This is a debriefing video from my past Level I Fieldwork rotation at a skilled nursing facility. I hope you enjoy hearing about my experience! Here is the link. https://youtu.be/vFQKEZiPrn4

Alex and his ALS journey

Alex's Journey with ALS

Henderson, W. (2018). Alex Coriell's Journey With ALS. Retrieved from https://alsnewstoday.com/2018/02/01/alex-coriells-journey-with-als/?utm_source=ALSNews&utm_campaign=856209f0b7-RSS_FRIDAY_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0593028b75-856209f0b7-71721017

In this video, Alex is a 29 year-old husband and father. He was diagnosed with ALS in January of 2013. This video shows the progression of the disease and how he lost his ability to swallow, speak, walk, use his hands, and more. Alex's wife was his caregiver. She bathed him, fed him, clothed him, cooked for him, and supported him with such a loving attitude. As life for Alex became more of a challenge, he and his family did a wonderful job using technology to their advantage. When Alex could no longer speak, he had a device that could articulate for him. When he could no longer type with his fingers because of the pain, to post on his blog, they chose to have an IPAD/ tablet elevated to his level so he could type with his nose. When he could no longer type with his nose, he was able to control his keyboard using his eyes. Furthermore, Alex also had a power wheelchair that helped him get around both inside and outside their home.
Alex continued moving as much as possible when he still could. He walked with a cane, he lifted light weights, and he still did some of his ADLs (activities of daily living) such as shaving and brushing his teeth. Alex also made sure to still spend time with his children. Several times in the video, it showed Alex watching football with his boys, playing out in the yard, or spinning them around in his chair. He truly had a heart made for perseverance.

I chose to do this assignment on this video because we have just recently discussed ALS in class, and I thought it would not only help further my learning on the specific disease, but also give me insight into a real life situation for someone with ALS. I furthered my learning of this topic by using the knowledge I gained from the discussion we had in class, along with the notes I took on the topic, and it definitely helped put everything into perspective and helped further my understanding.

I have learned that ALS can also be referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Furthermore, this disease causes a deterioration of the muscles to the point to which the person cannot move. It can affect swallowing which results in a G-tube, and I got to see a small portion of this video showing us how that worked. I also got to see a significant amount of footage of the care-takers role in someone with ALS, which can further my understanding of how to educate the caregivers if I ever have a client with this disease. This video not only educated people on the facts of ALS, it also educated them on how a positive attitude can be of assistance when life doesn't go as expected. Alex had a wonderful heart and he never gave up regardless of what his body was preventing him from doing. Instead of giving up, he found a new way around the obstacles and challenges, and as an OT student, this was very interesting and inspiring to see. OTs are always adapting and looking for new ways to accomplish tasks that bring joy and fulfillment to the lives of other people. I loved how he was still able to paint with just a touch of modification, and he painted something that was important and meaningful to him.

I encourage anyone and everyone to watch this video. It is so unique, empowering, and vulnerable. I commend Alex for sharing his story, and reaching out to help others. This video was a great learning experience for individuals wanting to learn about ALS or to see how a positive attitude can go a long way!

https://alsnewstoday.com/2018/02/01/alex-coriells-journey-with-als/?utm_source=ALS+News&utm_campaign=856209f0b7-RSS_FRIDAY_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0593028b75-856209f0b7-71721017

OT Media Project: Plastic Milk Jug Gardening Basket

For this particular assignment, we had a scenario of a client that had been referred to OT. We had a great amount of information about them including: what their challenges and barriers were, what their interests were, and a goal they wanted to achieve. My client, Alice, loved to garden, but hasn't been able to keep it up due to her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. She had limited shoulder ROM, problems with fine and gross motor skills, and wasting food due to not checking what they already had before going to the store. Therefore, I took what Alice loved to do, gardening, and made this product which I call "A Plastic Milk Jug Gardening Basket." 

The most meaningful thing I learned while doing this project was how important it is to keep in mind what the clients interest are, while also thinking about how the intervention is going to be useful to them. There were so many things that I thought I could do with a plastic milk jug, but after going back and realizing that it wasn't going to be beneficial to the client I knew that wasn't the way to go. Also, there were so many things I could have made that would help with the challenges and barriers she had, but it wasn't anything she would enjoy doing, which is a huge part of occupational therapy. My ah-ha moment was definitely when I was able to connect the dots to fulfill both requirements the client needed. 

Before this assignment, I didn't have a full grasp on how you could make useful products for a client with items you have around your home. I knew that it was frequently done, but with all of the technology the world uses today, I think it becomes more difficult to train your mind to think outside the box and use common household products. After this assignment, I have learned that it can be a bit of a challenge, but once you set your mind to it, it becomes something that can be fun, beneficial, and interesting! Furthermore, I have learned how to use my own judgment and OT experiences to problem solve on a clinical level rather than problem solving on paper or verbally, therefore really putting my skills to the test. 

