When things go wrong, try to maintain an attitude of gratitude

If you’ve read any of my recent columns, you know that I’ve had a lot of health struggles of late. I’m back on the medical merry-go-round with physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical appointments, and tests that tie me up multiple days every week. I’m struggling to stand up from a seated position and my right arm doesn’t want to function anymore, making some activities of daily living, such as feeding myself and brushing my teeth, a challenge.

It’d be easy to fall into depression as I surrender important parts of my life to facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and the challenges of aging that we all experience. I’m doing everything I can to stay positive, using every strategy I’ve learned over a lifetime of health struggles.

I’m a Christian. As such, the first thing I do every morning is spend some time in prayer while enjoying my first cup of coffee. I begin by expressing my thanks that I’m still able to get out of bed, dress, do my morning ablutions, and make a cup of coffee independently.

I spend some time lifting up other people in prayer. Intercessory prayer helps me remember that I’m not alone in experiencing life’s struggles. At some point, all of us will have problems that seem overwhelming.

I’ve heard it said that if we all threw our problems into a pile, then proceeded to pick out problems to deal with, we’d all take our own problems back. I’m not sure that’s true, but as I pray for the healing of those dealing with cancer, the death of a loved one, major health issues, injuries from a car accident, and more, I realize that many are struggling with problems that I’d find overwhelming. I’m not alone in this sometimes-painful journey we call life.

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Thanks throughout the day

I pray that, in some way each day, I can be a blessing to someone. I try to take actions to be that blessing, such as calling someone on my prayer list. If more appropriate, I’ll send a text or email to let someone know I’m thinking of them.

Although I can no longer perform three or four times a week, as I used to do, I continue to bring music to a few local senior facilities. I struggle significantly with my voice because of FSHD and don’t always sound as good as I’d like. The issues with my right arm make playing piano for an hour, which was already hard, even more challenging. I’ve mentioned my difficulties transferring from my wheelchair to a piano bench and back again. I’m determined to continue playing until doing so becomes more than I can handle.

It’s uplifting for me to provide an hour of entertainment and joy to folks who need a lift. It’s likely that I’ll one day transition from a volunteer to a resident at one of these facilities. For the moment, though, I feel blessed to be able to go home.

As we travel home, I make sure to thank the friend who’s providing transportation that day so I can continue to do my shows, such as they are. When I arrive home, I say a prayer of thanks for my wife, Wendy, and my daughter, Jill. They continue to provide the support I need to remain in our beautiful, accessible home.

I recently provided music for a memorial service at a neighboring church when their pianist was unable to be there. It was a blessing and honor to do this for a grieving family.

The church had a nice grand piano that I enjoyed playing. However, it was on a raised area with the altar, with two steps to climb. It took a team of three to get me to the piano. As difficult as that was, it made me even more grateful for the stair lifts, walkers, chair lifts, grab bars, and other adaptations I have in my home that allow me to function as independently as possible.

I’m also grateful for other necessary technology. I’ve mentioned that I was involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver in 1989 that left me totally blind. I’m thus grateful for all the incredible technology that allows me to write my column, check its spelling and grammar, and submit it for publication. I’m grateful to everyone at Bionews, the parent company of this site, for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts on this platform.

Finally, I’m grateful to each of you, my readers. I’m blessed to be a voice for those of us in the muscular dystrophy community. Thank you, one and all!

Note: Muscular Dystrophy News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.