Dawn's Story
Two hip replacements, couple tendons release surgeries and more procedures that her mother can count. This girl had already gone through the ringer. As I was walking into the OHSU physical therapist gym, I had no expectations for my very first visit. I was nervous. I had only a few details about my recipient but nothing could make me ready for when I walked into the OHSU gym. A petite 3 foot powerhouse woman who was giggling and smiling from ear to ear.
Immediately I was introduced to Dawn: a lovable, charismatic, remarkable woman who was very popular among the workplace. As we strolled through the halls, with Dawn on her squeaky bike that she donated to the hospital years ago, she was greeted by so many people. Her mother turned to me and laughed, she is the popular one, she even knows people 1 and 2 levels up on the 8th and 9th floors.
It is kinda impossible not to know Dawn. She lights up the room with her smile, positivity and her cheery chatter. She wakes up happy and falls asleep happy, which in this day an age is really rare especially while she is in pain. She tackles everything with determination and desire to become stronger.
In her physical therapy session, she continued to talk and make everyone laugh all while pushing herself up the stairs and down again. Which seems easy to the average person but in her case it’s the hardest thing for her. Not only is walking extremely difficult without the support of her mother or her physical therapist but she is deathly afraid of falling. A few years ago, she was walking with a cane but recently the increase joint pain and muscle weakness has inhibited her ability to walk. The way she gets around is through her loving mom. She latches herself onto her mother’s neck like a lemur and hangs. This is her choice of transportation but when we told her that I wanted to raise money for a brand new bike tailored just for her, she was thrilled. This bike will have features that are unique to her and her needs.
Being only 3 feet tall and 53 pounds with 2 hip replacements and a newly healed broken arm she needs a smaller bike that will support her back, hips, and is easy for her to steer. She wholeheartedly deserves the world but we cannot give her that exactly, but we can at least bring a smile to her face with a new specialized bike.
One major thing I learned from her in one short hour: Inhale, outhale. Her own word but it had a huge impact on me. We don’t always outhale or breathe in general. So breathe and live life with positivity just like Dawn because tomorrow isn’t always promised. So please donate and help us reach our goal.
Immediately I was introduced to Dawn: a lovable, charismatic, remarkable woman who was very popular among the workplace. As we strolled through the halls, with Dawn on her squeaky bike that she donated to the hospital years ago, she was greeted by so many people. Her mother turned to me and laughed, she is the popular one, she even knows people 1 and 2 levels up on the 8th and 9th floors.
It is kinda impossible not to know Dawn. She lights up the room with her smile, positivity and her cheery chatter. She wakes up happy and falls asleep happy, which in this day an age is really rare especially while she is in pain. She tackles everything with determination and desire to become stronger.
In her physical therapy session, she continued to talk and make everyone laugh all while pushing herself up the stairs and down again. Which seems easy to the average person but in her case it’s the hardest thing for her. Not only is walking extremely difficult without the support of her mother or her physical therapist but she is deathly afraid of falling. A few years ago, she was walking with a cane but recently the increase joint pain and muscle weakness has inhibited her ability to walk. The way she gets around is through her loving mom. She latches herself onto her mother’s neck like a lemur and hangs. This is her choice of transportation but when we told her that I wanted to raise money for a brand new bike tailored just for her, she was thrilled. This bike will have features that are unique to her and her needs.
Being only 3 feet tall and 53 pounds with 2 hip replacements and a newly healed broken arm she needs a smaller bike that will support her back, hips, and is easy for her to steer. She wholeheartedly deserves the world but we cannot give her that exactly, but we can at least bring a smile to her face with a new specialized bike.
One major thing I learned from her in one short hour: Inhale, outhale. Her own word but it had a huge impact on me. We don’t always outhale or breathe in general. So breathe and live life with positivity just like Dawn because tomorrow isn’t always promised. So please donate and help us reach our goal.