Dr. Greenstein gave me a thorough check-up. That included tuning fork hearing tests, flashlights for my eyes to follow side to side then up and down, sharp objects touching each hand and foot while my eyes were closed, a hands-on strength test all over, a look at my latest MRI on a 3×3 screen, a walk across the room holding him on one side and my son on the other. We all sat down again. His written file on me at the nearby table was 1 ½ inches thick.

He looked at me (the new owner of a third electric wheelchair) and said, “ I want you to walk again.” He outlined his plan, and we discussed how he wanted to do it. He said his goal was for me to be able to use my crutches again. I was overwhelmed, that anyone would care so much. My emotions rolled from my eyes down my cheeks. As I said then, “I had never expected to walk again!”

Giving a prescription for Ritalin (at its lowest dose) and one for Physical Therapy (PT) aimed specifically toward walking, he ended the visit saying, “I will see you in a month to evaluate.” Three weeks later PT Charol measured me walking 225 ft. with a walker, taking a rest, and walking back. In four visits Charol had taught me several new leg exercises and we began to run the gauntlet of increasing difficulty. I began wanting to know if my crutches (I had three pairs of Lofstrand) were still stored at my son’s house.

At the one-month follow up with Dr. Greenstein, the Ritalin dosage was increased to 10 mg, 3 times daily at mealtime. He renewed the prescription for Physical Therapy just for walking.

Tomorrow I see him again. Since my last visit I have the first measured walking distance, and my standing time have both more than doubled. I can step sideways and backwards like a clumsy ballerina. The hallway outside my room has hosted a slalom course of paper cups for me to successfully navigate.

During Tuesday’s Physical Therapy I left my room on a walker, opened the door to the hallway and went to the elevator. Taking it downstairs to the living room I rested in a chair and then came back to my room and through the door. Friday, I went down the same elevator, this time continuing to the lunchroom. Sitting in a chair at my table in the far end of that lunchroom I took a break. Then I retraced my steps and took the reverse elevator trip to my room.  I have no negative side effects to report from Ritalin or from increased and new exercises.

PT Charol says we will do the Dining Room routine once more for practice, but after that I might want to try it on my own. Tomorrow, I have a second follow up with Dr. Greenstein.

Hey, I used to say that a good day was being able to stand up and pull my pants up with two hands. Now, I’m beginning to think of myself as a standup guy. No, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and what I have described sometimes seems like training for the Olympics — but look at me; here I stand. (Having read this to a group, I stood before them).