Slow progress is still progress

 

"No offense, but you look like an athlete." This was said to me years ago, after a pause to take a quick glance at my wheelchair. My answer was "I AM an athlete." And proceeded to show them photos of the various adaptive sports I had tried so far. Admittedly, this wasn't long after I'd started using my wheelchair regularly, so I still had the "runner" physique. Now I have the "hauling over 200lbs around and playing various sports with just my upper body" physique.

This is my best illustration of how much my upper body grew in just the first 3 years!

This is what I think of whenever someone asks me how I can be an athlete with several chronic illnesses (especially the various forms of dysautonomia), a neurological disorder, and a wheelchair. None of those things preclude me from sports. In fact, some of them made me more likely to be able to participate. I recently went to the Angel City Games and was talking about I had always wanted to do a triathlon, but didn't do it until I was using a wheelchair... simply because I had more support as a wheelchair athlete than I did as an athlete with a bad leg.

Soooo, back to the photo at the top. Most of the people posting on social media about chronic illness and dysautonomia and disorders and wheelchairs have fallen victim to doctors going straight to all the things they can't do instead of all the things they can do or the things they can improve or the things they can adapt. They're generally surprised when I come in say that I essentially accepted that I had to entirely start over and work my way back into being active. It took me 3 years. And last year, I had to start again.. not entirely from the beginning, but it was a huge blow. It's not done yet as my doctor and/or insurance are dragging their heels on treatment. 

When I first started over, it was a win if I simply stood for an extra minute, or took an extra step, or sat up a couple extra seconds. When I started rowing, I couldn't sit up on my own because I couldn't lean back or to the left; three years later, my core was really strong, unfortunately it was taken away again last year. I'm working on it again. Society tells us we should make big, noticeable gains when we work out and that's just not true. It takes time (and some fancy lighting sometimes ;) ) to get those before and after shots.

Also, like I said, slow progress is better than no progress. Be proud every little bit of improvement you manage to earn.