Seeking Help and Healing

I talked to Colleen, Michael's therapist, about the burning sensation he was having. [He is not still having it today.] She is going to try and get him an appointment with a specialist in upper extremity and hand issues. I never knew there was such a thing. I'm happy to hear it, though.

I found an article that explains what may be happening, and here's the link: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/may_jun_06/congenital_part3.html. Scroll down to the sub topic How Often Will My Child Need a New Prosthesis. It talks about bone overgrowth, which is what I am fearing is happening with Michael.

It was kind of Colleen to reassure me that if Michael does have this, that the surgery to correct it is outpatient surgery. I was afraid it was going to be some long ordeal.

On a happier note, I ordered Michael an ice cream cake from Bruster's, and got him a balloon for his birthday. We finished wrapping the presents last night. I so hope he will have a happy birthday tomorrow. I am not trying to have a party. We are scheduled to go bowling with some friends, though. We are going out to lunch, too.

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We watched the movie Ordinary People [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinary_People] last night. I remember seeing it when it came out in 1981 and being totally blown away by how realistic it was, and amazed at the performance of Timothy Hutton. It's the only really excellent film I could think of about a teenager seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. I wanted to see what Alesia's reactions were to the film. She got very into it, probably because it's about a teenager. I did a quick google search just now and found where using this film as a teaching tool is not just my idea, it's been used by the American Psychiatric Foundation. http://ap.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/3/174

I wanted Alesia to care about the main character and watch as he heals with the help of a good therapist. Yes, it's a work of fiction, but it's also very realistic. It's easy to care about the characters.

Alesia always makes comments when she's watching a film, and they can be very telling. For instance, last night at one point the teenager had an emotional breakthrough and was sobbing and Alesia said softly "He needs a hug!" - and just then the psychiatrist hugged him. At another point she got very angry, because the mother in the film, brilliantly played by Mary Tyler Moore, is so cold and distant with her son.

I feel so strongly that movies are a fabulous way to teach kids without them knowing they are learning. I wanted Alesia to see how recalling the trauma would cause the boy to be able to process it and move forward. During the pivotal scene of that, I said softly, "See, he's finally able to remember and feel sad."

If nothing else, I hope it makes her think. Comparing her own past to what she saw, and empathizing with the boy, might help get her started on the road to recalling her feelings and processing them.

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As most of you know, I wear almost nothing on my feet but Crocs, the ugly but comfortable shoes which I fell in love with several years ago. They are the only shoes which feel good on my hobbit-like feet. I was absolutely delighted to see that Crocs fever has spread to the highest echelons of society. I think I will see if I can find a photo of McCain or Obama wearing Crocs - whoever wears them in public, that's who I'll vote for. LOL

Comments

[Jane]

Is it just me, or does it look like his socks have the presidential seal on them? LOL!