Medical Musings Monday: Healing Hands for Haiti

Today during Medical Musings Monday, I bring you a story, a passion, and a fierce determination to bring knowledge, power, and insight to a people group that needs it most.

McDoc, a dear friend, is headed to Haiti in April. Traveling with the Boston team to the Healing Hands for Haiti Rehabilitation Center, he's in need of some assistance. When you visit his blog, you'll find a link to donate to his trip fund, and you'll see how much progress he has made to reach his fundraising goal.

Knowing that he was traveling alongside Healing Hands for Haiti, I began to research the organization and foundd resources upon resources. This video, however, was the most compelling piece of information I've seen on the condition of the country thus far.

Won't you help those healing hands that we're sending to help Haitians with disabilities to achieve their maximum potential through occupational therapy, physical therapy, and rehabilitative procedures?

Here at Empowering People and Changing Lives, we support the healing hands of our good friend, McDoc, as he continues to empower the Haitian people and change their lives through the wonder of modern medicine!

Alternative Media Access Center: Student Advisory Council

This weekend, I went to a meeting of the Alternative Media Access Center's Student Advisory Council. You may remember me mentioning my interview this summer, and it is such a joy to be apart of such a committee that is essential in the lives of Georgia's students with disabilities.

AMAC's goals, as a division of the University System of Georgia are to provide varying types of assistive technologies (from softwares to equipment such as Brailled textbooks for students who are visually impaired.

As a part of the student advisory committee, I, along with my fellow colleagues, am representative of AMAC's patrons, which are primarily institutions within the state of Georgia and beyond. This weekend, the meeting lasted from 1:00 - 5:45 on Friday and from 9:00 - 3:00 today, and the entire conference was spent devoted to the needs of students with disabilities who are attending colleges in and outside of Georgia. Currently, the committee is working to launch a website aimed at assisting professors and other professionals to understand the lives of their students who are faced with challenges from an academic, social, and emotional perspective. The development of the content for the website will be created by the members of the Student Advisory Committee with the aid of some of the AMAC staff members.

Making a presence in the light of social media is very important to the twenty-first century and to the year 2010. In an effort to do just that, you can now find AMAC on Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook. Look for postings there from the members of staff and committee members! You never know. You might just see a link back to Empowering People and Changing Lives once in awhile. If you're here by way of AMAC's social media efforts, welcome aboard! I do hope you'll join me on the ride through my college career and through my medical school journey.

AMAC is a wonderful resource for students with print-related disabilities in and (sometimes!) outside of Georgia. Providing a pathway to easy access for all students, AMAC has been an integral partner in the effort to include college students affected by disability in the state of Georgia and beyond.

Some of the things that really resonated clarity with me during our time together in sessions this weekend were quite astounding. As a nineteen year old girl with a disability, you may assume that I have experience with all different types of disabilities that when you ask something about the girl in front of the line, the expectation is that because I do have one disability, I often am misconstrued in the fact that I do not understand many things regarding other disabilities as they related to college-age students. Many of the students that are on the committee are extremely skilled in the areas of self-advocacy and self-awareness. It is incredible to see all of those people at one time, in one room, and sitting around a conference-style table.

The talent brought to the group is astounding, and I surely can't wait to meet with the committee again in June to finalize our ideas for social networking and the website. Welcome aboard on the journey of the youngest AMAC SAC community! We're glad you stopped to say hello. And please do, so that I know you're here. Leave a comment, tweet, facebook, or something so that I can get to know who reads about the conferences I attend and how I achieve professional development.

Once again, it is an honor and a priviledge to be apart of such an integral component to the education of a student with a print related disability!

Pain Management and Medical School

As a medical school candidate, I will be so excited to finally be able to calm myself down because my pains and soreness will all make sense. Not that I don't appreciate the help from others, I just would really like to be able to explain some of my ailing bones and muscles. Today has already been a rough day. Woke up at 6am to the sound of my BlackBerry (I was glad I woke up for what was waiting on me.) and then rolled over and went back to sleep. I hasd a session at 10:00, but I had to message the leaer to tell her that I just wouldn't be able to make that session this semester. My pain seems to worsen by Wednesday, and I just don't think it would be just to tell her that I would be there and then not show up half the time. I need the late start on Wednesdays, I think.

Many people have asked me about pain management after college. The answer I usually give them is that, "we'll tackle that brar when he gets to us." Though the classes and the hours are long, it's much different when you know you're headed somewhere. My frustration with classes right now lies mainly in the fact that they are all CORE classes. Hopefully, after my fall semester of 2010, that won't be the case. I'm looking at changing my biology track to be better suited or medicine, but I'll have to wait until the (my) adviser gets back to verify the change. I would like to go ahead and take probability and statistics this summer so that I can finish the last statistics for medical school in the fall and have the sciences left to take.

