On Talking, Touching, and Teaching
Chester is now one week post-operative.
His recovery and rehabilitation have been extraordinary. He is, in each moment, riding his resilient edge of resistance. He is fully dedicated and focused on reawakening and reclaiming movement, balance, and speech. Chester is fiercely alive and aware of the preciousness of each breath. He is aware of a wide network of love and care and he is very grateful for all of the energy and presence. It is felt, deeply, by all of us at the hospital. A nurse walked in the room today and exclaimed "I just feel the love when I come in here, it is like a big ball of light!" I think she herself was surprised by her wording. We all just nodded, knowing how strong the currents of love, joy and gratitude have been.
In speech therapy Chester was asked to list as many countries as possible in one minute. His response was "what continent?". He then proceeded to name dozens of countries on four continents, mostly in order of geographic proximity. The speech therapist was stunned and amused.
Today we spoke about teaching, and how eager he is to get back to teaching. He is very upset that he "may not" be teaching the Breath Intensive next week. I have assured him that as soon as he is ready, he will teach in class. And he is always Teaching, always exploring, always experiencing. He is confident that he will be able to hold more classes, and I look forward to being there! As we were singing today in speech therapy, "the best is yet to come!"
One of Chester's primary elements of touch is relaxed hand touch. He often touches with one hand soft and relaxed and listening, and the other hand creating movement, pressure, vibration, waves, etc. He is now finding himself with his right hand totally relaxed and highly sensitive and his left hand with his strength and dexterity. Today he explored giving touch with this combination. He is happily realizing that while it may look different, he may not be "disabled" at all. His touch and presence are more profound than ever. AND he STILL gets the right to "make fun of able-bodied people," which he is delighting in at every opportunity.
Today Chester declared that he is "persisting in being exquisitely alive." I thanked him for all of the amazing work he has done this week. His biggest motivation in recovering language and independant movement is so he can return to his classrooms, his massage table, his home, and continue to con-spire with us all.
I walk in gratitude, and rest in peace, knowing that Chester is continuing to inspire and exhale.
His recovery and rehabilitation have been extraordinary. He is, in each moment, riding his resilient edge of resistance. He is fully dedicated and focused on reawakening and reclaiming movement, balance, and speech. Chester is fiercely alive and aware of the preciousness of each breath. He is aware of a wide network of love and care and he is very grateful for all of the energy and presence. It is felt, deeply, by all of us at the hospital. A nurse walked in the room today and exclaimed "I just feel the love when I come in here, it is like a big ball of light!" I think she herself was surprised by her wording. We all just nodded, knowing how strong the currents of love, joy and gratitude have been.
In speech therapy Chester was asked to list as many countries as possible in one minute. His response was "what continent?". He then proceeded to name dozens of countries on four continents, mostly in order of geographic proximity. The speech therapist was stunned and amused.
Today we spoke about teaching, and how eager he is to get back to teaching. He is very upset that he "may not" be teaching the Breath Intensive next week. I have assured him that as soon as he is ready, he will teach in class. And he is always Teaching, always exploring, always experiencing. He is confident that he will be able to hold more classes, and I look forward to being there! As we were singing today in speech therapy, "the best is yet to come!"
One of Chester's primary elements of touch is relaxed hand touch. He often touches with one hand soft and relaxed and listening, and the other hand creating movement, pressure, vibration, waves, etc. He is now finding himself with his right hand totally relaxed and highly sensitive and his left hand with his strength and dexterity. Today he explored giving touch with this combination. He is happily realizing that while it may look different, he may not be "disabled" at all. His touch and presence are more profound than ever. AND he STILL gets the right to "make fun of able-bodied people," which he is delighting in at every opportunity.
Today Chester declared that he is "persisting in being exquisitely alive." I thanked him for all of the amazing work he has done this week. His biggest motivation in recovering language and independant movement is so he can return to his classrooms, his massage table, his home, and continue to con-spire with us all.
I walk in gratitude, and rest in peace, knowing that Chester is continuing to inspire and exhale.
posted by Chrys Curtis-Fawley at 10:42 PM
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