NeuroCaseStudy: Will Traynor

Cameron presented his case study today on Will Traynor, who battled a spinal cord injury. He is a character from the book and movie Me Before You. I had not seen the movie or read the book, so learning about him and his life was really interesting for me today. 

After a motorcycle accident, he was faced with a spinal cord injury that resulted in quadriplegic paralysis. He was young, smart, handsome, wealthy, and had an incredibly full and vibrant life. So, his new challenges of SCI were incredibly difficult for him to adjust to and accept. 

I can't imagine facing the struggles that he did, but I know that he still had purpose, and opportunity to make a difference and live a life. As an occupational therapist, I hope that I can constantly see purpose and potential in every one that I work with, and that I am able to make them believe in that and encourage them to find joy in whatever comes their way. 

Our lives are incredibly unpredictable, we are always changing and being affected by change. We have to make the most of every moment we are given, because life, all life, in every shape, circumstance, and form, 

is a gift. 

NeuroNote #1: Never Judge a Book by Its Cover

After listening to the TedTalk, A second opinion on developmental disorders, by Aditi Shankardass, the first thing that came to mind was the common saying, "Never judge a book by its cover". In just a short talk, there was such a powerful message and an incredible conversation begun.

She is a pioneer in the field of Neuroscience and she is passionate about seeking the truth in children's developmental disorders. She mentions that, often times, children are diagnosed at a young age with disorders based on behavioral observation alone. She has used a new technology of EEG that is non-invasive, with no risk, that measures brain waves. Through this technology, brain activity can be detected and analyzed, defining abnormalities more clearly and precisely.

She tells a remarkable story of a boy who had been diagnosed with autism, but with this technique, they found that he was actually having brain seizures that were unobservable to the naked eye. With medication, he was remarkably improved and his life was completely changed!

I thought this was interesting because this is an epidemic that is widespread in our day and time. Children are being tagged with all kinds of behavioral and neurological labels, and parents are struggling to understand answers. Are we missing what is inside by the label on the cover? As Aditi beautifully said, "one more mind unlocked".

I love that as occupational therapists, we strive to treat every client holistically and uniquely. We want to see each person as they are, looking beyond the diagnoses, to see deeper and clearer.

Shankardass, Aditi. (2009, November). A second opinion on developmental disorders. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/aditi_shankardass_a_second_opinion_on_learning_disorders/transcript?language=en

Blog Challenge #3: Never Stop Learning

We discussed in class today the importance of being a lifelong learner. I can remember being younger and in school, anticipating a time in my life when I would be done. No more tests, no more homework, no more new things. I would know what I was doing and there would be nothing left to figure out. Oh, little child....I was wrong. Now, I realize, being "done" with learning is not reality, and I don't want it to be. Sure, I am looking forward to no more tests and assignments and studying. I am looking forward to feeling confident in what I am doing and comfortable in my knowledge. However, I want to always be a learner. I have to be! I'll never stop growing, striving, seeking, and changing. Life shapes us daily, and how we respond to it, defines us. I want to learn and be open to new things, not afraid. I want to stay humble and know that I can always learn more, be more, do more, and grow. It never ends, and I don't want it to!

Blog Challenge #2: Dear SOAP Note, Love OT

Dear SOAP Note,

Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan.

Document, Document, Document, Document.

There are other forms, as well, such as Narrative, Progress, and Evaluation Notes.

And if you are working in the school setting you will probably use an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Documentation can seem daunting, never-ending, and repetitive. However, it is important, purposeful, and it tells a unique story of who you are as an OT and how you and your client have grown together throughout your shared journey.

I hope to tell the story of each client well, and fill it with goals, experiences, and all the hope of a life of meaning and purpose. I hope that it tells a story of relationship, service, and growth.

As a society, we have become incredible documenters of our life with a lot of help from social media and technology. We have daily messages, tweets, snapchat stories, photo uploads, and recaps from special memories. We are each telling a story of our life and keeping pieces to remember it all by.

I want to do that for each of my client's and do it well, as I live and serve.

Love,

OT

Blog Challenge #1: GOALS

Goal writing is essential in occupational therapy. I believe it is also incredibly important in life. I am excited that I will be able to help people discover goals and maybe even dreams, and work with them to achieve them. I love to be an encourager and cheerleader, and OT is a wonderful field to do that through servant leadership and engagement. Each of us has purpose, and sometimes goals can help us to keep sight of that purpose as we are striving live with meaning and direction in everyday life. Consistency is something I struggle with when it comes to reaching a goal, because it requires perseverance even when you don't see results. However, short term goals are incredibly important to stay encouraged and see the small accomplishments. Goals are also great, because they give us reasons to celebrate. In life, I believe we should take time to celebrate whenever we can! So, as an OT, I want to celebrate even the smallest victories, because they matter! The small moments can form an incredible journey. So, set your goals, long and short, and celebrate the moments! You were created for meaning, for purpose, and every single one of us has the power to make a difference.

Today has been heavy...

Today has been heavy. After hearing the story of Dawn and her family, and how TBI affected their life so fully, and after reading about Professor Lancaster's journey of love and loss with her father, and after hearing stories from my classmates this morning of personal struggle and tragedy, and while thinking of my own loss and special soul missing from my life today through the recent and sudden passing of my little sister...today has been heavy. However, through hearing these stories, I am reminded that I am not alone. I am reminded that life can be hard, life can break your heart and force you to face fears you never dreamed. With thankfulness, I am reminded that there is still hope, joy, and goodness, and that we can overcome and weather the storm of our darkest days. I rest in the promises of reunion and restoration. We can encourage others, listen with greater understanding, and show more compassion than maybe we ever thought possible. I hope no matter what I face throughout my life, that these stories of unpredictability, life change, and struggle will give me the empathy and hope that I need to face my greatest trials, hardest days, and give me greater appreciation and thankfulness for the blessings of today...because we never know what tomorrow will hold. Thank God I know who holds me, and that I can seek out and find strength from those who have walked similar paths and who can provide love, support, and truth.

Whole - 4.3.17

The Ted Talk by Aimee Mullins was incredibly powerful. When she read the thesaurus entry on the word "disabled", it opened my eyes to the need for encouragement and empowerment of our fellow human beings. No one, no matter the challenges they face, should ever feel powerless of purpose. I believe every person was created with purpose, and that purpose is not diminished by adversity or struggle of any kind. I love her view on the need to see a person holistically, and I am so proud to be a part of a profession that believes in that, as well.

Instead of defining a person by what they can not do, we should encourage them with all that they can do!