I'M BAAaaAACK

[nwivy]

i Have a long list of things tht are wrong with me, it's taken me a while, but go figure I'm getting back into horses.

[PaulaO]

Hi NWIvy! Glad to have you back.

[nwivy]

I posted here as if everyone might care. I'm glad someone responded, at least.

[Moutaineer]

I hope life is treating you well!

[Chisamba]

Hi Ivy, welcome back, hope horses bring rightness to all that's wrong.

[nwivy]

Yeah it sorta is, but maybe that's kind of optimistic. I'm 40, I just moved out of my parents home, my mom stole my son (long sob story), i have a HUGE list of things that are wrong with me, I'll never walk unaided, etc. But, I'm horse shopping and that makes me happy.

[M&M]

NWIvy, this is a smaller community than UDBB was. I think it's highly likely that lots of people don't remember you/your horrible accident. I wouldn't be offended by a minimal response!

And welcome back!

[nwivy]

oh ok. Should I rehash the event?

[Dapple Field]

Happy to "see" you. Was thinking of you just last month and thought that we'd never know how you were doing.

[Tuffytown]

I didn't know you before Ivy but I certainly remember your story. That was about the time I started hanging at udbb.

So glad to see you here and hear of your progress and horse endeavors.

[Flight]

A brief rehash of story? I'm hopeless with names. Hopeless! I forget to look at who's post it is.
But welcome back.

[Wicky]

SO glad to see you again! Have wondered about you - please share your story for those who don't know you!

[Rosie B]

nwivy - I remember you! And I remember what happened and when it happened. I am SO GLAD to see you back. I hope your life is bringing you much happiness these days. Welcome 'home'!!

[chantal]

Welcome back!! And so cool that you are getting back into horses. Yes, share your story for those that don't know it. I remember.

[KathyK]

oh ok. Should I rehash the event?

Only if you feel like it. M&M is correct, this board is much smaller and many of the people who were around when you had your accident (more than 10 years ago, right?) aren't here.

It's great to have you BAAaaAACK!

[Chancellor]

The board is definitely smaller but We are still growing!!! Although I recall your name nwivy, I do not recall the accident so would like to hear the story again!

[LeoApp]

Welcome back NWIvy!! This is so freakish. I was just thinking about you two days ago. CRAZY!!!!!!!!!

[Jenn]

Welcome Back. So glad you are doing well enough to be horse shopping. Looking forward to your posts and getting to know again.

[orono]

Welcome back, good luck with your horse pursuits!

[Sue B]

I'm up for a long story. And welcome back.

[Woost2]

Welcome back. Altho able bodied, I tiptoed back to sort of riding (mostly walking) at age 66 after 30+ years not. When we get to stroll around the greater out of doors, it makes me heart sing.

I also don't really know your story but I can attest to the number of times over the years that someone queried "has anyone heard from nwivy?"

[Don Giovanni]

Welcome back indeed! I remember you and your story and am so glad to hear you're horse shopping. I hope to see lots more of you.

[Code3]

Welcome NWIvy. I'm glad you are horse shopping and hope it brings you much joy.

[TeresaB]

Welcome back! I recall reading your story on the UDBB, but don't remember the specifics. Would love to read a recap of your journey to where you are now.
Best wishes in finding a horse.

[nwivy]

Okay.

I was 28, in the car for my first day of work at Oregon Health Sciences University, at the time my idiot boyfriend was driving and our then 3 year old son was in the car, too. The small child had been given his father's wallet (I have no memory of the wreck or about a day before) and was proceeding to empty it. I unclipped my seatbelt to pick up the stuff. We were approaching the stop sign of an intersection, of which there were even those little traffic turtle bump-things as a warning a ways back. But, no. Idiot didn't heed the warning, or stop at the stop sign. Instead of stopping he turned left (or tried to) onto a busier road that didn't have a stop sign. Well, there was a car coming and it ran into us. The car we were in rolled and ended up in a cow pasture. I was partially ejected. My son had some glass stuck in the top of his foot. Idiot wasn't injured at all.

The paramedics came and took me to the hospital. Idiot wasn't (and never has been) cited or charged with anything at all. At first the cops were waiting for me to die, but that (obviously) didn't happen. He refused all breath-a-lizer tests. No one will ever know for sure if he was impaired. He isn't and hasn't been a part of our lives. There's even a protection order between Idiot and the child. Idiot was abusive, too. I try never to call it an accident cause I don't think it was one.

I was in the hospital for 6 months. Then to a nursing home. Then home to my parents. Now, I live with a caregiver, her boyfriend, their two kids, and two more of her kids. And there's still yet another kid that's out on her own. My dog, a Havanese, lives with us, too. I was in the hospital so long because I qualified more than once for an intensive physical rehabilitation program.

In the wreck the only thing that was busted was my head. I had no injuries, or disfigurement or anything. But, I do have a TBI (traumatic brain injury). Oh yeah (my poor mom), the doctors asked for my organs. Twice. I have cranial nerves that were severed. One prevents me from being able to open my eyes, another makes it so I have no feeling on the left side of my face. My eye gets taped open with stretchy tape so I can blink. My vision (acuity) isn't so good in either eye. Both of my eyes are permanently dilated. The left eye is completely fixed. The right eye moves a little from midline to toward my ear. Because my eyes have different capabilities, they don't track together. If both eyes are open, I get diplopia. So, I only have one eye (my right) taped open at a time.