Most of you won't get anything out of this, but I'm excited that the elephant, also known as medical school requirenents, seems to be getting smaller.

As far as pain management is concerned, I have attempted to model this semester after what I hope things will be like in medical school and for the remainder of my undergraduate degree. I have gotten far enough ahead this week in terms of homework and other commitments that last night could be a night to relax an to do something that I enjoyed. That something. I'm so excited to tell you all (hopefully soon!) what it involves and what the future holds. This afternoin, until my class at 5 o'clock, I will take a shower and work on studying for tomorrow morning's math test. I think I can make an A, but it is math. The course is titled "Math Modeling," so it is very much graphically based. I'm reworking much of the things that we've done in class and trying to figure out ways to remember to do the harder problems that will give me the most issue. An A on my first math test in college would be amazing, and I would find all the hope in the world in that. The teacher drops the three lowest homework quiz grades, so for the times I've been trying to learn the best ways to compensate for the things that I need to spend more time teaching myself, I have some grace period there, for which I'm very grateful.

I also have a good friend in the class with me, and she is an excellent student, so we will be getting together to discusss test material and answer each other's questions.

I just hope that by the time medical school rolls around, I won;t be working through pain issues. But, as I've always heard... No pain, no gain!

Happy Groundhog Day!

A friend sent this lovely poem to me this morning, and I thought it entirely appropriate to share with all of you!

Groundhog Day

Celebrate this unlikely oracle,
this ball of fat and fur,
whom we so mysteriously endow
with the power to predict spring.
Let's hear it for the improbable heroes who,
frightened at their own shadows,
nonetheless unwittingly work miracles.
Why shouldn't we believe
this peculiar rodent holds power
over sun and seasons in his stubby paw?
Who says that God is all grandeur and glory?

Unnoticed in the earth, worms
are busily, brainlessly, tilling the soil.
Field mice, all unthinking, have scattered
seeds that will take root and grow.
Grape hyacinths, against all reason,
have been holding up green shoots beneath the snow.
How do you think spring arrives?
There is nothing quieter, nothing
more secret, miraculous, mundane.
Do you want to play your part
in bringing it to birth? Nothing simpler.
Find a spot not too far from the ground
and wait.

~ Lynn Ungar ~

(Blessing the Bread)

Happy Groundhog Day!



Medical Musings on Monday

I'm very, very pleased to announce that every Monday here at Empowering People and Changing Lives will hold some medical musings. These will come in the form of updates regarding my journey to medical school, articles (written by me, of course!) related to certain issues within the medical field or specifically to the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Should there be any suggestions that you might have for these posts, please fill out one of the forms located on one of the resource tabs. When identifying your submission, please type "Medical Musings" in the field that says "Other."

To begin, I'd like to outline the requirements to get into Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

- One year of College Biology with Lab (8 semester hours)

- One year of General College Chemistry with Lab (8 semester hours)

- One year of Organic Chemistry with Lab (8 semester hours)
- Humanities, Behavioral, and Social Sciences (24 semester hours)

- One year of Mathematics (Calculus or Statistics) (6-8 semester hours)

- One year of College Physics with Lab (8 semester hours)

As you can see, I have my work cut out for me, but the nice thing about medical school admissions is that I'm already on my way to having the biggest chunk of requirements done, and then the math is halfway done for me.

I am going to look to see which requirements I can get out of the way this summer and then come back and take the labs in the fall.

Can't wait to begin my journey!

The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

As I'm sure many of you have seen if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, I have a newly established goal. This is a dream that has really never come to the forefront of my mind simply because I've doubted my abilities. While continuing to do a little bit of that, as is natural with ne situations and fresh changes, I have decided that I will achieve my dream of becoming a doctor. The branch of medicine in which I would like to specialize is one of the best laid plains I've seen to-date. I remember being a toddler and telling my doctors that one day, I would be one of them. And I can't wait to tell them that the dream I've waited for has always come true. I have several dreams, as does everyone, but this one is my ultimate dollhouse dream. I've felt as though everything else I was aspiring to do was just "the next best thing" to what I really, in my heart of hearts, felt was my calling. Now, I completely understand. It is, without a shadow of a doubt, my calling to become a doctor.

The math and science requirements to be admitted to medical school scare me. I know that my brain wasn't "wired" to take that many courses in such difficult subjects, but where there's a will, there's a way. I have a meeting with a pre-medical adviser later on this month, so I can adequately prepare for the discussion to eloquently express my fears, my excitements, and my concerns.

The field of medicine that I hope to enter is one that many of you, involved in the lives of individuals with special needs, will come across in the future, or it may be one that you have come across already. Physical medicine and rehabilitation is a field of medicine that focuses on maintaining the quality of life of a person with a disability, disease, or illness. For example, the doctors that many of you have come across have been neurologists. Your neurologist (primarily in the pediatric field) has given you opinions, made decisions, and administered treatments in attempts to improve the condition of your child or loved one. As a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, otherwise known as a physiatrist, I will be charged with helping patients to maintain a patient's condition by developing pain management plans, assisting patients to achieve proper nutrition, partnering with allied therapists to facilitate rehabilitation, and many other similar tasks.

