February 2024 Blog Topic: Share an Awareness as the Result of a Perceived Setback.
By Ceone Leistner with ENJO Canada
Before I finished school, I hurt my lower back… for the first time. About every other year I kept getting hurt again (always my lower back). The final straw happened in September 2006. My back never recovered from the repeated injuries. I have been unable to perform a full-time “traditional” job since then. Some days I can barely walk while other days I can do much more.
It would be extremely easy to get discouraged, depressed, etc. However, I choose to find the positives in all areas of life, and this is no exception.
When my grandfather passed away and my mother needed help taking care of my grandmother (dementia), I was able to help. Everyone else was busy with a full-time job. This time I spent with her means more to me than I can ever explain. I learned so much about her and her life.
I would often take Grandma to doctor appointments, and we all know how long you are in the waiting room there. However, I would take that time to talk to her about family, her childhood, etc. We became even closer because I showed an interest in things she could talk about. One day we even twinsied (yes, we had the exact same pants and jacket on!) These times are precious memories now.
One of the best moments of my life was a day when I picked her up from her adult day program and during our conversation about her day, she said her favourite part was being with me. I was confused because I had just picked her up and she always had fun at the VON program. So, I asked her what she meant. Her response was “I feel safe with you” and I nearly burst into tears. Not because she didn’t always feel safe (she was a self-proclaimed scaredy cat since her childhood), but because just by doing the things I would do for any friend or family, I was able to give her time when she felt safe and comfortable. I still remember that moment fondly and will cherish it for as long as I can remember.
When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I was also able to go to all of her medical appointments with her to take notes, help, etc. I spent many an hour in the chemo suite with her. As I looked around, I saw many people sitting there alone enduring the horrible chemo experience. I felt so bad for them and would often offer my assistance to them if it was something I was able to do. Mom and I worked together on a hand-sewn hexagon quilt during all those hours. My grandmother had started it, my nephew saw the 2’x2’ piece and wanted it, so I decided to make it into a quilt. Mom and I worked many hours on it while in the chemo suite. Other patients were quite interested in it. It gave her something to do, something to think about other than her medical situation, and we were working together on something that would end up going to the 4th generation.
If not for my back injury, I would have been working a full-time job and been unable to take enough time off to do all of these things with and for my family. Yes, it really does suck being in pain all the time. But, this pain has also afforded me the ability to be there for some of the happiest moments of my life!
