Step Onto The Road Concert

What an evening! The concert raised a very successful $16, 500!

I began the concert by explaining how the songs I've written over the last year and a half have all been influenced by reflecting upon the idea of a "journey".

"Many of the songs tonight use the metaphor of a journey, a road, a way, a path, or a trail. They all stem from the same question of “how do I want to cross over the terrain that lies in front of me?” This is where the experience of hiking has deeply influenced me. Think about the wilderness for a moment - a dense forest that has not been crossed. The life of a trailblazer is often over-glorified. Their life is full of wrong turns, exhaustion, frustration and second guessing - just think about the daily grind of constantly pushing back the brush hoping your bearings are correct at the end of the day.

To follow a path on the other hand, is an experience of relief, of peace of mind, of knowing that you’re not alone, that others have trail blazed and walked the road that is ahead of you. To follow in their footsteps on the path is to have a certain confidence that the direction you are going is heading somewhere. To follow requires trust.

I wholeheartedly agree with the author Robert Moor who says that

“A path is a way of making sense of the world. There are infinite ways to cross a landscape; the options are overwhelming, and pitfalls abound. The function of a path is to reduce this teeming chaos into an intelligible line” (Robert Moor)

We all choose a path, whether we like to admit it or not. These songs attempt to direct my path toward the three themes of celebrating what is local, devotion to the family and to embrace a life that travels with faith along the way. I want to learn how to follow these paths for the trail that lies ahead of me.

“Step Onto The Road” summarizes the main concept of the album. The last line of the song reads “The road is a beautiful place when you’re following the way, the adventure lies beyond your door there’s a trail to blaze." The verses are filled with travelling advice to act as signposts helping to guide you along the way and the chorus points towards the presence of the Creator being with you as you go encouraging you to “to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly” down the darkened streets. 

Here's a clip from the song "Eastbound".

This next song called "Hometown Blues" is about finding contentment in life and appreciating what is local to you.

“Many Paths to Tread”, an instrumental song, speaks to the experience of excitement and trouble as you navigate the unfamiliar. 

"Brooklin Fair" is a fun song I wrote after playing at the fair a couple years ago.

The Band: Tim, Jordan, Mike, Alison, Ryan, Jeff, Sheldon

Whitby Mayor Don Mitchell and Councillor Deidre Newman came to the Concert!

Lorne Coe, MPP, attended the concert too! What an honour!

Some pics from the reception:

Message us if you want a CD

Thank you Grandma Wilson for listening!

Thank you to everyone involved for sharing in such a fun experience together. Another chapter in the Journey With James Michael.

Meeting Dr. Park!

We had the pleasure of meeting Dr. T.S Park at the Annual SDR Picnic in August at Variety Village in Scarborough. He is the surgeon who will be performing James' surgery on October 31st. He flew out for the day to see his past, future and prospective patients - how cool is that?!

Prepping for the picnic (unfortunately we were rained out and moved the picnic indoors this year)

Dr. Park is so kind! It was so neat to meet him before we see him next month in St. Louis!

Meeting Dr. Park

The kids were exhausted by this point of the day!

Dr. Park was presented with a Team Canada hockey jersey gifted from his SDR patients. Virginia, seen below in the photos, presented it to him after she delivered a wonderful speech on behalf of Dr. Park's Ontario patients (39 of them as the hockey jersey says). Virginia is 1 of just 2 Ontario adults who have had SDR in St. Louis. She's an amazing writer and blogs about the day here.

The big group (over 160 in attendance this year)

Dr. Park's Ontario patients

We have really liked James' new stander! James likes it too and we've already noticed the difference in how tall he can stand because of the work this stander makes him do (his therapists call it "extension").

We started a couple weeks ago for the first time at Neurochangers in Whitby (it's not often we get a local appointment so I'm liking this one big time!). James has been twice so far and uses the GE-O machine which is a robotic stepper that helps James take steps while encouraging him to initiate steps on his own too. Yesterday Emily (his therapist in the photo below) put electrodes on his shin to stimulate his muscles needed to take steps. It's a neat machine and something different to change up James' routine which is nice.

James finished the summer session of horseback riding at WindReach Farm at the end of August. He really enjoyed it! We'll likely be going back in the winter session.

A couple weeks ago at SMILE Therapy for Kids we met a celebrity in our CP world. Her name is Maya. A video of her walking independently for the first time after SDR went viral on YouTube. Follow her journey on Instagram (mightymissmaya). She is such a little sweetie and oh so witty!

She loved playing with Shae in the waiting room.

James showing how strong he is while working with Jo-Anne and Kayla. This is a type of physiotherapy called Medek (or Cuevas Medek Exercise).

Kali is the OT that is working with James. Check this out!

James has started swimming with Alicia at Grandview every Friday morning in the warm therapeutic pool in Oshawa. He really enjoys it and his body is much more relaxed afterwards.

Sarah still comes to our house once a week for speech therapy with James. She always brings lots of fun toys with her.

Squeezing the last bit of summer with family. Summer 2019 was a good one!

Summer 2019

James has had a busy summer! He has done 3 weeks of Conductive Education camp at March of Dimes, Medek, strength training and occupational therapy at SMILE therapy for kids as well as horseback riding at WindReach Farm and massage. We have packed his schedule for August, September and October until we leave for St. Louis. The goal is to get him as strong as possible before surgery. He’s working hard!

Here’s some photos at Conductive Education:

SMILE Therapy for Kids:

James had his annual hip x-ray a couple weeks ago and the results are not ideal. His hips have migrated a few more degrees on each side. Our developmental paediatrician at Grandview is very happy we have a cancellation date for SDR as James’ hips will absolutely benefit from not having spasticity pull away his hips from the socket (ouch!) Thankfully James is not in any noticeable pain from this change from last year and his function has not declined which is a key factor when considering if orthopedic surgery is necessary.

We are excited that James has a brand new stander! It is very important for James to have weight bearing activity, particularly for his hip health. This new stander is great. It abducts his feet well and has a dynamic option where the base can move to help build balance and strength (the Kin in me LOVES this!) Let’s make him work!

We've been enjoying our pergola and shade sail in our backyard this summer. Caleb Petke, Mike's cousin, did a great job! James really enjoys playing on the mat under the shade.

James has also really enjoyed the accessible swing installed by my request at our local park - way to go Whitby! He loves it!

And just because their bond makes me smile: