Freedom from pain

A 24-year-old Christiansburg woman is regaining mobility and making plans to attend graduate school after treatment put her in remission from years of pain.

Anna L. Mallory

Sunday, December 20, 2009

CHRISTIANSBURG -- Brandy Sachs smiles more these days, even after gaining 30 pounds in one year.

For this 24-year-old, weight gain is a blessing and the least of her concerns.

In October 2008, Sachs weighed 76 pounds after she spent seven days in a ketamine-induced coma. She was the 55th patient to undergo the treatment in Germany. She emerged from the procedure with few memories and couldn't perform natural tasks, such as shivering. 

The coma was designed to reboot her nervous system, and, doctors hoped, rid her of the decade-long bouts of pain associated with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, known now as chronic regional pain syndrome. The little-known condition she was diagnosed with at age 13 caused her to cringe in pain with any touch even as slight as a flutter of her brown hair. Walking was difficult, and her right foot had turned inward and would often swell.

Today, after a year's worth of ketamine boosters, doctors say Sachs is in remission. She's been RSD-pain free for a year and won't have to return to Philadelphia for infusions of the drug for another year, unless any changes occur.

While she isn't entirely pain, or medicine, free (she is on strong painkillers as a result of a back surgery that touched nerves, but that pain is not related to the condition), Sachs said a little pain is better than her previous state.

Always cautious, she prefers to say the condition is dormant, but she's pleased with her progress.

"I have RSD, and I'm always going to have it," she said.

She walks on two crutches and has become more active. She started driving on her own, went rock-wall climbing and can make two full laps around Walmart.

Mentally, Sachs said she still feels stuck at 16. Many of her memories -- and skills -- are fuzzy. Doctors said some memories may never return.

The physical progression also has been slow, although Blacksburg therapist James O'Connell said Sachs has made great strides. She's now working on the stationary bike and the treadmill to gain strength and tone her unused legs. He's trying to get her to wear regular shoes, instead of the orthopedic shoe created for her in Germany.

Sachs goes to physical therapy twice weekly. Just last week, she took her first steps in years without bracing herself.

"I'm so proud of her," said her mother, Lisa Sachs. For years, the mother and daughter could barely hug. "It still makes you smile every time you see her stand up," she said.

Around the house, Brandy Sachs still often uses a wheelchair. That's mostly to navigate the crowds of cats, dogs and people who swarm her parents' small Christiansburg home.

"It's just easier," she said. If she bangs any part of her body too much, the RSD could flare, and the pain might return.

In August, Sachs hopes to enroll in graduate school at Virginia Tech to study sociology.

Her parents said that step will be good for their daughter, whose life was overtaken by the condition.

Sachs' story has inspired many. In July, People magazine featured part of her story.

The family said the breadth of knowledge about RSD and CRPS is growing.

"When we first started with it, they knew nothing," Lisa Sachs said.

Brandy Sachs spent seven days

in a ketamine-induced coma and

went through months of ketamine

boosters to ease chronic pain.

Her physical progression has been

slow, but she is strengthening her

legs by riding a stationary bike and

walking on a treadmill.

James O'Connell applies resistance

to Brandy Sachs' foot during a physical

therapy session as her mother,

Lisa Sachs, looks on.

Brandy Sachs, 24, takes unassisted

steps Monday for the first time in years

during a physical therapy session with

James O'Connell in Blacksburg.

Photos by JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times Source 

Climb Until Your Dream Comes True

Often your tasks will be many,
and more than you think you can do.
Often the road will be rugged
and the hills insurmountable, too.

Always remember, the hills ahead
Are never as steep as they seem,
And with faith in your heart start upward
And climb 'till you reach your dream.

Nothing in life that is worthy
Is ever too hard to achieve,
If you have the courage to try it
And you have the faith to believe...

Faith is a force that is greater
Than knowledge or power or skill
And many defeats turn to triumph
If you trust in God's wisdom and will.

Faith is a mover of mountains,
There's nothing that God cannot do,
So start out today with faith in your heart

And Climb Until Your Dream Comes True

by Helen Steiner Rice

Life - Through The Eyes Of A Child!

