Ken over a ten year period Ray has had so many ups and downs and I am just so grateful he is still going, still with me, still essentially himself. I know your wife and family feel the same about you. Walking would feel good for you but sometimes a wheelchair is not so bad.

Without the wheelchair Ray and I would not have gone on all those bus trips over a six year period and seen so much of our lovely country. He accepts the wheelchair as part of our journey now. His is a quiet acceptance of life and I am able to cope with that.

I think you should still strive to walk but arrange to do other things using the chair or a scooter if you can get one cheap and just enjoy life the way it is. There are so many opportunities for us to enjoy ourselves, so much living to do and we need sometimes to forget the past and just look to the future.

I promise that I wll find time this coming spring to come and meet up with you and your family and will look forward to seeing you face to face.

(((hugs))) from Sue ( and my snoozing Ray).

Ken,

I agree with Sue; still strive to walk independently but use aides to assist where needed. I'm able to cruise around my home with my AFO on and no hemi-walker now. If I go out, I take the hemi-walker or for my local excursions in the neighborhood, my powerchair. I have walked to a local convenience store with my hemi-walker but have realized that is NOT the safest thing for me to do. This here weeble (me LOL) does indeed wobble and she DOES fall down. Rather than injuring my ego or breaking a hip I've had to adjust my ways of getting things done.

Keep at it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ken:

I agree with others. strive for walking but don't let that stop you from enjoying other things you can still do with the help of scootor.

Asha

Good for you Ken, keep on pushing! Good things gotta happen for you and me!

Ken,

Hydrotherapy is freedom. I love hearing that. You can walk and aren't afraid of falling. The water is the best. Keep working. My husband, still hates turning. It is a monumental task. But, with practice I know that it will become easier.

Ruth

dear ken, i have been an avid follower of your blog, i stroked in 2005. just like you i led an active life before and share the very same frustration as you. thankfully , since early this year i just threw caution to the wind and proceeded just to tentatively walk and threw away that fear of walking.ken, you are an inspiration to me, so keep at it, god willing, one day we should recover to a certain extent. should you be interested to know about me , please view my blog at merantibatik.blogspot.com. and you can count on me to eagerly await your posting everyday, god bless you ken.