Providing a sense of joy and satisfaction. Fun! That is what we are about. Laughter! Why do we try and complicate it? Why are we continuously trying to be that which we are not? Once you have seen it (joy, genuine laughter, fun!), you never forget it...
anonymous
Friday, May 21, 1999 at 16:13:27 (CDT)

A patient of mine, about 4 years ago, received a TBI as a result of an MV/pedestrian accident. He had been hospitalized for about 3 months when I began working with him. The team, patient and SO decided he should participate in our Outdoor Program and try Sit-skiing. The patient had not been participating in his therapies and was noncompliant with almost all medical treatment. He was also quite inappropriate with staff and his SOs. He had not smiled, laughed, or reasonsed anything out since his accident. The morning of the activity, the team had determined that, based on the patient's behavior, he would probably be in rehab at least another 3 months. On the way to the ski slope, the patient continuously spoke of suicide. He indicated he was going to kill himself as soon as he got to the mountain and I turned my back. I knew he would never be alone or out of direct site for even a second. His SO was with us and, needless to say, was quite upset about his thoughts. Once we got to the slope, the patient indicated that it looked quite scary and he wasn't sure he wanted to participate. I told him that was fine, I just wanted him to enjoy the snow, the companionship of people outside the hospital, and take a look at the equipment. He met his ski instructors and, as requested, took a look at the sit-ski. He then requested to smoke and, while smoking, agreed with his instructors' requests to "just sit in the ski for a bit." Once they got him seated and strapped in, I asked him if he would like to be pushed around to see how it felt to move in the ski. He agreed and, after moving a bit on the flats, asked if he could be pushed up the slope a bit to see what it was like to move downhill. We did this, then asked if he would like to watch the other sit-skiers getting on the lift. He agreed. After watching the lift load for a short time, the patient asked if he could try the lift - not realizing the only way down was to ski! Off we went for a lift ride with his SO along with us on her skis. At the top of the bunny slope, the patient looked down the hill and told his SO he would go down if she would. On our way down, we had a small incident where the sit-ski did a complete 360 degree turn, as in a roll-over. I was convinced, as it happened, that I just lost this patient's interest in skiing (and possibly the rest of life)! But, he came up belly-laughing! The first laugh in over 5 months! Again, his SO was in tears, but this time not from fear. The patient asked to take another run and begged to flip over again. After about 5 runs (but, to his dissapointment, no more flips) he asked for another smoke. During this cigarette, the patient decided he wanted to continue to ski next year (we had gone up on the last day the area was open), only on two skis. Now, I was hesitant that he would ever stand up ski, however, I did know he could bi-ski; consequently said it would not be a problem. He then said "If I'm going to ski next year, I guess I ought to stick around". I was ecstatic - not only had we reached his first laugh, but his first instance of reasoning. I figured he meant that he better stay in our area rather than moving back to his home where there was no skiing available. After this statement, the patient was quiet (and appeared to be thinking very hard) for about 4 minutes. He then said, "I guess if I'm gonna stick around, I'd better not kill myself." Welp, the SO began crying again and it dawned on me what on earth he was talking about. I tried to stay rather nonchalant with a reply of "Yup, I guess you'd better not." Tho, I'm sure my tone of voice was not so calm. After that statement, the patient thought some more, for another 9 minutes or so. He then said, "Well, I guess if I'm not gonna die, I'd better get busy and get better, huh?!" Needless to say, my heart jumped and I wanted to join the SO in her tears. Instead, I indicated my excitement in my progress notes upon return to the facility. What was really exciting is that the patient meant exactly what he said. The next day, he began cooperating with the hospital personnel and his program. He worked harder than most any other patient we've ever had. And, he was discharged to our outpatient program within 2 weeks (rather than 3 months)! Now, what's really funny is that the next year he came back to the ski program and tried bi-skiing and tried standup skiing. After those two experiences, he thanked all the ski instructors (another first, thanking people for helping him) and then said "I'm glad you let me try this, but don't ever invite me again to ski. I hate skiing!" There is another success with him; however. He did try adaptive biking with me and we found the perfect bike for him. He now rides with his family all over and back again and says "I have finally found my sport!"
anonymous
- Wednesday, November 05, 1997 at 18:57:25 (PST)

