“My Supports”

“My Supports”

The factors that within my daily environment that are supportive to me is my husband as well as my family. My husband provides support financially, emotionally, physically, and more. He is very supportive in helping around the house with chores, doing the grocery shopping, laundry and seeing to it that the bills get paid. I receive emotional support from him and my family when I may be going through a difficult time because of health issues. I think support from families especially is extremely important. We all have that moment in our life from time to time where we need that shoulder to cry on or just someone to talk to. I have that support from my husband and other members of my family. I even have a select few of girl friends that I consider to be real supportive and true friends no matter what. I see these benefits as very important to me in my life. I tell my husband all the time I don’t know what I would do without him. He is the backbone and the one who keeps me going no matter what. I am thankful each and every day to have him in my life. It is very difficult for me to imagine what I would do if he was gone. We have known each other since we were 10 and 9 and married for 31 years. So he is my life and my support. He would be very difficult to lose any of my support systems. I would have to start all over again and I guarantee things would not be the same. When I think about some of the tasks I have to do they are right there with me if I need help. You don’t find many people like that today.

The challenge I chose would be what if I could not walk. This is something I could never imagine and it would indeed be a challenge for me. I like to keep moving and I love playing tennis, bowling, roller skating, jump rope, baseball and working with children. Not being able to walk would limit me in many ways. I would need supports like a wheel chair, crutches, or even some accommodations would definitively have to be made to my home. I would probably need some assistance in others area as well with dressing and grooming. What about cooking? I can cook but can I cook the way I am used to. As I look around the house I say to myself I am fortunate and it teaches you a lesson. The lesson is you now have a disability and you need support services.

Even though it may be a challenge I can still see my husband, family and friends being supportive and making themselves available to assist. We have had to do this on other occasions and so it is a part of life for us. They would see to it that I have received whatever support services I need. In addition they would put their lives on hold to make sure I am taken care of. We all do it all the time and that is to give of ourselves. They help, with cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, grocery shopping, paying bills, picking up medication, bathing and whatever chores need to be done. They even will come and just spend time with me talking, laughing, joking, playing card games and just spending some quality time. I have eight brother and sisters and a mother and father so we have always been a support system for one another. My husband’s family is the same way so this just carried over into our marriage. Having these supports is something to help you get through the challenges and to know you have folks there for you. I simply cannot imagine not having them.

Not having these supports again would be a challenge and I would have to rely on others. That is a feeling I would not want to think about or experience. It would make me have some trust issues. If it came down to it I would get the supports I need to help me focus, live from day to day and survive in society.

“Having supports in my life is something I need”

Having social support systems are an important part of my life. These systems include anyone I can trust and can go to for help, advice, or any other type of emotional support. My social support system may be made up of my friends and family members and others. The people that support me have their own support systems. My support systems include:

• Family members
• Friends
• Health care providers
• Co-workers
• Social workers
• Teachers
• Anyone else who I trust

I find that having good social support systems can also be fun! I can call on members of my social support system when I want to participate in an activity or just talk about what is going on in my life. Without friends and other social supports I feel lonely, bored, and isolated. So that doesn't happened I make sure I have the right support systems in my life.