Sophie before occupational therapy!
Sophie's transformation
The New Sophie!After Sophie’s accident she felt like her whole world was turned upside down. Life seemed dull without the abilities to do the things she loved! Sophie could see everything around her that she wanted to do, but she just didn’t know how she would ever be able to accomplish anything again. Everything around her looked so bright and hopeful but Sophie felt quite the opposite.
While in the hospital, she remembered strange people coming to her bedside and working with her arms and legs. They talked about muscles, tone, strength, and a lot of other things she didn’t really understand. Even though she knew they were trying to help her, Sophie felt like it was all pointless. All Sophie knew was that she wanted out of that place!
Once she was able to get out of bed, new people started working with her. Day after day Sophie worked with these people. They called themselves therapist. Sophie thought therapists were supposed to make you feel better. If they asked her to stack ONE MORE cone she decided she might actually go crazy! Everyone was getting to do what they wanted, but Sophie was doing all these silly activities that really didn’t interest her at all.
Then, one day, a new occupational therapist started working with Sophie. Oh gee, Sophie thought, maybe I can at least make a pretty pattern with those pegs I’m sure she will pull out. To her surprise the therapist had nothing with her! Instead, the therapist started to carry on an actual conversation with her!
“Hi Sophie! I’m Phyllis. I saw you have a beautiful bouquet of flowers in your room when I walked by. That must be some garden someone must have! Do you enjoy flowers too?”
Caught off guard, Sophie managed to sputter out that the flowers were actually from her garden and that her sister was managing it for her while she was in therapy.
“That’s great Sophie! How bout we go check to see if the flowers need any water? Would that interest you any?”
Anything to get me out of this gym! Sophie quickly agreed.
After a slow walk to her room and filling the vase with water (needing only a little assistance), the therapist encouraged Sophie and provided some feedback.
“You are showing great improvement. From reading your notes, it appears that you have better control of your movements! You only needed a little assistance with carrying the flowers once there was water in the vase! Well, I will see you again tomorrow Sophie!”
“What about therapy today?” Sophie asked.
“You just had it!” the therapist replied.
“No cones?”
“No cones.”
“No pegs?”
“No pegs. In fact, how about tomorrow we take a trip outside and see how you do watering some flowers around the facility?”
“Sunlight sounds wonderful to me!”
With that the therapist left with a smile knowing she just made Sophie’s day.
Sophie found herself smiling that evening when she looked across the room and saw the flowers she had watered all by herself. Suddenly she felt a little twinge of hope. Maybe I will be back to my garden soon.Now, after several weeks of working with her favorite therapist Sophie feels like a new person. You may say her whole outlook on life made a complete turnaround! Sophie has motivation now to do what she wants. With the right therapy, she was able to grab hold of all the things around her that she wanted to do and make them apart of her
While in the hospital, she remembered strange people coming to her bedside and working with her arms and legs. They talked about muscles, tone, strength, and a lot of other things she didn’t really understand. Even though she knew they were trying to help her, Sophie felt like it was all pointless. All Sophie knew was that she wanted out of that place!
Once she was able to get out of bed, new people started working with her. Day after day Sophie worked with these people. They called themselves therapist. Sophie thought therapists were supposed to make you feel better. If they asked her to stack ONE MORE cone she decided she might actually go crazy! Everyone was getting to do what they wanted, but Sophie was doing all these silly activities that really didn’t interest her at all.
Then, one day, a new occupational therapist started working with Sophie. Oh gee, Sophie thought, maybe I can at least make a pretty pattern with those pegs I’m sure she will pull out. To her surprise the therapist had nothing with her! Instead, the therapist started to carry on an actual conversation with her!
“Hi Sophie! I’m Phyllis. I saw you have a beautiful bouquet of flowers in your room when I walked by. That must be some garden someone must have! Do you enjoy flowers too?”
Caught off guard, Sophie managed to sputter out that the flowers were actually from her garden and that her sister was managing it for her while she was in therapy.
“That’s great Sophie! How bout we go check to see if the flowers need any water? Would that interest you any?”
Anything to get me out of this gym! Sophie quickly agreed.
After a slow walk to her room and filling the vase with water (needing only a little assistance), the therapist encouraged Sophie and provided some feedback.
“You are showing great improvement. From reading your notes, it appears that you have better control of your movements! You only needed a little assistance with carrying the flowers once there was water in the vase! Well, I will see you again tomorrow Sophie!”
“What about therapy today?” Sophie asked.
“You just had it!” the therapist replied.
“No cones?”
“No cones.”
“No pegs?”
“No pegs. In fact, how about tomorrow we take a trip outside and see how you do watering some flowers around the facility?”
“Sunlight sounds wonderful to me!”
With that the therapist left with a smile knowing she just made Sophie’s day.
Sophie found herself smiling that evening when she looked across the room and saw the flowers she had watered all by herself. Suddenly she felt a little twinge of hope. Maybe I will be back to my garden soon.Now, after several weeks of working with her favorite therapist Sophie feels like a new person. You may say her whole outlook on life made a complete turnaround! Sophie has motivation now to do what she wants. With the right therapy, she was able to grab hold of all the things around her that she wanted to do and make them apart of her
I know you are going to be an amazing COTA, but are you sure you can't find some time for creative writing on the side? I've always loved reading your stories. I bet you aced the project!
ReplyDeleteCute Kim, ditto with Jaime. You should definitely write!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys! I guess I should write more! I always feel like it sounds too silly though!
ReplyDelete