keep us posted.
Take care,
Beth

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dx 4/09 * Stanford appointment 11/09/09 * One stent left, low jugular 11/10/09!<br />One year from treatment, I have my life back.  Placebo schmebo.


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:54 pm 
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Thank you guys so much! By the way, I was able to find a dreadful phone picture of me "running" in action -- three of us zombies chasing some unseen runners --

Image

I don't know, I just am really resonating right now with the idea of a creature that keeps coming back, no matter what. Many times I have felt like MS has been that creature, but I have also felt like I am that creature -- I will keep going too, no matter what comes my way. This was a fun way to put it into practice. :-)


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:13 pm 
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You are awesome!

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Treated by Dake 10/19/09, McGuckin 4/25/11 and 3/9/12- blockages in both IJVs, azy, L-iliac, L-renal veins. CCSVI changed my life and disease.


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:20 pm 
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I think you look better, undead and untired... well maybe a titch,
Than you do on the floor with the books: a dead witch!

I am more than inspired to hear of this. I have no battery assist, and I am limited as always whether I use the walker or wheelchair, to about a half a block path. Suzanne took me past there yesterday, and I realized I hadn't seen that stretch of road in four years or so. Tell me more about your power-assist! I had the power-chair over for a visit, but I thought it was too big and bulky for the inside of my house, where I spend most of my days. So I didn't keep it.

I do so want to do something fun like you did. Did the procedure help with fatigue?


:D :D :D :D

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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:22 pm 
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:) bluesky if you are interested on working on trunk strength. therapeutic horseback riding could help. I am director of a program and we have people who initially could not sit up in their chair strengthened to the point where they could sit independently on a moving horse. let me know if you have any interest.


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 6:19 pm 
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What an absolute hoot!! Sounds like you and your son had a blast-- love the pics!


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:53 pm 
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Stayfit wrote:
:) bluesky if you are interested on working on trunk strength. therapeutic horseback riding could help. I am director of a program and we have people who initially could not sit up in their chair strengthened to the point where they could sit independently on a moving horse. let me know if you have any interest.


BlueSky..this sounds so cool and love love looove your post today :) :) :) Congratulations!! You 'ROLL' !!!


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PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:01 am 
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I love your shoes too!

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