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Archive for November 2010

A dog's love

Monday, November 29, 2010

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Rob recently posted a piece in our Daily Dose blog about service dogs and the wonderful ways in which they serve those living with disabilities. I see how much my dog (pictured here with me last winter) means to me, how valuable dogs can be to others, and it truly gets me upset to think of people out there who use them just the opposite.

I'm talking about people like Michael Vick. It's no secret how much I loathe him and his illegal dog fighting operation, Bad Newz Kennels, that he owned for six years. Since day one of the investigation, I have followed what has happened to him and to the dogs that were seized from the property. Everything from documentaries on the dogs to writing research papers about the case.

Currently, I am reading the book The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant that recounts the entire investigation, rescue, and where the dogs are now. As I read the book there are so many more gruesome details that literally bring me to tears. I often have to put the book down in the middle of reading and question why in the world would a human being want to inflict the kinds of horrific acts that Vick and his accomplices did on innocent dogs. The only way to truly explain how despicable they are is to write word for word what is in the book, and believe me, you'll be glad I'm sparing the details.

I read the book, watch documentaries, and see him on the football field on Sundays, and get so incredibly angry and upset for countless reasons. Aside from my personal love of animals, one of those reasons is because I think of the torture the dogs went through, and then I think of the love and devotion dogs give. It's sad.

For those living with disabilities, dogs provide everything from companionship to an animal who can do really awesome tricks like shutting off lights! Service Dogs to the Rescue was one of my first stories I wrote for the Foundation, and hands down one of my favorites. The stories the wheelchair-users told me about their four-legged helpers were enough to make laugh and smile just because.

Now, I turn you to Saralee Perel. She is a friend of the Foundation and writes personal stories about living with paralysis. Here's a story she wrote, Amazing Gracie's Devotion, about the relationship she had with her bloved dog. As Saralee writes: From the very moment she saw me in my Miami J neck brace after my spinal cord surgery, she was no longer just my dog; she was my lifeguard. This is my tribute to my beautiful friend's life.

Even if you're not an animal lover, this story will tug at the heart strings a wee bit.

Janelle

UPDATE: A few day after I wrote the above I came across this piece about a dog, Yogi, who saved his owner (now living with paralysis) after a bike crash. Read more about Yogi and watch the uplifting video. It'll make you smile alright!

To be thankful for...

Monday, November 22, 2010

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This Thanksgiving, as always, I will be thankful for family, food, and football as I say. But more than that, it is a time to reflect on the year as it comes to a close. As I do that, I think of all the individuals I've spoken to in the paralysis and spinal cord injury community - from Team Reeve members to Reeve Foundation board members and ambassadors.

To sound very unlike myself and be sappy for a moment, I can say I am thankful for having talked to them, met them, written stories about them, and be able to learn more about each and every one of them.

I always say "everyone has a story." It's all the stories over the past year that I am thankful for. They have helped me to see that the world is bigger than me and there is more out there to embrace than what is in front of us. I have been able to sit back and take away at least one thing from each person. A trait or characteristic, a quotation that has been stuck in my memory bank, or maybe just a simple laugh or two.

So this Thanksgiving (and all the time) in addition to being thankful for the things we know on a daily basis, don't forget about the little things.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Gobble Gobble!

Janelle

Unthought-of obstacles

Monday, November 15, 2010

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I was out to dinner with my parents on Friday night when we were seated next to a table with a wheelchair user. Sure the gentleman in the wheelchair is living with a disability of some kind, but what I thought of most as I sat there, was the poll the Reeve Foundation conducted about what annoys wheelchair-users most.

Just because he was in a chair, doesn't mean he wasn't still a person, a human being. Wheelchair users are just like anybody else, they just get around a little differently. I couldn't help but to wonder if there were other people in that restaurant feeling sorry for him and/or staring at him. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I even thought I heard the waiter talk to him a little slower than his friend. (This came in at #10 on the Top Ten list!)

He was carrying on a conversation with the friend he was with, and though didn't appear to have entire use of his arms, ate his burger without help from his friend. It's what I hear a lot from wheelchair users -- I do the same things as you, just differently.

My thoughts after all are simple. Aside from figuring out how to live life, just a little differently, there is another obstacle that is often overlooked I think. The premise of others looking at you like something is wrong with you simply because of a wheelchair.

I admit, living with one kidney myself (my now-boss knew this about me during the first five minutes of my interview!) I do feel a little different. Sure the reason for me being different is hidden and not as obvious as a wheelchair, but even though it might not seem like it now, it was my deepest, darkest secret when I was kid. I literally thought something was wrong with me and that I wasn't like the rest of my four-year-old friends. In the almost twenty years since then, I learned to embrace this health concern of mine and ultimately, I like that it makes me, me.

I ask of everyone the cliche, don't judge book by its cover. What you see on the outside doesn't define who one is on the inside. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be judged for whatever reason, so please, don't judge others. Next time you see someone in a wheelchair, don't automatically assume the worse.

Janelle

How dangerous is too dangerous?

Monday, November 08, 2010

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After the marathon yesterday, I came home and settled into my usual Sunday football routine. While the impact of Rutgers' football player Eric LeGrand might have escaped some people by now, it's not so easy for me to forget. And unfortunately, I thought I was reliving it all over again yesterday.

Indianapolis Colt's receiver Austin Collie was knocked down after catching a ball during their game against the Philadelphia Eagles. I immediately held my breath and thought, "Oh no, oh no. Not again," when I saw the hit. Click here to read about it more in depth. I admit, I thought the worst.

Football is a game I love. I say frequently that I bleed the colors of my team the Miami Dolphins. But it is one heck of a dangerous sport and that can not be denied by anyone. The hit on Collie yesterday was actually unintentional, but that doesn't take away the fact that it was extraordinarily dangerous. It has been released that Collie suffered a concussion, thankfully, that is all it was. But still, I have to ask how dangerous is too dangerous?

As I watch SportsCenter and read different perspectives on ESPN.com and NFL.com daily, it seems there is a lot of back and forth about this concept of hard hits, especially to the head. Some say that there needs to be more enforcement, others say leave it be that's football.

To be honest, I haven't taken a stand on either side. Yes, this is football. The hard hits and intense beastly-like behavior of the players is one of the reasons why I love the sport so much. But then I also think, how much is too much? How many more spinal cord and brain injuries and thousands of dollars in fines will it take for change to be made. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could fine players until their bank accounts are at $0; but I tend to think, that STILL won't stop players. Why? Because that is their job. They are paid millions to pound another human being in the turf.

I can only hope for a happy medium. That some kind of change will be made, that players in pop warner, high school, and college will start to play more cautiously without the game being changed into something we won't even recognize.

Janelle

Dancing Superman

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

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I decided to start this blog for any random thoughts that I might have (ohhhh and there's a lot of them).

My first post, Dancing Superman, is exactly that. For as long as I can remember Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, and dance my favorite past time. And speaking of favorites, one of my fav tv shows on the air right now is Dancing with the Stars.

Put all three together and what do you get? Dancing with the Stars' Derek Hough dressed as Clark Kent for Halloween! (PIcture is from the NY Post). All that's missing is the phone booth and Lois Lane!

And finally while we're on the topic of dance, check out New Mobility Magazine's article on the art of integrated dance. I promise, it's worth the read, you'll be dancin' in no time!

JLo