This project will benefit me in the future, because now instead of going straight for a specific pre-made OT product or the internet, I will have a more broad category of objects to choose from for my clients and other projects. This project has definitely opened my eyes to how rewarding, challenging, and important it is to think about all aspects of the situation when choosing an appropriate intervention, and I feel much more confident in my ability to do that now!

**Separate photos provided so each component could be easily read 

Memphis Rollin' Grizzlies

Last night, my classmates and I went to watch the Memphis Rollin' Grizzlies at one of their practices. This is a group of individuals in the Memphis area that are in a wheelchair and play basketball. This experience was absolutely amazing! We watched them as they transitioned themselves into their chairs they use for basketball, and we got to see how each person, specifically, prepared for the game. Some wore gloves, some didn't, some had injuries that allowed them to walk but not run so they were able to play wheelchair basketball as well. This to me was surprising to see, I thought that was a really interesting aspect of the game because it provided a great amount of diversity. As we watched them warm up, I don't think any of us expected what we were about to see next. To our surprise, they were very intense! For the most part, the rules were the same as regular basketball aside from a few exceptions. They were so into it, that some were tipping their wheelchairs and running into others to block them. It was great to see them get back up like it was nothing and keep going. Something else I thought was interesting was that they played for an hour and a half. All I could think about was how much upper body strength it takes for them to play that hard for that long. After the game, they let us get in their chairs and try to shoot the basketball. It was definitely harder than it looks, and it was a great experience. My main take away from this is that people who are in wheelchairs, or someone that may be a little different from us can still do the things they love. I was definitely in my "OT mind" last night as I watched them do something they were interested in. It was obvious that this sport is meaningful to them, and it warmed my heart to see them carry out activities that they want to do regardless of what some think could be a limitation. Last night, it was not a limitation at all, it was something that was empowering and a tool they could use as a benefit. To see them laugh and genuinely enjoy themselves was heart warming and extremely humbling. It furthered my learning to see these individuals doing activities that OTs could play a role in. It gave me great insight to see what their capabilities and actions were, and how they manipulated the chair and their body to make the shots and propel themselves down the court.

Tourette Syndrome

Thomas J. White: Tourette Does the Talking

T. (2014). Tourette Does the Talking: Thomas White at TEDxUND. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0szLOMIt9SQ

This TedTalk is given by a senior at the University of Notre Dame, Thomas White, who has Tourette Syndrome. He talks about his day, how it begins, and the encounters he has with his roommate, classmates, and professors. He describes his morning at school by telling us that he wakes up cursing at his roommate, throwing his phone on the ground, and possibly walking to the bathroom nude. He might throw shampoo bottles and other hygiene products at others who are in the bathroom, and hit himself in the head with his books before putting his backpack on and taking it off several times before leaving for class. He discusses how the chemical imbalance in his brain urges him to the point at which he has to react to a specific stimuli. He may uncontrollably move, shriek, jump, or curse. Furthermore, he tells us that the words that come out of his mouth, are not the words he wants to say. He could say anything at any time and not mean any of it, but he simply cannot control it.

I chose to do this assignment because I feel as though most people, including myself, thought that individuals with Tourette Syndrome just have facial ticks or uncontrollable movements. I furthered my learning on this disorder by, honestly, taking all the knowledge I have learned so far in my neurological aspects and neurobiology classes and realized that there are so many other things that could be going on in an individual's brain that overrides that assumption of it "just being a facial tick or uncontrollable movements." Therefore, knowing there was more to the story, I decided to do this assignment on this amazing TedTalk.

I have learned that Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes multiple motor and vocal ticks for the duration of at least a year. It can result in not only sporadic movements, but also grunting, or saying things that they don't mean or words that do not make sense. A bigger lesson I took from this TedTalk was how you absolutely cannot judge a book by its cover. As human beings, it is our first instinct to react or have harsh feelings toward someone who says hurtful things to us or look at someone as disrespectful and inappropriate for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. However, looking at people through my "OT glasses," its easier for me to think, maybe they have something going on in their life that I cannot see from the outside. Some expect people that do have these types of diseases and disorders to isolate themselves, and that is not the solution. Sometimes, we need to step back and realize that all people are people regardless of what their life journey entails, and they deserve to live their life as we are living ours. In my opinion, it is very inspiring to hear Thomas' story. He doesn't view this disorder as something that causes inability in his daily life. Instead, he describes it as a celebration of how he has overcome what others might think he should do and is living and loving his life. It would take a lot of courage and confidence to live the way Thomas' lives, but I'm sure he is happier for it.

I really enjoyed this TedTalk and would recommend it to anyone! For caution of younger children, there is some language used that is a little vulgar, but it really shows a great description of what actually happens with this diagnosis. Here is the link for anyone who may want to check it out, which I hope you do!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0szLOMIt9SQ