Samantha's Page


Dan and me at the Wednesday night dance


My counselor, Christy, and me


Enjoying a leisurely swim at the pool on a hot day



Dan and me, with Smokey at the campfire/skit night

   


Me, my boyfriend Dan, and my friend, Lorrie and me, and our counselors, at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp For Kids And Adults With Disabilities this last summer. Dan and I are boyfriend and girlfriend, and have known each other for 2 years.

Hi Cat and Don;

Just thought I'd update my little section on your website with some new pictures of me. As you can see, I got a power chair. It, and a brand-new wheelchair-adapted van that my mom had to buy as her "second vehicle" in order to transport it, were Christmas presents, since they both arrived right around Christmastime. I basically have the freedom of going where I want to now, when I'm on my own (when I'm with my mom, I use my other wheelchair, or my walker).

I'm also weighing the possibility of going to college and getting a degree in education and becoming a Teacher's Assistant for kids with disabilities. I feel like I have a connection with these kids, and know that someday, I'm going to be a really great role model for them. It's a long, hard road for me, but I think I know I'm going to make it.

I also wanted to say that I saw Cher when she came to Portland, OR for her farewell concert. Me, one teenager with Pfeiffer Syndrome, and a 5 year old girl with Crouzon's, were all invited as "special guests" to her concert. It was so cool!!! We all got free stuff (T-shirts, a stuffed teddy bear, her latest CD, a hat, and lots more), and I'm now listening to her latest CD, with happy tears streaming down my face, because she gave a great concert, and the sound of her voice really touched me in a special way. The thing that really surprised me, was that she had a special place in her heart for kids like us. Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing.

This is a current one with my 2 adopted Greyhounds, "Scooby-Doo" (tan Greyhound by me) and "Little Love" (on the couch). The 4-wheeled walker with the seat in the one that I am using for mobility on my "good days" when my back hurts a little, but not as much as it does on some days where I have to stay in my rental power wheelchair that I'm currently using until I get one of my own or my manual wheelchair.
In Rochester Methodist Hospital just hours after my total hip replacement surgery.
At the Confirmation party with my friend, Andy Chapman. I had to use a wheelchair for 8 weeks after I had a surgery on my right foot. It was OK and I didn't mind it too much because it was my 3rd time being a wheelchair user (dealing with what I've been dealing with and what I'm dealing with now, makes it my 4th time being a wheelchair user.
The 2 pieces of medical equipment that I use; my 4-wheeled walker and my wheelchair. After this picture was taken, a wheelchair positioning belt was added to my wheelchair because the lower half of my body was slipping whenever I wore my chest strap. It has also had new paint put on where the paint is off. The special seating system has lateral and thigh supports to help keep me upright in the wheelchair. It is very comfortable and I like sitting in my wheelchair now that this is the 3rd time it's been "remodeled with a new seating system".
This is taken at the rehabilitation unit of St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota after I was in Rochester Methodist Hospital for a week after the hip surgery. My mom had just bought the platform walker (which I don't use anymore and had to get rid of it) and I was at my Physical Therapy session, practicing how to use it just as I am now with a rental power wheelchair that is on loan to me from a friend of my mom and I who works at a medical supply company.
This is a picture of me in my manual wheelchair with my friend, Lorri, who also uses a manual and a power wheelchair. She has a type of Cerebral Palsy that affects all 4 of her limbs. We were at a summer outdoor concert together with her mom, who took the picture.

I would really love to hear from you, so please write back to me. 

Thanks A Lot! 

Samantha J. Blythe

This page was updated February 4, 2006.

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