This afternoon I was to pick up my 4 year old grand-daughter from school and then she would be spending the weekend with me. Well, what I am about to tell you happened on our way back to my house from the school, and this story will crack you up as well as make you think! Because through the eyes of a child, life looks soooo different!!

Let me tell ya, my grand-daughter is something else! She is 4 going on 40 I think. But she is the "Sunshine Of My Life" and always will be.

Anyway, To begin with....We live in Texas right? Well, as we are driving down the road on our way to my house from the school, she shouts loudly...."There's a kangaroo taking a nap over there. Turn around!" ERRRR, Now no matter how much I tried to convince her that kangaroo's aren't in this part of the world except in zoo's, she insisted that I turn around and go back, because now she thinks it might be sick or hurt and need our help!! So I turn around, go back and wait for her to tell me to stop wherever this kangaroo was napping, because I sure didn't know!!

Finally she shouts again saying, "Stop, there it is, there it is" Now I am really starting to look around trying to find some animal that might look like a kangaroo, but I am not finding any animal what so ever!! I pull up into this driveway of an old business and stop. She says, "I want to get out and you need to come with me Yetta." (Yetta is Yiddish for Grandmother so all the grandkids call me that....not because I'm Yiddish, but because they have so many other grandparents it was like....Grandma who? hahahhaa, so I wanted to make sure that whenever they were talking about me, everyone knew who they were talking about! hahahaha).

So we get out of the car and I am completely clueless as to which way we are suppose to be walking, so I start following her. ( I know, chickeny way out, but you know you would have done the same thing! hahaaha ).

She is walking very slowly, carefully, almost tiptoeing really. I ask her, "Why are you walking so slow?" She turned around and looked at me with this scowl on her face and said, "uhh Yetta, if it's napping we don't want to wake it up." Now I am trying sooooooo hard not to laugh by swallowing hard and I simply say back to her, "Oh, I didn't think of that. Good job! You are so smart! I am so proud of you!" Well she ate that up big time hahaha.

Ok, so I am still looking everywhere for some animal that might look like a kangaroo in the grass beside the road, which is a two lane road, can't see anything but grass, weeds, and paper....but I am still following her.

Finally she stops, turns around, looks at me and says, "shhhhhh there it is, but I don't think it is a kangaroo anymore." I said, "You don't? What do you think it is then?" Now again, I am doing everything in my power not to completely bust a gut here.....She looks at me all sad and pitiful like and says, "It ain't nothing but some ole junky tire that some idiot left here to make me think it was a kangaroo!!"

Ok....I bust out laughing now!! And she asks me, "Why are you laughing Yetta?" Uh oh, now what do I say? All kinds of thoughts are rolling around in my head looking for the perfect response to that when finally I say, "Well Cheyenne, I think you are right. Someone left that ole tire here, but not because they are an idiot, and not because they wanted you to think there was a kangaroo there! They left it there because they were too lazy to pick it up and throw it away."

So with the biggest smile on her face, she asks, "Can we pick it up and put it in our trash?" Now I know I am bios, and I know she is just too cute, but that just won my heart andI know I gave her one of those oh so proud looks, as I said, "You betcha sweetie, we can pick up that ole tire and put it in our trash, no problem!!"

So we did just that, but as we were putting it in the trash bin, she said, "I didn't want to see a dumb ole kangaroo anyway!" hahahahahahaa. She is a mess I tell ya, a funny...too grown mess! hahaahahhaa.

I just had to share this with you all....it was too good to keep all to myself!! Below is a couple of pictures of Cheyenne from early evening when she was helping feed the baby calf named 'Blind' Faith.

Stop and Remember

When you are tempted to stray off track, stop and take a moment to consider where you're going. Remember why you originally began traveling the path you're on.

When the many distractions of life put you in danger of losing focus, stop and give yourself an opportunity to regain clarity. Remember the depth of passion with which you first started your journey.

When it seems that nothing is going your way, stop and make some time to adjust your perspective. Recall how far you've already come, and remind yourself that positive actions will indeed have positive, valuable results.