Music therapy is directly related to PM&R due to the fact that it is an allied therapy, so my undergraduate degree won't be neglected by any means, and I'm so thankful for that! Who knows? I may become the doctor known for using music with patients in exam rooms!

Before I take you on the wild ride that is this journey, I bet I know five questions that you will have, so let me attempt to answer them for you now.

Who? This question really has a three-part answer. The first part of the answer is that I feel as though my heart has played the biggest role in my decision, which is a wonderful thing. It's very often, though, that I have an inner battle of head vs. heart because of the difficulties that I face, be it physically, academically, or virtually any aspect of the process, but I have to say that confidence is slowly building, and I am continually seeing indicators that this is just what I have wanted to do. It's the biggest decision I've ever made. The second part to the answer is that I've been exposed to the workings of the medical field for nearly twenty years, and I feel as though my personal experiences will be the biggest asset that I will have to offer patients. In addition, I feel as though I will really become motivated to explore academic areas that have really turned me off in the past and that the experiences will allow me to develop stronger coping mechanisms for use when I encounter difficult situations. Thirdly, as you all well know, people have a great influence on me. Just take Dr. MT, for example. My mentor is McDoc, brimcmike, Dr. Mc, you know, he has several names. His story is incredible and is one worth reading. He may guest blog for us one of these days!

What? Physical medicine and rehabilitation deals with restoring maximum function after an injury, an injury that is related to a disability, or an injury related to illness. One thing that greatly appeals to me in terms of PM&R is that the treatments executed by the physicians is very holistic insofar as the physician is charged with examining the whole individual rather than single affected areas and/or symptoms. The field, in general, is also a strong proponent of allied therapies, which include, but are not limited to, music therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. I feel as though PM&R is the top of the top in terms of the things I have wanted to do with my life. PM&R is an extension of my "dollhouse dream," and I couldn't be more excited.

When? I have three and a half more years (7 semesters) left of my undergraduate degree, but with the credits that I plan to obtain in the summer sessions and Maynester sessions, it may cut down on the time. I will continue working on both the pre-medical requirements and music therapy requirements and may work as a graduate assistant or employee of the university while finishing my pre-medical requirements. I will have to wait until I talk to the pre-medical advisers, but fr now, my projected graduation date is December 2013, and I would like for it to stay that way if it possibly can. I would then apply for jobs and for medical school, and wait it out. I think that if I take the courses as soon as I can before the MCAT, it will result in a better score. I'm so motivated.

Where? As you may know, it is my dream to attend Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. During my time there, I hope to observe at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and find a residency, hopefully with McDoc, in Boston. I want medical school to be adventurous; I want it to be a time where I can discover my independence thousands of miles away from familiarity, and I want it to be the most rewarding experience of my life, no matter where I am.

Why? I feel as though the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation is at "the top of the food chain" in terms of the things that I have aspired to do and be during my lifetime. Special education, music therapy, etc. Everything I have ever done has been related in some way to the field, and I feel as though this is the best way possible to give back to the ones who have saved my life and who have been there for me since birth and before then. I feel as though the credibility that will hopefully be attained as a result of my becoming a doctor will assist in the encouraging patients to achieve and fulfill their hopes goals, and dreams.

How? The answer to this one is simple for now. I will finish out my undergraduate degree and take my certification exam for music therapy and then will take a weekend course to get certified in neurologic music therapy. Depending on whether or not I am able to finish the requirements for medical school in 4 1/2 - 5 years, I will find a job and return to school part time to finish the courses and apply to medical school. As far as physical issues are concerned, Dr. DeLisa has wonderful comments regarding physicians with disabilities and the way that they are perceived in medical school and beyond. So, for now, I will focus on doing the best I can in my classes and worry about the little, nit-picky things when the time comes.

I am so excited to see what happens with this journey, and if you have any further curiosities, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Look Over Here!

The lovely Janis of Sneak Peek at Me has asked that I guest post over on the kidz blog today, so I'm writing over there. I'm hoping this starts a trend of weekly posts with this wonderful group, but you never know. I'm over there today, though.

Check it out! Our kidz are just beautiful!

Life Shouldn't Be An Orthotic

Those who have been reading for a long while may know that I wear orthotics. As defined, orthotics are "orthopedic 'appliance[s]' designed to support, straighten or improve the functioning of a body part; an orthosis." The ones that adorn my feet (and have since I was eight years old) are called SMOs, or supramalleolar orthoses. Before I turned eight, the doctor prescribed that I wear an AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) on my left foot, while an SMO was on the right.

