Joe M. – Brain Surgery
Joe M. had brain surgery approximately four years ago. There was no telling what, if any, physical limitations he may have due to the surgery . Joe was given an Occupational Therapist to work with him for his rehabilitation. The hospital just happened to have a labyrinth on the facility, and Joes’ Occupational Therapist had a plan for his recovery, that would utilize this asset to the fullest.
She had Joe walk the labyrinth while he was still strapped to his backboard. She had Joe walk the labyrinth with his shoes on, and sometimes without any shoes at all. Just barefoot, walking the labyrinth. He even walked the labyrinth blindfolded. Sometimes Joe walked the labyrinth blindfolded, and barefoot!!! So, Joe asked his therapist, why…why do I need to walk the labyrinth over and over and over again? He had walked the labyrinth over 20 times so far. The therapist replied,”humor me”.
There was alot of wisdom behind all that humor. The therapist was helping Joe with his Tactile Kinesthetic Touch. We all have it. Tactile means your perception referring to touch, and Kinesthetic Touch means your perception that deals with your sense of body movement and muscle feelings. This is the example Joe gave. Say you were walking barefoot, and accidentally stepped in soft cement or dog dodo, you would get a message to your brain that says …hey..stop….something is not right…
By walking on a labyrinth made of cement and tile, Joe had to figure out what he was stepping on without being able to look. Which meant it would help Joe with his perception of touch, through body movement, and muscle feelings. The therapist also thought that walking the labyrinth would help Joe to release built up tension.
Today, you would never know Joe had brain surgery unless he told you.
I asked Joe if he thought the labyrinth helped to cure him from his brain surgery. He said walking the labyrinth relaxed him. As far as saying that the labyrinth”cured” him, he said…”I don’t know, ….but, …….my anger is gone !!!!!!!!.”…..and smiled.
Joe had never seen a labyrinth before his surgery.