Can’t believe the progress I’ve made
When I signed up with David back in January of this year, I could barely walk up a curb. I struggled, had to use my walking stick and preferably hold onto something or someone else.
I avoided going out into my back garden because it involved three steps to get back in.
Getting up from a chair or a toilet was equally difficult. I needed to use both hands to either push myself up or hold onto something to pull myself up, and similarly, to lower myself down, I usually got so far and flopped down the rest.
A week ago, I went to Scotland for a week to visit family, and I was scared. It involved getting on and off of trains, and at my sister-in-law’s house there are five steps to get into the house, then seven or eight steps to get up to the first level, and then another seven or eight steps to get up to the next level.
And the toilet was on the middle level.
So it was a bit scary.
However, after 4 months with David I managed on and off the train and off the train and at my sister-in-law's house, and I climbed up to the front door and up to the first level, and up to the top level. That's about 20 steps and I managed this on two days. Unthinkable for me back in January.
The toilet, without any grab rails etc, is on the middle level, more stair climbing.
I'm really, really pleased with the progress I've made. It's been slow, but I prefer that, with David it’s baby steps, never causing pain or flare ups.
I've tried other trainers, but find their idea of a starting point, typically a starting point of 10 or more sit-to-stands, far exceeds mine. Back in January, I struggled to do one,
Here we are in early May and David has introduced sit-to-stands into my routine; three, have a break, three, have a break, and another three. And the best part is I can do them, yes, I might need to use one hand to push off but I’m doing them.
David’s caring and thoughtful approach works, I can't recommend him highly enough.