Before the transition, I wore two AFOs, which is standard for children with cerebral palsy, and they are often referred to as "leg braces" to the general population.

As a general rule, I disagree with orthotics. Though they have assisted me to achieve my current level of ambultaion, I believe that they give the consumer a false sense of reality. Through the early years, orthotics will be helpful to a child, but as he/she matures and develops, they become more of a hindrance than an assistance. For example, if my SMOs were not "trimmed" at the toes, I would not have known what the ground felt like when walking, and it could have taken more time for me to successfully achieve that goal. Orghotics have been a key player in my achievements with mobility and balance, but I feel as though they have become one of the older practices in children with disabilities and medical needs.

Think about the definition of the word "orthotic" described above. Life shouldn't be like that. A veer off the straight and narrow path of life, and the traditional methodologies for your career, for your family, for your academic life, or for your social relationships is the way that they spoil, the way that they expire, and the way that they can die out. Such a "cookie cutter" of an existence can cause one to slowly burn out and feel out-of-place, feel unwanted, or feel as if there might be something of a higher passion enstilled within him/her.

As a matter of fact, a realization of a true dream and the realization that it can come true has happened in my life over the last few days. Since I was young, I have been heavily immersed in the medical field, due to the fact that I have had many, may, many issues and doctor visits over the years (as have many of you!), and I feel as though it is, and always has been, my calling to enter into the medical field.

Though music therapy is an allied health profession, it doesn't allow the interactions with patients and clients that I think I'm seeking. It's always been in the back o my mind to go to medical school, but what if you do not enjoy math, science, and the things associated with the endeavor? Many would think that it would be problematic, but it's really not. There are ways that you can become a medical doctor and still not specifically enjoy either one. In fact, in recent years, according to my university's pre-medical website, students who have non-science based degrees.

Thus, it is my dream to go on to medical school (as a board-certified and neurologic music therapist) to become a physiatrist, or a Doctor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Right now, I know that it is my dream to attend Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, but you never know what might be just around the corner. Are you ready for the wild ride for the next nearly twelve years?

I am so motivated for what's to come, and I cannot wait to see what the new developments will be!

Pain Relief and Remedies: An Ongoing Cycle

As a result of my having the challenges that are associated with cerebral palsy, pain is a huge, immensely important aspect of my life.

Often, my pain causes a bit of self-consciousness that is related to the fact that pain often keeps me from a "normal" college experience. For example, this semester, I have a private dorm room as a result of some roommate issues and some issues that were related to migraines and pain complications. I absolutely love my room, and I think it was the best decision I could have made. I am able to get the rest that I need and to study when I need to without having to worry with finding a new place and walking long distances with the books that I need to study. You may say, "Don't you do that when you go to classes?" Fortunately, I don't do that when I go to classes due to the fact that the buildings that my classes are in sit adjacent to my dorm. This wasn't because of the fact that my classes were moved this semester; instead, it is further proof that Georgia College is perfect for me.

The array of medication that is kept in my room on a daily basis is astounding. It is all on an as-needed basis, but I never dreamed that I would need all of the things that I have been taking pretty consistently for the past five or so days. 800 mg of Skelaxin is a huge dose for someone of my size, but it has been what has helped me to get through the days (and nights, even) lately. I have taken the medication along with acetaminophen in the form of Aleve as recommended by my friend who's a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor.

Aside from taking medicine, I have found that natural remedies, such as dieting, music, daily stretching, and even my blogging, has assisted me in lowering my pain from intolerable levels to very little, or better yet, nothing at all. My ambitions tend to get ahead of my pain in that I want so badly to be so deeply involved in campus and academic activities. When showers are taking me 30 minutes at a time, I have to block out most of my night so that I study and shower in order to get adequate rest.

Many would expect that I'm campaigning for the pity vote, but that couldn't be further from the truth. This is daily life for me, and it is a very physical and emotional, and sometimes very raw, struggle. I so desperately wish that I could enjoy the staying out until the wee hours of the morning before an early morning class, and I wish that I could take a ten minute shower so that I could rest a little bit more and therefore have more time to do the things that I enjoy such as writing for this blog and writing for other blogs as well (more on that soon) and figuring out new and innovative ways to teach my clients (and possibly patients) something about the things that can help to make the adaptive lifestyle easier. For example, I am currently writing a song to teach clients (and maybe patients!) the difference between the shoes for the left and right feet when dressing.

Pain. Literally and figuratively, it makes me who I am and makes me a stronger person because of the things that I have endured. My tolerance for pain is exorbitantly high, so when I actually do take medication and/or complain to one of my friends or family members that something is hurting, they understand to take the issue seriously.

