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Dan and me at the Wednesday night dance |
My counselor, Christy, and me |
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Enjoying a leisurely swim at the pool on a hot day |
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Dan and me, with Smokey at the campfire/skit night
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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. |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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In Rochester Methodist Hospital just hours
after my total hip replacement surgery. |
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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. |
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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". |
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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. |
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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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