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The Citizen, 2015-09-17, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015. Sawchuk anticipates challenges upon return Continued from page 11 with assistance just a press of a button away. Sawchuk’s hope is that the family will be trying out one of the apartments as early as this weekend. She anticipates that her ratio of good days to bad will be thrown off- centre once again when she moves home, as new challenges will surface and she anticipates finding herself at the beginning of a new educational challenge, rather than near the end of the previous one. While Sawchuk has grown by leaps and bounds in terms of the strength and skills needed to get around in a wheelchair (she is now able to get in and out of a car unaided), certain challenges remain that are of a very personal nature. In recent weeks, Sawchuk has learned to prepare her own catheter, but there are certain mental aspects to bowel control she has yet to master. Once she’s able to do that, she said, she thinks she’ll ready to go home. While nurses and physiotherapists have commended Sawchuk on her progress, Sawchuk says she’s not a patient person, so as fast as her recovery may be going, she always wants it to go a little faster. Sawchuk says she has found her days challenging, but also educational. After over a decade as a teacher, she has found herself very much in the role of a student during physical therapy and occupational therapy, where she feels she’s constantly learning. She has a rapport with her physiotherapist and others throughout the clinic, where she is on a first-name basis and has running jokes with many around the building. It is the nights, however, that Sawchuk says she finds challenging. Whether it’s with the friendly faces of Parkwood staff or constant visits from friends and family (Theo makes it to London two or three times per week and the entire family comes every weekend), Sawchuk says she feels surrounded by love and support throughout the day, either in person or via text messages or e-mail. She has also maintained a blog at juliesawchuk.blogspot.ca in which she has been very honest and forthcoming about the day-to-day struggles of recovery. Being so honest and using writing as an outlet, she said, has helped her immensely. Before the accident, Sawchuk says she would “pound” out anger on the pavement with a run, something she’s no longer able to do. As a result, she has to find a new way to deal with her anger. At night, however, Sawchuk says she has nothing to do but think, which is when thoughts of doubt, anger and worst case scenarios creep into her mind. While she is a very positive and determined person, Sawchuk says it’s difficult to not be angry at times, facing an entirely new life through no fault of her own. She is essentially going through the grieving process, entering and exiting stages such as anger and denial at any given time. “It’s been so hard,” Sawchuk said. “Everything used to be so easy. Now I have to struggle to sit up, to put on my socks and to dress myself. I can’t think of any other word to describe it other than that it’s hard.” Sawchuk said that on Friday morning it took her 20 minutes to dress herself unassisted, which her physiotherapist said was actually a pretty good time for someone on Sawchuk’s recovery trajectory. It’s also what Sawchuk is missing that makes her angry. She says she’s already missed a month of life with her children and will miss at least another. “It makes me angry, because I can’t get that back,” she said. And when she’s angry, Sawchuk said, she cries, but at the same time she realizes it doesn’t do her any good. “I cry, because I’m not a yeller,” she said. “But it’s not productive and I’m a productive person.” She has been helped, as have her children, by Theo, who Sawchuk says has been “amazing”. In an effort to create a level of normalcy and routine at the Sawchuk home, Theo has endeavoured to be home as much as he can, making meals for Ella and Oliver and ensuring that they get to school on time, rather than spending all of his time in London with Julie. With Ella and Oliver returning to the classroom earlier this month, the start of the 2015/2016 term also marked a missed opportunity for Sawchuk, who was not in the classroom for the first day of school for the first time in 15 years, save for when she was on maternity leave with her children. 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Now Receiving RR and IP Soybeans Operated by Jeff, Jerry & Roger Drudge Satellite receiving location for Hensall District Co-op 519-335-6813 / 519-291-7777 43269 Amberley Rd., 4 kms. west of Molesworth on Hwy. #86 Race day When Julie Sawchuk, left, was first equipped with a motorized wheelchair, she challenged her children, Oliver, centre, and Ella to a race in the back lot of Parkwood Institute, where she now resides. Here is the family at the starting line. (Photo submitted) Continued on page 23