I worked in a research hospital for people with catastrophic illnesses. We had patients from around the world. A little boy came in very sick from Hong Kong. He had leukemia but it was unclear if this was his first bout or whether he fell of remission. He was finally in another remission and it was Easter. I had planned an Egg hunt for the children on Pediatrics Unit but this little guy was too fragile to join the fun. I had 25 students from Cal Poly Pomona volunteering that quarter and I asked one young man to sing songs with this little boy. In a few minutes the student came out and in frustration told me that the boy wanted to sing a song in Chinese and he didn't know how to read chinese music. In looking at the music book I noticed that it was a hymnnal and it was music with Chinese translation. I went in the the little boy pointed to a specific song. I played the tune and he sang and sang and soon his Dad came in and sang with him. I had someone get a tape recorder and we taped the singing. It was shift change and all the nurses came in to listen. The song was " I Found a Friend in Jesus". As I was putting the tape recorder away, the social worker came up to a research Dr. who translated for the little boy's father everyday. She asked if he had helped with the letter to the Mother telling her the end was near and she should come quickly. I cried for hours as I mourned for the pain that little boy had to endure. But I also know that I was able to meet his needs through leisure in a way that no one else could do. We meet our patients as people and help make each day have meaning and quality. I am very glad to have been touched by this young man's life.
Melany Bailey Spielman
- Friday, October 31, 1997 at 16:51:59 (PST)

I have worked with people with profound mental retardation and physical disabilities. We spend so much time trying to help these people become "normal" like us, I don't feel we spend enough time being with people where they are. One woman I worked with could not talk, eat, walk, or even shift her body weight in her own wheelchair. One day I sat with her, and just blinked with her. Every time she would blink, I would mimic her back. She smiled, she laughed, we communicated, we connected in a space that was hers.
Shelley Park
- Tuesday, September 23, 1997 at 11:11:39 (PDT)

I did a bit of volunteer work with an agency last summer. Was a spanish speaking lady in the facility. Her greatest to participating in anything was not being able to speak english. Another volunteer had said she really loved Pepsi. So, I went to the concession and bought her a Pepsi. Her lit up. After that she liked me and would follow me around. I learned some spanish, and she found someone to befriend. The best part was that I made her day that day.
anonymous
- Tuesday, September 09, 1997 at 09:46:35 (PDT)

While working at a community mental health center in the St. Pete/Tampa, FL area, I worked closely with a 16 year old client with ADHD. The client's hyperactivity limited her academic progress, but not her creativity. During a creative arts program I facilitated, this particular client drew a picture of mountains utilizing a variety of colors to emphasize the background, but limited her choices of color when sketching the mountains. Many of her peers laughed at her drawing, but I collected and filed it with the other drawings from the group. Later in the year, the community's juvenile welfare board sponsored an art contest to select the artwork displayed in the following year's calendar. With the client's permission, I submiitted her drawing in the contest. Out of over 1500 entries, my client's drawing was chosen as one of the top twelve and used in the juvenile welfare board's calendar. The excitement in this client's eyes when she received the notification letter made me realize why I enjoy being a recreation therapist as much as I do! After the experience her self-confidence rarely wavered, as the pride she had in herself boosted her performance in scholastic and extracurricular activities. I've found remembering others and taking time to provide them opportunities for success even though we are overworked and really don't have the time, can often make a life-changing difference.
Brad Wardlaw
- Saturday, July 12, 1997 at 11:10:22 (PDT)

One day at the nursing home about a year ago, we had a woman sitting by the window of the Activity room. she was mumbling to herself over and over again "I wish I saw a bird today. I wish I saw a bird today." It was a cold damp day and there were none to see. Remembering that I once knew how to make birds out of origami, I ran to the desk and got out a piece of paper. "Mrs. X", I said, "Watch me make a bird". She watched in awe as I folded a simple crane. When I was finished she put it lovingly in her pocket. It was only when I looked up that I realized that about 8 other residents, who had been previously walking aimlessly around the room, had stopped their pacing, gathered around, and were watching me intently. On the way home from work that night, I stopped at the bookstore and bought a book on Origami. I have carried a pocket of small paper squares with me ever since, and have become known as "The Paper Magic Lady".
anonymous
- Wednesday, April 02, 1997 at 06:45:49 (PST)