For example, the main source of my pain has always been my knees, and that is primarily due to the fact that my gait is held in such a way that my knees visibly rub together. The friction that is caused has lead to the development of tendinitis in my knees and to excruciating amounts of pain on the days that extreme weather occurs, such as extreme cold or wet, rainy days. I received a tip from a good friend of mine that it is best to dress in layers so that you can adjust to temperature changes quickly. After receiving that advice, I have put it to the test, and it works wonderfully well.

A considerable amount of my pain also comes from my lower back due to the fact that it is directly connected to my knees. My spine also has a bit of curvature, and that is due mainly in part to the fact that I have held my gait in such contorted ways for so many years.

If any of you have questions in regards to pain management and the ways in which pain is handled on my end, please feel free to contact me. I would be glad to write further posts to develop further discussion of the topic, both as it relates to my condition and the benefits that music therapy has when learning that managing pain is crucial.

Dreaming of the Day

For awhile now, a reader who contacted me via Facebook, and I have been communicating regarding the things that we have in common. The power of the blogosphere is more than astounding to me, and this particular reader wasn't even doing Google searches. He was using Twitter!

I don't know if he had read that if I could really do anything in the world, regardless of money, time, and the intelligence that it takes, I would become a neurologist. Having conversations regarding pain management and the best adaptive approaches to everyday life, I quickly learned that McDoc (the name I'll use for him since I haven't any permission to use his name) is a resident physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He's a physiatrist.

The world has a funny way of fitting life's acquaintances together in that McDoc found my blog because physiatrists are huge proponents of the allied therapies, which include physical, occupational, music, and speech therapy, etc. Through a massive pain "attack" that encroached on my weekend this past weekend, my new-found colleague was right there to point me in the right direction. Things like this just amaze me. I'm a college student writing a blog because I have issues to discuss and things about which I am passionate.

Through the advice of my new friend, I am now following the Pallimed blog, which is authored by healthcare professionals and is on the topic of hospice and palliative care. Due to the fact that it is not something I would normally choose to read independently, I have been a bit surprised to find that the writing there is more conducive to allied therapies and their subject matter than one might think. There is an Arts blog that is part of Pallimed that is absolutely astounding.

Reading all of this information has caused me to hear the words of my tenth grade physical science teacher ringing back and forth in my head. His words were that maybe I should go to medical school; maybe I should pursue my dream of all dreams.

Fear not, my faithful readers. I will always, always, always hold fast to my dream of becoming a Board-Certified Music Therapist. In fact, regardless of what happens with my career, I do understand that I will be in a human services setting, and in many, if not all, of the situations will lend themselves to being conducive to music as therapy.

With that said, I am seriously thinking about taking that route, but with a little bit different focus than what I had originally intended. The field of physical medicine and rehabilitation is a field that I feel I would be an excellent addition to since I can easily relate to the things that are occurring and the procedures that are being performed. Just like Dr. Strax, I know that it will be possible and that if it is something that I would be willing to pursue, I would have to make some arrangements with my science courses as an undergraduate student so that you have the background beforehand. I will be able to do the science during the summer so that I will be on target. If not, though, I can take some classes when I graduate. Writing e-mails to the different medical schools in Georgia and in the areas I'm seriously thinking about attending school.

Again, these are just thoughts. No definite plans have been made. There was a reason my mom told me that "Dr. Breedlove" had a nice ring to it. I'm dreaming of the day when my nametage reads, "Erin Breedlove, M.D. MT-BC, NMT," and I couldn't be more excited!

Music Therapy's Thankfulness on Thursday

Though my last post didn't do the joy that I feel in this field much justice, there are little things that show themselves each and every day that remind me that I couldn't be in a better place. One of those things is this cute little video of Nic singing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" with his therapist. In this video, though, I'm drawn to both the therapist and the client. Because the therapist is seeking a response from the client, her guitar playing is a close resemblance to the things that I have been able to do in class lately. The sporadic chords and the time in between each response would give me plenty of time to arrange my position, I think. There again, it's just proof that music therapy is a limitless field. Enjoy "Old MacDonald" just as I have!

Thankfully, Kimberly Sena Moore of Music Therapy Maven has included me on her top bloggers to watch in 2010. Thank you so much, Kimberly!

Off to theory...accompanied by my Listen and Learn songbook!

A Letter To Expess My Current Feelings...and a plug

Because I don't have time for a specific blog post (but there are more in the queue for the weekend) at the moment, I will leave you with a letter. Names have been changed to protect privacy, and Orlando is the location of the SER-AMTA conference this year. In addition, if you have followed me on Facebook or Twitter, you are more than likely aware of the current situations. On with the letter...

Hi Dr. MT,

First, I would just like to thank you for the extra time you've spent with me lately to make sure that we're inching toward progress in guitar. Long, bumpy, tear-filled roads are ahead, but where there's a will, there's a way.

