Bonus Activity - Memphis Rolling Grizzlies

Memphis Rolling Grizzlies 

On May 30, 2018, my class and I attended a Memphis Rolling Grizzlies practice at the Glenview Community Center in Memphis, Tennessee. I have lived in Memphis basically my whole life, and I was totally unaware that there was a professional wheelchair basketball team in the city. Having the chance to watch these men practice a sport they loved was so inspiring and motivating. There were men of all different sizes, races, and levels of functionality. Some had suffered from spinal cord injury and were paralyzed from the waist down. Some had congenital conditions that prevented them from playing sports on a regular team. Some men were walking, and some couldn't even move their legs. Despite all these differences, these men come together weekly and transfer into their special basketball wheelchairs and do incredible things. I was utterly amazed by the strength and endurance these men possessed. I found it so inspiring that, although there were many debilitating injuries, these men were passionate about the sport and loved coming alongside their friends to play basketball. There were extreme examples of sportsmanship shown when someone would score a point, and everyone would rush to help if someone got knocked over in their chair. I truly felt welcomed into their practice and was given the opportunity to ask if I had any questions at all. After their practice ended, each player offered up their basketball wheelchair for me and my classmates to try it out. They really made it look easy! It was so hard to control the wheelchair, and I had extreme difficulty propelling myself fast and handling the basketball. The men of the Memphis Rolling Grizzlies are truly gifted in what they do.

My whole take-away from this experience is that I should not look down on someone who is disabled. I shouldn't belittle them or think that because they are disabled that they are unable to do anything. I shouldn't automatically think they are weak or fragile- some of the men on the team are stronger than I will ever be. As a future occupational therapist, it's important I help find things that those struggling with disabilities truly adore. I need to find the things that are meaningful to my client and bring them joy. I can help my clients adapt and do the things they want and love to do. It was important for me to see the Memphis Rolling Grizzlies because it changed my perspective on just how much someone who is in a wheelchair can accomplish if they are doing what they love. I hope one day to see the Memphis Rolling Grizzlies in action again! 

Neuro Note #3 - TransFatty Lives

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Description

TransFatty Lives is a documentary on Netflix about a man named Patrick and his battle with ALS. Patrick is an artist and filmmaker from Maryland. In Spring 2005, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and was given 2-5 years to live. ALS is a neurodegenerative condition that essentially unplugs your brain from the rest of your body. Physically, the muscles in your body lose their ability to work over time, but cognition is not affected. The first symptom of ALS Patrick experienced was his leg began trembling on a trip. Eventually, he began stumbling and falling, and his gait became affected. Being the filmmaker he is, he decided to film his life and the struggles of himself and his family as they dealt with ALS and the destructive path it took debilitating Patrick. He decided to make an art project from his struggles. A few years into his journey with ALS, Patrick met someone and they fell in love and had a child whom they named Sean. Sean became the spotlight in Patrick's life and the whole reason that Patrick fought as long as he did to live.

The documentary showed how serious ALS became once Patrick required a feeding tube and ventilator. He lived for a while in a nursing home, which was emotionally difficulty because of how young Patrick was. In this nursing home, Patrick hit an all time low, mentally and physically. His desire to live was decreasing and he was wanting to die. He received the opportunity to travel to a specialty home for those living with ALS, and once he moved there, it's like his life started all over again. He was able to travel and participate in activities and events. It was such as contrast from laying in the hospital bed all day everyday like he did in the nursing home.

Why I Chose This

Ever since I heard about ALS, I have become interested in learning what day-to-day life is like for patients and caregivers. TransFatty Lives gave me that inside look on what life is like with ALS. Being interested in the neuro aspect of occupational therapy, this was especially interesting to see what my future clients may be dealing with. I learned so much about ALS and some of the battles that are faced daily- emotionally and physically.

Refection

TransFatty Lives was the perfect mix of beautiful, inspiring, heart-wrenching, and weird. The documentary did a fantastic job in capturing Patrick's true personality, and the film's unique and artistic aspects was a reflection of him. It was incredibly hard to watch the deterioration of Patrick and the reactions from his family and caregivers. I could truly feel the love Patrick's family had for him as I watched them assist him with bathing, toileting, and feeding. Patrick's personality and outlook on life was incredibly inspiring. The bravery he had to film himself in his lowest, most vulnerable points of his life is something I  don't think I would ever be able to do. He had the absolute best attitude, and his use of humor probably made it easier for everyone around him to cope with the circumstances. One of the biggest take-aways from this film was a quote from Patrick himself that was translated on his communication board; it is as followed:

"When you can't help your circumstances, you might as well go with it and stay positive."

Handsome Cargo (Producer) & O'Brien, P. (Director). (2015). TransFatty Lives [Film].