I work with Alzheimers victims. We have a resident who rarely talks at length, and if she does, it is in response to questions. The other day she kept saying "I want to go home, I want to go home." I asked her "Tell me about home". She started to tell me about a house at the end of the street, describing the house, yard, and neighborhood at length. A few days later, her daughter said to me that it is a shame Mom doesn't seem to remember anything at all. I told her about the house described. She looked at me with a look of astonishment and told me that this was the house she grew up in as a little girl. The thing that hits me about this is that I am fairly new to the position and none of my predecessors or the other staff reports that she could go on and reminisc at length like this. It tells me the value of asking open ended questions and then TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE ANSWER.
anonymous
- Wednesday, April 02, 1997 at 06:40:56 (PST)

I am very new to the profession of therapeutic recreation since I will not graduate until May 1997. However I had a great internship this past summer at a rehabilitation hospital. The biggest impact I had was with a patient with SCI. He was young, 18, and in fact, he was the youngest patient I had all summer. He spent eight weeks at the rehab hospital which is quite long with the short length of stay. Well he really made progress and came out of his shell. He got to the point that he would come to the recreation room after he was done with his other therapies. He got to know everybody quite well. It was sad when I said goodbye to him. However a few of us went to visit him a few weeks later at the current facility he was in. He was so surprised to see us and he got a little emotional. I felt so good because he was genuinely glad to see us. When I think about it I felt I made a tremendous impact on this individual. He went out in the community numerous times, learned to do things for himself, and was introduced to new leisure skills. I will always remember this individual. He made me want to really do recreation therapy and I hope I continue to have similar experiences when I become a professional in the field.
anonymous
- Tuesday, March 11, 1997 at 11:52:29 (PST)

I was interviewing a man with Macular Degeneration, eye disease that effects the macula of the eye,no central vision. During our interview he cried as he told me how he gave up golf (his whole life) and sold his very expensive golf clubs. He no longer golfed but still volunteered at the golf course. Not being able to golf really tore him apart. His program plan was to start with golf swing move out to the driving range and then eventually move out to the golf course. Through his eight week stay at the blind rehabilitaiton center he began to gain confidence in himself and eventually we made it out onto the local 9 hole golf course. I served as his "golf buddy" assisting him to find the golf ball and directing him in the direction of the hole and reading the greens.and I had a volunteer of his same golf ability to play along side of him. As we approached the last hole he pared. I think he is still smiling. This man was so greatful with all we had done for him he went home and purchased himself a new set of golf clubs and got back into the swing of things and started his life again!
anonymous
- Sunday, March 09, 1997 at 20:30:44 (PST)

Throughout the days, there are a lot of little sucesses thatI have enjoyed. The biggest impact that I have made yet though is with a 59 year old female with a dx. of depression. I workin a LTC facility and she really was out of place and not interestedin the activities that I provide our residents. She alwayscomplained but never would participate. Two months ago I askedher advice on how to arrange our Resident of the Month board.I was surprised when she jumped at the chance. From that point on I included her in decorating projects and spent a lot of 1:1time just talking with her. Soon she came to Resident Council as a self-proclaimed advocate for the residents who cannotvoice their opinions, and has volunteered to run a movie night program.Talk about Empowerment! She is now working towards going homeand is also going to start a few hours a week as a paid employee ofour facility answering phones. The other day she told me ThankYou for helping to bring her back into the world. Boy, does that feel great. With the average age of most of our Residents being80 and mostly with dx. of Alzeheimer's you don't always getto see such a concrete result from your efforts. This experiencehelps me to know that I really can make a positive difference in the lives of those I work with. Thank you for letting me share.
anonymous
- Monday, March 03, 1997 at 20:36:19 (PST)