Things went okay during class today, but I've seen another issue arise, as has Mr. Guitar Teacher. Number one is that the guitar strap affects my posture. I'm not sure if there's another way to put the guitar around myself or if I'm doing it incorrectly, but something is wrong there because I sit perfectly straight in your office without the strap and with your guitar. Maybe I need to spend more time with that. In addition, we tried today to lie the guitar flat on my lap while playing, but the issue then came with my left hand. I couldn't get my hand and wrist wrapped around the neck tightly enough so that I wouldn't have any "buzzing" strings. It was one thing after the other, and then there is also the issue that my hand-eye coordination is affected by the challenges, so I can only focus on strumming patterns or only focus on formulating the chords and executing those at this point. While I'm aware that this is a common issue for all learning to play the instrument, I feel as though the issue will be ever-prevalent for me due to the fact that it takes so much concentration to execute each task individually, much less simultaneously and/or in unison.

I'm not giving up. Things are a little hairy right now with the guitar situation just because I'm not sure what to think. I'm comforted, though, that the issues that I have experienced with declaring a music therapy major have not been with music itself. That kind of thing, as far as theory and the ensembles and things of that nature, is coming quite easily and pleasantly surprising me with how much of it I remember from so long ago. I will do well on the next theory test, and that will be a good thing.

I'm telling you: It's one thing after another. I cannot wait to put this behind me. I don't think it's fair that I'm in the class and will progress slower than the other students in there and still get graded the same way as them. I'm not saying that it's not fair to me; it's not fair to them. I'll talk to Mr. Guitar Teacher about that and see what he wants to do. He worked with me for awhile today in class and asked if I was getting frustrated. The answer at the time was a no, but the truth of the matter is that I am just upset. This is one of those moments where I have to wonder how the fact that I have CP is even fair. Why me? But anyway. I am excited for what's to come and the fact that Maymester should be a breath of fresh air for me in terms of the class requirements and things like that.

About Orlando, as you can probably imagine, I'm totally geeked out for this conference. I will definitely be there. I am looking so forward to it. However, I'm concerned with the way that I will get there. I understand that Ms. President would probably be the best person to talk to, but sometimes, I just feel that there are things that limited numbers of people should know and be involved with, and I trust you wholeheartedly with these issues. I think we are discussing the carpooling and other issues in MTS meetings soon, but I wanted to make sure that there is a way for me to get there even before that happened. So...what is the plan? Today, during the meeting, it was briefly mentioned that we are responsible for getting ourselves there. I'm not sure who all is planning to be there, but I will ask around. Ms. Best Friend and I could possibly go together since we live so close at home, but I don't want to tie her down to anything until we figure the situation out.

Also, I will probably need an accessible hotel room, and I can call the hotel to request that if needbe. I have two different sizes of shower chairs, and depending on the size of the shower, I will take the appropriate one to be able to use there. If I am given a little bit of information about the hotel and about the structure of the trip, I will be able to better gauge what will need to be done. I know that we are supposed to be getting information through MTS, but I would like to know the details as early as possible so that I can make sure that all of the proper accommodations are in place. You guys shouldn't have to do that. If I want to go to conference, I need to be sure that I take care of myself, and that's an integral part of self-advocacy skills. As far as whether we spend the day at one of the parks in Disney World one day, that would be so much fun, and the bonus there is that if the park employees see someone who has challenges standing in long lines, you are automatically escorted to the front of the lines, so that will work out nicely for us!

Again, Dr. MT, you have no idea how thankful I am for the things that you do.

Thank you so much for your help!

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Before I leave you all this morning, I would like to present to you some facts about a genetic condition that affects a very special friend of mine, along with countless other boys across the nation and across the world. Darius Weems, like many of the other boys out there who are affected by this condition, desperately would like to find a cure. In order to do that, though, they need YOUR help! Darius Goes West is a film and foundation which advocates for a cure for the number one genetic killer of children worldwide, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Having won $25,000 in the Chase Community Giving Challenge on Facebook, they are now in the running for one million dollars that will go straight to researching a cure for this deadly disease. All you have to do is click your mouse twice, and you will be apart of one of my favorite causes of all time. You will also be helping a very dear friend of mine and supporting the cause that will keep him alive. Here's your first click! You've helped to donate $1 to researching a cure. Please leave a comment letting me know that you have voted so that Darius will be able to feel the love (yes, he reads this blog), as well as the other crew members!

Thanks again! Voting ends on Friday, so what are you waiting for? Help to cure the number one genetic killer of children worldwide with just two clicks of the mouse!

First Week in MT

Since declaring a music therapy major back in October, I've slowly learned that things will work themselves out. On Monday at 12:30, I further learned that nothing worth doing comes easy. I walked into the audition (I knew where the auditions were being held, but I had no idea of the setup), and I noticed that my legs felt as though they were coming out from underneath me. Due to 37 degree weather that day, I had gotten up earlier than normal that morning to try to see if I could loosen the muscles before the audition, and the strategy did work. However, when I walked into the auditorium, I found that I was expected to stand independently. Having limited time to make modifications since the auditions were on the first day of class, my mindset immediately changed.

