Fellowship

So what's this physical therapy fellowship thing all about?! Well here goes!

Fellowship has many meanings. By definition it means:

n. noun

1. The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences, as by reason of profession, religion, or nationality.
2. The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms.
3. A close association of friends or equals sharing similar interests
   
   
   
   
   I would agree that my Fellowship is about sharing similar ideals, experiences and interest by reason of profession.  But there's so much more. Fellowship is advanced training to further develop your practice and meant to push you further in your skill set or teaching. I've been asked many times by friends, family, and patients, "What is fellowship? That's cool. But what does that mean." Simply, compare it to the highest level of manual therapy training available in my field as a PT. Jody tells many people that its like getting an offer from Coach K at Duke. You just don't turn that down. 
   
   
   To be the best of the best. But not by any right to claim that. It's not about bragging rights or having letters after your name at this level. It is about being shown EARLY on as a PT student that as IPA reminds me through the brilliant words of Maggie Knott, "Everyone has an untapped existing potential."  (And I want to tap into THAT kind of training! I have great training to this point, but I want to really tap into what I don't know.)  That statement alone should dig deep. It should rattle you. No matter what walk of life your in. EVERYONE has an UNTAPPED, existing POTENTIAL. Holy moly. Can I get an AMEN?! Because that deserves one. Imagine if we not only as therapists, but as people walked that everyday. It would change the life of anyone we treat, meet, develop relationships with, or have "fellowship" with. I'm so blessed by all the patients I've treated to this point in my life. They have taught me that pushing myself is worth it to offer them better care. It is worth it because to this point because medicine does not always have an answer. It is simply the truth of it. I've watched that and lived it. We as therapists (or any professional at that) have to be willing to develop our care to the highest level possible so the person that walks into the clinic and sits in OUR chair can have MORE. More function, more control, more life.  To that point they may have been given medications, pain management, and tried other conservative measures such as acupuncture, massage, hollistics, etc. I say that not flippantly or with an opinion, but simply stated that those are the options until or after surgery. I'll keep it simple in saying that I simply want to know I have done my best for the patient. In school all the cases and scenarios are a theory and an idea. When you start treating even as a student, that disease, surgery, weakness, dysfunction or trauma becomes a NAME and a PERSON. A life affected. It is amazing to have been a part of IPA since I was a PT student.  Even more amazing to be in a group of great teachers. Not just therapist but patient teachers. Therapist who KNOW not just to tell a patient that their posture or movement is wrong, but knows HOW to train them to correct it.  Teaches them how to stabilize that posture and strengthen once it is correct then gets them moving better and AGAIN breaks the cycle of pain. Teaches them HOW TO stop hurting themselves when they didn't even know it was happening or if they did, how to fix it themselves. There's a beautiful ART in that. How to specify treatment and exercises for each person's demands. To see it done so beautifully by a group of mentors who have studied, practiced, done the HARD leg work to offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is incredible. To know when I'm done, that I'll be pushed, challenged, pushed some more because they know efficient when they see it is humbling, but amazing and empowering to know how much better I will be for THE PATIENT. Jody tells me all the time when I practice PNF patterns on him, "You know, I hate this. It makes me realize how weak I am.  And how different my body would be if I had had this kind of therapy at the time of my accident, not years later." Coming from him, that means a lot. (The quick recap if you don't know, is that in Jody's freshman year of college he was in a car accident that almost killed him. He had a pelvic fracture surgically repaired that left he extremely weak. No pain, praise the Lord, but weakness all the same.) Maybe that statement, among many others from patients is my driver. The other is simply being shown early on WHAT IS POSSIBLE and knowing that is the path God put me in. 
   
   
   I love it here in Steamboat because it's not just running, but running up a mountain. It's not just road biking, but also mountain biking. Hiking, hot air balloons, kayaking, paddle boarding, tubing, rafting, swimming (in the freezing cold), rock climbing and dance/arts. AND THAT'S just some of their summer season. Oh for the season to change! WOOHOO! Snow shoeing, alpine skiing, nordic skiing, cross-country skiing, etc. I'm so excited to be here with my family. It's a beautiful, family-friendly place that holds many rare opportunities and experiences. The time I (we) spend here will be some of the best and hardest days. It all pays off when your patient walks out different than they walked in!  That's a humbling thing as well, not to have what you do define you, but to offer something that speaks for itself.  As my friends (coworkers) back home know, my response to this is "SEE!! THAT'S why I'm crazy enough to do this! How can you argue with those results! They speak for themselves. Why wouldn't I go further?!" Maybe it's crazy to sell my perfect house, resign from an amazing job and position, and move my entire family to Colorado. Maybe. But what would be crazier would be to turn this down. (If you want further insight into this, read OUTLIERS by Malcom Gladwell.) What would be even crazier after much prayer and hard work, would be to say "I'm too tired. I'm done, I'm happy with where I am."  I'd say to that an unpopular response: How sad. I don't ever want to be done until my life is done. What I have learned is that we are far too material. That is all just stuff. Good stuff. But still stuff. My family is here with me and that is home. Friends are here. The Lord has provided. Fellowship has begun. :)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   As with anything:
             No discipline seems pleasant at the time but rather painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.      Hebrews 12:11
   
   
   Funny how that verse is followed immediately by the verse God gave me when I prayed for my career path in college.  
   
   
   Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.        Hebrews 12:12
   
   
   Inspiration happened years ago and happens everyday. All to HIM. Glory to God alone. 
   
   
   Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE.  The word itself says I'M POSSIBLE.   Audrey Hepburn
   
   
   Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.   Phil 2: 3-5
   
   
   And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.    Colossians 3:17
   
   
   But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Phil 3: 13-14