Although most of my trouble is concentrated on my left, I can only hear out of my left ear.

When I was in the hospital, and they put me back together, they installed a tracheotomy/breathing apparatus and a stomach (g- for gastric) tube. I started breathing on my own, and so don't have the tracheotomy (jut the scar). I do still have and use the G-tube. In the hospital they fed me through it, too. I instantly was diabetic, and was given insulin shots in my belly. I need the G-tube for water.

None of this is my real problem. I suffer a lot from ataxia and spasticity. I'm forever in a wheelchair. My speech is crappy.

[nwivy]

And I'm not shy about anything. I'm also looking for a horse.

[orono]

Wow, that's a lot to go through. What are your horse requirements? Are you in the PNW?

[Astral]

Glad you're back! Even though it was forever ago, I do remember your story. We were getting updates from... someone. Class, I think? Wasn't there a UDBB project to make you a quilt or something?
Anyhow, good luck with the horse search!

[piedmontfields]

Ivy, I didn't recognize your story, but that is super intense and amazing to keep on keeping on from!

Just wishing you good vibes from here on out.

[Wicky]

I recently read this https://smile.amazon.com/Ghost-My-Brain ... n+my+brain which is why I was thinking of you and others (some here) who have had TBIs.

Ivy, what about your son? Where is he and how is he doing?

[TeresaB]

Thanks for the recap Ivy.

Is your living situation ok? Your caregiver is reasonable (not really the right word)? Do you get to visit with your son?

[nwivy]

My son, Aidan who is 15, lives with my parents (who have legal custody) about 15 min. away. I see him once a week (I go stay with my parents every Friday and Saturday night). If he was doing well, that would be one thing. But since he does't like me any6way - there's not much I can do about it.

[Chancellor]

My son, Aidan who is 15, lives with my parents (who have legal custody) about 15 min. away. I see him once a week *I go stay with my parents every Friday and Saturday night). If he was doing well, that would be one thing. But since he does't like me any6way - there's not much I can do about it.

IS this the usual 15yo boy doesn't like his mother much or something else entirely?

[Sue B]

Thank you for sharing your story. I think having a horse for you to ride would be awesome for your never-ending rehab--perhaps it would help with the muscle spasms even. I am so sorry about your son, perhaps one day he'll come around.

[nwivy]

My mom (with whom I have the typical mother-daughter relationship) has been his primary caregiver since he was 3.

[Chancellor]

You are obviously a VERY strong woman (based on the whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger). I cannot imagine!
I am, however, thrilled to see you on our board because it is always good to "see" old friends.

[kande50]

None of this is my real problem. I suffer a lot from ataxia and spasticity. I'm forever in a wheelchair. My speech is crappy.

How about a retired therapy horse? I know that the local therapeutic riding program has "retired" some of their horses for one reason or another, so it might be worth a try to see if you could find one that already has some experience so that you know what you're getting? Therapy horses often have soundness issues that prevent them from working out in a therapeutic riding program, but wouldn't prevent them from holding up to much lighter work.

[Mareless]

None of this is my real problem. I suffer a lot from ataxia and spasticity. I'm forever in a wheelchair. My speech is crappy.

How about a retired therapy horse? I know that the local therapeutic riding program has "retired" some of their horses for one reason or another, so it might be worth a try to see if you could find one that already has some experience so that you know what you're getting? Therapy horses often have soundness issues that prevent them from working out in a therapeutic riding program, but wouldn't prevent them from holding up to much lighter work.

I was going to suggest a therapy horse also. I bought one many years ago--who happened to have been my horse; I had sold him prior to getting married, a few years later he got EPM and survived but with a minor lameness that ended his show career and his then owners donated him to a therapeutic riding program where he spent about 10 years before budget cuts forced them to thin their herd and I was in a position to purchase him back for my children to ride. Due to his therapy training, he would stop any time his rider got off balance, which was really great for teaching my daughters not to slouch!! We have gotten many years from him; he is now 32 and retired to pasture except for the occasional pony ride he gives my grandkids!

[nwivy]

I type really super slow (like letters/min when I used to type ~100wpm) and I read slow too.

[chantal]

It's wonderful to hear from you Ivy. And thank you for updating us. Your typing is excellent, in many things, speed doesn't matter (says the person who texts 1 finger at a time while all the kids around me text at lightening speed). I just laugh.

My heart goes out to you concerning your son. I'm wondering if he is capable of understanding your situation at his age. I have 2 teenaged boys, 14 and 17. I pray that changes as he grows.

Looking for a horse is so exciting!! This board is good at that.

[Chisamba]

My experience with haflingers and canadiens
Is that some of them are hot, reactive and sporty, like the Welsh Cobs. If you are looking to be bred specific, I personally would not look in that direction for quiet, steady or easy going.

[awa]

It's great to "see" you here. I remember.

[Kyra's Mom]

I am glad you are back among us. .

Susan

[lorilu]

Glad to see you here!!

[boots-aregard]

I remember your story, too, and wondered what had happened with your recovery. Very happy to see you back. I hope you find the right horse!