In recitals in the past, teachers have placed me "in the crook of the grand" so that we still have an artsy feel to the stage and so that my balance needs are accommodated. Because I didn't pass the audition due to these issues, I was set back a semester since you have to have seven semesters of applied lessons. However, I am enrolled in a voice class, possibly private lessons, and a theory course that will guarantee (almost nearly) that I will be acxcepted for lessons in August.

Though the beginning of this week was much less than desired, I am fully confident that this semester will give me time to get back into prime vocal shape. I'm very, very hopeful for the future and that things will go just as planned and that I will be "Erin Breedlove, MT-BC, NMT" in the blink of an eye.

It just feels good. I'm right where I need to be.

Inspire. Engage. Encourage.

I've often thought about the things that I see in music and in music therapy. Those things which inspire, those things which engage, and those things which encourage.

Inspiration comes in many forms for me, but in the case of music therapy, there are two people who come instantly to mind.

First, and the first person who really told me that anything is possible when you believe, is Dr. MT. I can't wait to audition for him tomorrow and show him that I truly do wish, with all of my heart, to become the best music therapist I can possibly be. Dr. MT is one of the most understanding people I have met to date, and it's absolutely astounding how refreshed I feel after an advisement session with him. The advisements aren't just academics. He truly cares, which makes me know that in order to be the best music therapist possible, it is necessary to be caring and to understand that the differences that make up all types of people are what make the world go round. Though I do have some ties with him in my family, he is, in his own words "one of my biggest cheerleaders" right now, and I couldn't be more proud to say that. He truly is one of a kind.

The second person, in a way that I don't think he understands, is most definitely David Knott, the music therapist at Seattle Children's. Through all of my correspondence with him, I have felt like he has completely understood my situation. He even understands my desire to play the guitar, which was evidenced by his mention of several different guitar-playing methods and some different uses of various methods in music therapy. I cannot wait to one day meet David and to express my gratitude for the support he has lent. Can anyone guess why this video is so profound in my eyes?

I am so drawn to the work that he does, and I can't wait to see what happens with Elijah's sessions next week!

Engagement is often a tough thing for students and children who receive music therapy, and it's what we as music therapists strive to do. We strive to engage our clients in all that we do, and one person, out of the thousands out there, has been Rachel Rambach with her Listen and Learn endeavors. Speaking of Listen and Learn, I just found out tonight that I won a free Listen & Learn album. How in the world do I choose? Thanks, Rachel!

Encouragement is an easy one for me. Encouragement is evidenced by the now wide readership of this blog. I want to thank each and every one of you for your encouragement and for your willingness to stick by me when things get tough. It has been amazing to see the networking opportunities that have resulted from the creation of this blog! Thank you!

Remember to make it your goal, music therapist or not, to inspire, encourage, and engage each day!

My Sweet Elijah

I have a very special friend who needs your thoughts and prayers. His mom and I have become great friends through Twitter and Facebook.

Elijah was born with West Syndrome. He now is battling epilepsy, and he has undergone one surgery that will remove part of his brain to see if he can rid himself of these nasty, nasty seizures forever. The first surgery that took place on January 7 was to implant the electrodes onto his brain to monitor seizure activity. Elijah has been doing much, much better today, as compared to the days since the surgery, but he still has a long journey ahead of him.

On January 14, they will actually perform the other half of the brain surgery, and Elijah will be seizure free! Thank you so much for praying for this precious little boy and sending positive thoughts his way.

You can read more about Elijah's journey on his CaringBridge site, and you can send a note of encoragement to him at the hospital. He LOVES to get mail! His address at the hospital is listed on his site, but I'll put it here JUST for you!

2400 NW 80th St PMB# 240
Seattle, WA 98117

If you've been reading this blog for the length of time that it has been music therapy-geared, that address might have something familiar in it! Yes, you guessed it! Elijah is being seen at Seattle Children's Hospital, and he will be participating in sessions with David Knott next week! Though this is not how Elijah's mom and I met, I just still can't believe it!

For Elijah, I'm writing a song. I'm making a card, and I'm singing my song to him via iTunes. Elijah is crazy for Mickey Mouse, so his song is his own little version of the "Mickey Mouse Club March." I'm so excited for him to have this and to see what music therapy can do for this amazing, amazing little guy.

I thought about posting the song for you to hear, and I may still do that, but I may start crying as I sing the song. This little boy's story has had such a profound effect on me that you would think I'd known him his whole life.

What a fighter he is! Will you join me in helping Elijah to win his fight?

Resources!

You might remember that I posted a call for resources a few days ago. Now, there's an even easier way to submit your suggestions to Empowering People and Changing Lives. Simply click the "Music Therapy", "Special Needs Resources", or "Blogroll" buttons, and find the form pictured below. Submissions will come directly to me, and watch out! You'll see your suggestion there in no time!

