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Coping with Covid-19 and SCI

August 10, 2020

We asked our private Facebook group of more than 4,000 members to tell us how they’re coping during the pandemic.

Here are some of their favorite strategies for battling the Covid-19 rut.

Reading free library books
Roberta, from North Dakota:
“I crochet and listen to audible books on Libby! It’s a free app where you can borrow ebooks and digital audiobooks from your public library. You can stream books with Wi-Fi or mobile data, or download them for offline use and read anytime, anywhere. All you need to get started is a library card.” (You can usually sign up for a library card online, if you don’t already have one.) Libbyapp.com

Tackling super-chores
Sharon from Michigan says her husband is making major home improvements despite his paralysis: “He’s building a trellis for the garden. Putting wheels on his large tool box and cleaning it. He is also making 3’x5′ flags out of slats of wood. Today we took down a wall in the basement to get ready for new flooring next week.”

Staying open for business
Lots of people mentioned it was helpful, and surprisingly profitable, to continue to work. Michelle from Minnesota: “I own a flower shop, 24 years now, last six in my wheelchair. This covid has boosted our business incredibly.”

Finding an accessible pool

If you live in an area with an accessible pool that you can use during the pandemic, it’s a great way to exercise while keeping cool.

James from Hawaii shared this photo:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarantining with the grandkids

Many people mentioned that their grown children and grandchildren had moved in with them and changed their homelife in enjoyable new ways.
Beth from Minnesota sent a photo:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Cuddling and playing with my grandkids! So much fun!”

Trying that creative project you’ve been putting off

Lots of people wrote about finally getting around to tackling a creative project they had been thinking about for years—painting, sewing, writing poetry or a mystery novel. The most unusual project was a marketing job Maria’s son undertook to help her publicize her trendy new business: “He has been instrumental in helping me create a website for my new axe- throwing venue. He has spent a lot of time promoting my business through social media sites and has created pictures (he’s an artist!) on his iPad for me to blow up and print to use on the walls. He’s a C4-5 complete and is an unstoppable force!??”

Finding new boredom breakers
Linda from New Jersey:
“My husband, who has quadriplegia, reads books, does 500-piece puzzles and is finally able to watch the Mets baseball to cheer on his fantasy league players. The other two activities were getting stale.”

Many people commented that just like everybody else they were bingeing on old TV shows (Golden Girls was a fave). Cooking and baking and eating takeout food and enjoying Zoom cocktail hours with friends.

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