My mother-in-law, a visual artist of some renown, who is legally blind due to macular degeneration, was run over by a vehicle the last Friday in August, a few years back. It was a freak accident.
After careful examination of her pants cut from her by the hospital staff and much thoughtful discussion, we reconstructed what had happened – we construed that her right arm which she had used to reach over from the passenger side of the vehicle to turn off the engine slipped and released the transmission which jumped into reverse. The vehicle, parked in the driveway of her suburban home, rolled back and she, half out of the vehicle was carried along by its momentum. Encountering the bump where the driveway meets the road, we presume she let go and fell onto the road. The vehicle, on its way back from hitting the curb on the other side of the road, rolled over her right leg in two places, mid thigh and lower leg – the tracks on the pants made that evident as did the enormous swelling.
Her entire left arm, particularly the hand, which she must have used to catch herself on the fall, and the full length of her right leg from mid thigh down including the foot, were deeply bruised with extensive swelling around the knee, ankle and where the vehicle’s weight had left its mark. Amazingly she suffered no broken bones or head injuries…aware that it could have been so much worse, she, with her indomitable positive and optimistic spirit, was deeply grateful and set about being an excellent role model for her descendents which she does formidably well.
The family rallied, contacting Community Care Access Centres (CCAC), preparing meals, cleaning, organizing support – doctor’s visits, social visits, dealing with insurance. Released from hospital the very night of the accident, we visited Grandma the next day and I offered Therapeutic Touch, a gentle, touch or no-touch, energy healing session which relieved her of much pain.
Once CCAC help had been organized, I focused my support on providing Therapeutic Touch and reflexology sessions 3 times a week, cutting back to two times a week in the fifth week. What a great healing combination that is!
Grandma welcomed the healing sessions recognizing how much they helped her relax, reduce swelling, give her new energy and alleviate pain, and was very happy to be able to stop taking Tylenol after the first week.
Her recovery went amazingly well and fast – within three weeks she was able to walk with the use of a walker.
It was gratifying to see her so responsive to the healing sessions. Often arriving after lunch, I’d find her sleeping and, as I began with the Therapeutic Touch session, she would smile and whisper, “Ah, you’re here – I recognize your energy, it feels so good and helps so much. Thank you.” Needless to say, our relationship over that time grew and deepened.
By week five she was able to walk with a cane. The wheelchair however was never far from reach.
Last Sunday, she was back to her amazing self – having organized a family Christmas gathering. Dinner was out at a restaurant but desserts with coffee and tea were to follow in her home with a gift exchange for her extended family of nineteen.
Three months after the accident – no cane, no walker, no wheelchair were anywhere to be seen.
The house was back in order with Christmas tree and decorations up. The only reminder of the accident of 3 and 1/2 months ago was a chair lift, not an unlikely fixture in the home of any octogenarian.
Then, in a private moment, she pulled me aside and showed me her leg – not everything was in total good order yet. The foot and ankle were still swollen and the deeper muscles in her upper thigh will continue on their healing journey and I too will continue my ½ day treks to Grandma’s to offer Therapeutic Touch and reflexology to facilitate the healing process.
She is such an amazing role model for me and still going strong, now almost 95 and Therapeutic Touch is such a beautiful energy language we have come to love to share and communicate through.
The beauty in Therapeutic Touch is that the personal growth and learning potential through its practice is infinite.
I am grateful to my mother-in-law and my many healing clients, my Therapeutic Touch teachers, and the practitioners and students of Therapeutic Touch who join me for the monthly Therapeutic Touch Branch meetings at Casey House hospice in Toronto, who have been so wonderfully generous in their support of my Therapeutic Touch learning and healing journey.
Learn more about Therapeutic Touch.
Therapeutic Touch basic training consists of three levels taught in either one day workshops or over 2 weekend intensives. Therapeutic Touch Institute also offers a Therapeutic Touch extended training program with all three levels taught over 18 weeks specially designed for students who like lots of space and time to learn, study and absorb the teachings.
Profoundly simple and simply profound, Therapeutic Touch is a life skill you will be glad to know!
About Julia von Flotow
