THE MEMOIRS OF SUMMER RAY

A MIRACLE PLACE!

It’s been a while since I have updated about skating. The truth is, I haven’t been able to skate. I am still working on strengthening my lungs from COVID. I actually start Pulmonary Rehab in a few weeks. Thankfully, I still have an amazing coach and friend who has stood by me through it all. This Cathy and I before COVID.

The bottom two are after COVID!

Every week, Cathy and I get together for stretch and strength training class. Physically, I am doing great. But my lungs are not yet strong enough to keep up with my fitness level as it is now. With Pulmonary Rehab, we are confident I can get my lungs where they need to be. I am finally starting to see the light at a very dark tunnel.

There were times when I had actually lost hope. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to get better. But I refused to give up. God gave me the strength to start moving my body again. For far too long, I was nothing more than a couch potato. I was in pain; my body inflamed; I could barely breathe; I was on so much medication that I actually believe it was hurting me. I was broken! There is no way that I can sit here and be in such a better place without God. He is healing me. I am learning how to take better care of myself. I am willing to do the work that needs to be done to help myself. It’s been a process. I still have some ups and downs. I had no idea my lungs were still not where they needed to be until I went back to Physical Therapy for my hip. It was then we found out that I needed more help with Pulmonary Rehab. But the exciting part, I will have more help. At first, I was very sad and depressed. It meant I was off the ice for a longer period of time. But my latest Pulmonary Function (spirometry) Test was normal. The one in 2023 was not. So, I still need to be thankful for the improvements, even if they seem slow. It means I am getting closer and closer to skating again. Plus, I want to be keep up with my grandchildren, and walk up steps without having to catch my breath. Overall, I am in a miracle place. I need to concentrate on the good and be thankful that when I am finally ready to get back on the ice, I will be stronger and healthier than ever. I will be Summer Ray’s skating double. I am determined. It will be the only time you see me in the film. Only in the credits will it be known it is me, and I am okay with that. It will look like the other actress who is in that role that is skating. Movie Magic!!!

If you have experienced such a horrible thing as COVID, I am truly sorry. I pray that you are healing. The thought of not being able to skate again was too much for me to bear. I simply could not accept it. I had to do something about it. God met me at my determination. He also met me at my brokenness. But I have had to learn to go at the pace that is helping me and not hurting me. I would do so much exercising that I would take 100 steps forward and 1,000 back. It was awful. I have now fully understood that if I am in PT, then I do nothing else the rest of the day. Piling so much other exercise was crashing me. Then I would get depressed again. It was a vicious cycle. Thankfully, the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to shine through all the darkness. I’ll be back to the rink soon! 🙂

GOD IS GOOD!