Botox and Quilting- Why I will never complain about needles!

            I will be talking about needles.  Fun times for everyone!

When living with a lifelong physical disability that other health issues stem from, it should be a top priority to see doctors who help you and do what they say.  I have cerebral palsy, so I have been sitting in doctor’s offices my entire life.  Luckily, I only see two doctors and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I walk daily and try to eat healthy meals. My CP specialist is an hour and a half drive- hour and ten minutes when we are running late.  Both the doctors I see on a regular basis know 2 things about me: 1. I try to make them laugh and go as off topic as possible.  2. I am stubborn.  Very stubborn.  I am not that great of a patient to be honest.  So far, I have not needed any orthopedic surgeries, which is pretty much unheard of in the Cerebral Palsy community.  I do not like to take medications, they make me feel worse, and fortunately, I have not needed very much treatment, other than Botox.  Therefore, I am not the person to come to for medical experience.  Instead, I walk, and walk, and keep on walking and moving my body, and using my joints.

I do benefit from a little thing called plastic surgery, cow fat, also know as Botox- but in my calves!  They loosen the calf muscle just enough so my heal touches the ground, so less work my thighs must do to compensate, so less presser is placed on my hip joints, which causes me pain.  It also helps with feeling in my legs. 

Last Wednesday I do what I do every 3 months I walk into the Children’s Hospital, get asked “Where’s your mom?” 27 times.  Tell 27 people that she is in the car, because she does not need to sit though doctor appointment number 943 and give up and just say I drove myself. even though I cannot drive.  Sit in the waiting room, and usually strike up a conversation with another kid with CP or other Traumatic Brain Injury.  Go to the back.  Hear them complain about me not eating enough hamburgers.  Wait another 20 minutes.  Discuss other medical things.  Get a needle jabbed in my calf muscle of both legs.  Then I get to leave and ride an hour and a half home.

 The needle does not hurt that bad.  I do not even feel it anymore.  They put numbing spray before they do it, and my pain tolerance is high.  For example, most people would probably rate this a five –uncomfortable and some pain; however, your girl had an “experience”. 

I went to a K-6 Catholic school, and in 3^rd grade my teacher was also a seamstress.  For a project we were all supposed sew a quilt.  I made one with chickens.  I was almost done, and only had one more day.  Well, I was working on it right after lunch, and the teacher was right besides me.  Well, my body jerked, or did something funky.  The machine stopped.  I looked at it, and I did not process what was happening.

My teacher went “Huh, the needle broke!” And I immediately stated crying.  The needle had placed a nice little hole IN MY MIDDLE FINGER!  Oh, the irony!  It popped out instantaneously, so I did not have to go to the ER or anything.  It also helped that a doctor was there, and the secretary practically had my parents on speed-dial.  I was fine, I do not even have a cool scar or anything, which is a disappointing.  But I guarantee you that my 3^rd grade teacher will never forget that day.  Ironically, I sewed with my teacher for 4-H for a few years after that experience.

After that I do not think a shot in my legs every three months to keep me walking and to keep my pain tolerable is that bad.  It might be a little daunting at first, but the idea of it is much worse than the actual experience.  Just do not look at the needle or try to sew your finger on your quilt!