Beyond the Pain

Shrink Wrap

I have a love/hate relationship with my memories of Bonnie.

Bonnie was the Social Worker assigned to work with me by the C.A.R. Program. I first met with her [date]. A chunky, fortyish brunette she came into the reception area and called my name. She escorted me to her office. Sat down behind her desk. And, asked me to close her door. Behind her desk was a bookshelf crowded with with books and papers. On a credenza next to her chair sat framed pictures of an orange tabby cat.

“My name is Bonnie. I am a Social Worker. I am going to be working with you. Do you have any questions”, she said.

“Yes. I am curious about why I am seeing a Social Worker”, I said.

“Well. You know how you had the support of the folks at C.E.T. This is an extension of that support,” she said.

“What do you mean C.E.T.?”

“Oh. Right, Acronyms. C.E.T. Stands for Community Extenstion Team. Those are the Social Workers who are supporting you right now by accompanying you to appointments with your psychiatrist, for example.”

“Oh. You mean Nancy”, I said.

“Yes, Nancy”, she said.

“My role is to help you in the transtion from the hospital to your regular life. But, I won’t be providing physical support like the folks at C.E.T. Mine is to provide psychological support”, she said.

And, Bonnie did. Sort of.

An excerpt from CRASH! Memories of a Healing Journey, All Rights Reserved, Lyle T. Lachmuth

Adeline was my new physiotherapist. A rangy, dark-haired young woman. She did not vibrate to the same frequency Kenny had. No one could. She had a soft voice and a sweet nature. I thought I would spend months with her. I didn’t.

I had just four sessions with her.

That first session she did a thorough, over all assessment. Concentrating on my right ankle and my neck.

“When did your spine doc take your Aspen collar off?”

“October twentieth, “ I said.

“Did he give you any exercises to do”

“Yes, he gave me about a half a dozen. I’ve been doing them every day.”

“Good. Show me”, she said.

I showed her the exercises Dr. Bouchard had assigned me. The neck twisty stretches. Pushing the side of my head against the palm of my hand. Rocking the head and neck back gently. All the exercises.

“Great”, she said in that soft voice of hers. “Keep doing them. I don’t see any reason to add anything.”

“That’s it for today. Next time we’ll focus on that ankle.”

And, we did. The next times we saw each other the focus of our work was my right ankle.

An excerpt from CRASH! Memories of a Healing Journey, All Rights Reserved, Lyle T. Lachmuth