I will begin editing the resource pages now, and to those of you who have e-mailed resources in the last few days, they will be published shortly. Here's the form you're looking for:

More Little Ditties from the Sweet Little Piece of Mail

After the initial excitement of receiving my CD on Wednesday, I whipped it into high gear in terms of therapy and how I was going to use it to help myself.

First, as I mentioned, the tracks aren't given names. They're identified by their chord, so it was easy for me to tell the type of music to which my body responded most positively. I started out playing the tracks in sequential order as to their place in the scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C), and then there's G2, G3, and that sort of thing. It was almost immediately that I noticed something a bit different about the lower chords, specifically C, D, and E, but I wanted to experiment with them all before I made any assumptions about any of them.

As I continued listening, my change in mood was the most noticeable with the higher chords, but the tightness of muscles decreased drastically with the lower chords. On Wednesday night, as I turned the music on to fall asleep, it was all I could do to keep the tears held back. Tears of joy and tears of relief streamed down my face as I realized the power that the music, and only the music, was having on the way that I sleep, the way that I move, and the way that I act. I make it a point to use SLGD in many instances throughout my day; as I was massaging my arm to prepare to do my daily "guitar stretches," it was this music that reminded me that my dreams can be, and that they will be, reality. Listening to the semblance between the first track and the ever-popular "Lion Sleeps Tonight," I remembered the power and the significance of the film itself. The power of camaraderie, the influence of friendship, and the dynamic powers that support will do for many, many people in terms of their successes is astounding.

I find so much correlation between music therapy and blogging. I tell my friends and others in the blogging realm that blogging is such a form of therapy for me that it should be thought about for many people who share my difficulties. There's just something special about writing down our thoughts and coming back (or checking your e-mail inbox) to find that there are others out there who support you, can identify with you, or often both!

Music therapy. Let's think for a minute. If we look back here, we'll see that music therapy strives to assist with non-musical goals, such as social skils, motor skills, and memory retention. So, music therapy doesn't mean that a client has to be a polished musician. It means that the client will have a greater appreciation for the things that music can facilitate in terms of helping him or her reach his or her goals.

Maybe, just maybe, I'll have a really special surprise for you as a result of these posts...

Stay tuned!

Sweet Little Pieces of Mail on Thankful Thursday

Yesterday, I didn't realize that someone from my house had gone to the mailbox. In the back of my head, I knew something was coming, but I didn't expect the thing to come so soon!

Carefully, I opened the envelope. The return address was written so tiny that the only three letters I could make out on the third line were "S-e-a," and instantly, I got excited, but I also thought about the fact that I didn't want to get my hopes up for something that wasn't in the envelope. After all, the envelope had a postmark of January 4, which was just this past Monday! There's no way it could be anything I was hoping it could be!

I opened the envelope to find a sleeve with a guitar on the front. "New music is always nice," I curiously mutter to myself.

Then, there's the most exciting moment of all...

Right before my eyes sat Sweet Little Guitar Ditties. Yep. It is indeed the relaxation music that I mentioned the other day. The music is all improvisations from different music therapy sessions by a certain mentor of mine. You all can imagine my excitement, and I've had it on repeat in iTunes since yesterday afternoon.

So, aside from the fact that the music astounds me, what is so beneficial about this music? I had found some samples and had been trying out different relaxation techniques with the music that I had. My favorite has been to stretch with it before bed and then to get into bed and fall asleep to the music. To add to the relaxation factor, the tracks are not specifically named, so for me, i could think of anything that made me happy or any sort of emotion that I experienced while listening to the music. Falling asleep to this gorgeous music is some of the best experience I've had with music therapy for myself, and I have never felt my body and my muscles so loose for as long as I can remember.

If you'd like to preview the music, it's at CDBaby or on iTunes. There's a little clip of each piece. For children with special needs, I feel as though this type of music is beneficial during a healing process because the focus isn't directed at accomplishing a specific goal. It's helped me so much that as soon as I got my copy and listened to the first three tracks, I ordered two more. Yesterday, I gave one to Heather to see if it would help her precious little boy get to sleep at night. She answered a question for me, and I'll be sending her CD next week. I did order a few more, so there will be more to give away later. And trust me when I say that you'll have an amazingly rested child after the CD finishes. David also has a blog where you can post alternative titles for the pieces along with the mental pictures that the tunes cause you to create. What a wonderful idea! I'll be going to post mine in a bit!

On this Thankful Thursday, I'm thankful that one of the people who influenced me the most in terms of music therapy saw and met a need. I've never been so relaxed in my life, and I've never been so amazed by the power of music and that it can do such a powerful thing to a young adult like me.

David, if you're reading this, thank you again from the bottom of my heart. Your music is truly a gift!

What are YOU thankful for today?