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Rehabilitation

Not what you're thinking. Not for drugs, or alcohol or involving a moronic television celebrity quasi-reality show with a shrink who needs to put his own head under a microscope.

There is much to tell of my continuing battle with cancer. Some not so positive as I've chronicled earlier illustrating the pathetic bureaucracy that is Princess Margaret Hospital.

Unfortunately I was given a horrendous choice earlier this year upon learning my cancer had returned: give up mobility to finally perhaps defeat the disease.

Last year I had what I thought would be my final chemo in October. The Toronto Tribune was launched as part of my celebration as I thought I had been victorious. What followed were tests and more tests, and then I learned it was back. It is the same cancer as before.

Not so long ago I confirmed something that I had long suspected: I have the strangest cancer on the planet. Nothing about it is normal. They can't tell me what the future holds for it doesn't work the usual way, not with me.

Less than 24 hours after my second operation to remove the second cancer growth, I was told that there was no hope for any movement in one of my legs. At my insistence I was sent to rehab to learn to do what I could with the mobility issues I now face.

During my time in the hospital following surgery, as I became stronger, relatively of course, I asked for exercises to help my leg. None were forthcoming. Actually a bit of a run around was organized on the level of 'that's not our department talk to occupational' : for exercises to help wake up the leg? That's not what OT does.

I noticed improvements, slight certainly but they were there. I insisted on rehab and was lucky to be able to go straight from the hospital to a rehabilitation center in Toronto.

Immediately I knew I was in the right place. Located on top of a hill, not the wisest choice for a place for people to learn to deal with their disabilities to access, is Toronto's Hillcrest.

The staff are outstanding. Everyone from the nurses, orderlies, physiotherapists and the doctors were in line to help.

I write these articles in an attempt to help those who are or will face what I endured. It breaks a policy of The Toronto Tribune and International Art Treasures Web Magazine to make any articles or stories personal. Dealing with the dreadful disease that is cancer is worth bending policy, in our belief. Plus it helps to illustrate the best and worst of universal health care and what is and isn't available to patients who endure these conditions.

Rehabilitation is all about the individual. No one could do these exercises for me and they weren't easy. The first step I took after surgery was all but impossible. I did it and another. Not much the first day; my goal one extra step a day. Exercise is key.

I couldn't help but have great sympathy for the dedicated team at Hillcrest. Canadians are known for being nice; not for making waves. Yet road rage is not absence from our streets. It is puzzling to me that so few took and take advantage of the rehabilitation team and resources. I insisted on being sent to rehab and luckily my surgeon ordered it for me.

Far too many of my fellow patients would rather spend their time coming up with excuses to avoid physiotherapy. It is individual; most of this experience is; no one can do these exercises to try and regain mobility in my leg. It's all on my shoulders. It may be a fool's game but to me it is worth the effort and I have seen positive results.

The exercises helped but that does not in any way suggest they were easy. They were not! The first one was usually the hardest and then of course one builds up to do fifteen; as a set. Then two sets and so on to work on recapturing whatever mobility one can.

Success is measured in millimeters not miles.

I have been told they've never met anyone quite like me at Hillcrest. That's probably true. I didn't come up with excuse after excuse to avoid exercise. When my physiotherapists gave me exercise, homework if you will, I did them every day; still do. Every day I walked around the floor at Hillcrest.  Do not for a second have the sense it was without pain or stress. It was difficult not only physically but from the emotional side from someone who loves to walk. That can be defeating in itself. It wasn't because I refused to let it beat me. Attitude is everything in this battle.