Jessie Irvin Gets New Legs!

This blog post came to us from Jessie Irvin. Jessie receives support services from Imagine! and is also a valued volunteer for our Dayspring department. Just a couple of weeks ago she got prosthetic legs, and offered to share her story with us. Thanks Jessie.

Jessie Irvin Gets New Legs 

Yes!  On August 14, 2014, I got my prosthetic legs. I was born without femurs, but I walked from the time I was three until I was 21. When I was two years old, they were going to do prosthetics for me, but they would have had to cut my feet off, and one my parents wasn’t sold on that idea. So, I had it in the back of my mind all my life that someday I may get prosthetics. The reason the doctors wanted to perform the surgery when I was two is because I was so young I wouldn’t have remembered the surgery and I would not have the phantom limb situation, but I think that now that my feet have stopped growing they don’t have to remove them for the prosthetics. It was recently that I decided to get them. I was tired of being short and not being able to reach things, like getting my own glass of water. 

The first time I had the prosthetics on, Texas, my cat, jetted away. But the next time I had them on, he used them as a scratching post, so he sure got accustomed to them quickly. 

I asked my doctor if I could roller blade, and he said as long as I’d done it before I could do it again. I told the doctor I’d been roller blading for as long as I can recall. My provider nearly hit the floor when she heard that one. She had no clue that I had roller bladed, so it was pretty funny. I grew up roller blading so it was no big deal to me. Although now that I think about it, I’m not sure if I want to attempt it, because it’s farther to fall if I’m using the prosthetic legs. 

I do want to learn to ride a bike however. I will need prosthetics that can bend at the knee for that though. They want me to get used to getting my balance first. Recently, when I was wearing my new legs, I was at the Dollar tree and when I came in I knocked over a pile of baskets. I’m still getting accustomed to having longer legs. I’m still learning how to navigate with them. Trying to open the door is a challenge, I’m just not used to my legs being that long. 

I am able to get in and out of bed with them, and I’m starting to be able to stand better on them. I can take about four or five steps, but my biggest fear in having the prosthetics is falling. It’s normal, people fall, but I have to learn to get back up without hurting myself. My arms are getting stronger because I have to hold myself up. I can’t rely on my back yet, for strength. 

Getting on and off the couch is getting better. I’m learning how to use a walker to some degree. 

I use a walker as I’m not quite ready for crutches yet. I will keep you updated on my progress. It is nice being able to get my own glass of water!

Jessica Says Time Flies By Working At Celestial Seasonings

This blog post came to us today in a phone call from Jessica. Jessica receives support services from Imagine! and through our CORE/Labor Source department is employed at Celestial Seasonings. The crew runs the Kombucha bottling line, packages energy shots, as well as making all the boxes necessary for the jobs.

I am still working at Celestial Seasonings. I like working there. I get to work and I also get to socialize. The pay is very good too. The time flies by when I work there. Sometimes they give me free tea, and food too. 

I spend some of the money I earn there on Yankee stuff, New York stuff, and sometimes on food or clothes. Speaking of clothes, I have some old clothes that I am donating to Goodwill. 

Jessica on the left and Tessa on the right, working on the Kombucha bottling line at Celestial Seasonings.

Chris Visits The Aquarium

This blog post came to us in two ways today.  First was an email from Shannon Bundy, Site Supervisor at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder, and that was followed by an audio email from Chris, a resident at the home.

Shannon wrote: Chris went to the aquarium with me today. He is going to send you an email about it. He told me that his favorite fish was the little blue one, he said it was pretty. The pictures I am sending you are Chris with the sharks, Chris touching a sting ray, and Chris's favorite fish. 

Chris's audio email said: This is Chris calling to tell you that I went to the aquarium with Shannon and I saw sharks and I had fun. Goodbye. 

Chris's favorite fish, the pretty blue one.

Chris near the sharks.

Chris touching a sting ray.

Mandy Looks Out For Her Pal Gary

This blog post came to us in a phone message last night from Mandy to her friend Gary Stebick, Imagine!'s Communications Coordinator. Mandy is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder, and calls regularly to provide us with blog posts, suggestions, or simply to wish a good day, especially for any holiday throughout the year.

 In this particular message, please use your imagination to hear Mandy laughing as she speaks because that's how the message was left. Thanks Mandy. (ps:  And yes, Gary changed his phone message this morning to include his job title).

Hi Gary, I think you need to put your title of your occupation on your (phone's) message machine. I know you’re leaving soon but I still think that’s a very necessary issue, and I will be calling to make sure you’ve done it. Bye. And if you haven’t done it, I will call you until you do it.

Mandy Enjoyed "Shrek" At Boulder Dinner Theatre

This blog post came to us last night in a phone call message from Mandy, who is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.

Hi, This is Mandy and I just wanted to let you know that I went to see “Shrek” at the Boulder Dinner Theatre today and I had a lot of fun. It was a musical and I really enjoyed myself. I got to have tamales for lunch and I really had a great time. 

If you’d like to put that on the blog on the computer, today is August 3rd, and it’s the Boulder Dinner Theatre here in Boulder. Thank you. 

Pictured is Mandy at a Boulder Dinner Theatre performance last summer.