When you find that you've grown weary, stop and give yourself a real, refreshing, well-deserved break. Then you can jump back into the effort with a renewed vigor and sense of purpose.

When you feel that you've lost faith in the goodness of life, stop and look around you. Offer your genuine help to someone in need, and you'll find that your heart is soon being healed.

When you find yourself too caught up in the frustrations that surround you, stop and remember the treasures you value most deeply. And you'll reconnect to the incredible abundance that is your life.

Are YOU Staying In Control??

Compared to most endeavors, controlling yourself is relatively simple and easy. And when you're able to control your own thoughts, words and actions, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.

To control yourself requires no other person's permission, cooperation or assistance.
To control yourself requires no special knowledge, skill or equipment.

What it does require is a compelling reason. When the reason why is meaningful enough, you will have no trouble finding the will and the means to control your own life.

That's why it is so important to have a clear sense of where you intend to go and why. Connecting with your purpose will keep you in control, and staying in control will carry you to achievement.

There is a purpose within you that is stronger than the temptations and distractions. There is a solid, meaningful reason that will compel you to carefully and effectively control all that you do.

The more fully you know and express that purpose, the more surely and reliably you'll be in control. And the more completely you exercise control over yourself, the higher your life will rise.

This Powerful Moment....

There is enormous power in this moment. The more fully you experience what is here right now, the more that power is available to you.

Are you angry or bitter, disappointed or resentful about what has happened in the past? Then much of the power of this moment will be out of your reach.

Are you anxious and worried about something that may or may not happen in the future? Then you will miss out on the opportunity to create real and lasting value from this powerful moment you are in.

Imagine that everything you are, everything you know, everything you care about, is focused into this very moment. And feel the enormous power of what you can, right here and now, do with it all.

Rise above the murky fog of what could have been and what someday might or might not come to pass. Focus the whole of your being on what is, and on the overflowing abundant opportunities this moment presents to you.

There is great and wonderful power in this very moment, in who you are, in where you are right now. See it, be it, and let yourself live it fully.

Real Magic for us with RSD!

When disaster strikes, there are no magic words that will make everything all right. For if there were, life would necessarily have to be unbearably empty and shallow in order to accommodate them.

What there is, is the opportunity and the obligation to love as you never have before. What there is, is the stimulus to take life to a higher level.

In your moments of most profound challenge, you are left with only what truly matters. And that is a powerful place to be.

When you are forced to experience life at its worst, it compels you to be your best. You must call upon a level of strength you never before knew was there.

And then, you begin to work through it. As you choose to move forward, life takes on greater, more profound meaning.

Choose to love, and choose to live. That is what you can do, and that is where the real magic will happen.

Another RSD Tip of The Day!

If You Have Had, You Now Have!!

If you have the ability to complain about something, you also have the ability to take the positive action that will make it better. And taking the positive action is infinitely more effective than merely complaining!

If you have cause to get angry, you also can turn the energy of that anger in a positive direction. You can then resolve it better for all concerned.

If you have reason to be frustrated, you also have the motivation necessary to get beyond it. No frustration ever has to continue troubling you!!

If you have experienced disappointment, you also have learned valuable lessons. Look ahead, apply what you have learned, and transform your disappointment into a positive turning point.

If you have known loss and sadness, you also have gained a profound understanding of how very precious life is. Take the opportunity, for which you've paid so dearly, to raise yourself to a whole new level of meaning and fulfillment.

If you face a difficult challenge, you also have the opportunity to grow stronger, more capable, wiser, experienced, and resilient. Embrace those opportunities, for in them you will find the sweet substance of life!!

Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody's looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you're misunderstood.

~Charles Swindoll

Saying Hello

This is my first post on here so I thought it would be nice to say "Hello" to you all before I go off into the world of afflictions.
How did I come to blogger? A sweet lady named Vivian has a blog on here called Danieldoo her link is www.danieldoo.blogspot.com and I really like the set up she has on her page, I decided I needed another blog to try and keep up with...hahahaha.

Anyway, I hope to meet some wonderful people here that I can become friends with, encourage, or just help get through a rough day.

So, until we meet.....

~Have An Amazing Day~