Saturday, January 08, 2005

Hello Everyone!

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update. I have been really busy, and every time I would sit down to write a entry my computer would crash or I had to go somewhere....So here it is!

This past year has been very trying for me. My back never seemed to heal from the initial injury, and I was constantly fighting it. I would take two steps forward then three more back. I have tried everything from resting it, to strengthening, to probably over 30 epidural injections, with no relief, or just a brief amount.

This summer I finally decided to stop jumping, and just skate for fun, and try to finish testing my dances. I also started taking ballet more seriously, which I haven't done since before I moved to Cleveland. It gave me a way to stretch out and keep in shape, since I wasn't doing very much skating.

My ballet teacher (who is also one of my coaches) encouraged me to keep skating for fun, and try to work back into it.

The time off allowed me to enroll as a full time student for the first time in years! It was definitely a change from home schooling, but I am really enjoying it. I'm working double time with classes since I took a year off while I was in Cleveland.

Ok well....fast forward to October! About three weeks before Regionals were to take place, I got the competition bug! I was watching everyone at the rink training hard and it killed me that all I could do was work on choreography. I love skating, but I REALLY missed training and jumping.

As a spur of the moment thing, I packed up and headed to Cleveland. Regionals were being held about 20 minutes from where my coach Roberta teaches, and I decided I wanted to try to get in shape and compete for fun.

Those two weeks were very trying for me. As much as my head wanted to skate and be back in the shape how I used to be, my body just wouldn't allow it. Every time I started doing triples my back would go out, and I would be off the ice for three more days.

I met a doctor down there, and he started injecting me with a short lasting lidocaine so I could practice. I would get these shots every other day.

I did complete regionals, and ended up 3rd! Roberta and I were ecstatic with 3rd, after how my year had been, and only training for two weeks it was probably one of my biggest accomplishments!

After Regionals I started training much harder, with the shots, I was getting back into my old shape and the triples were coming back. I was much more positive about Midwesterns, and so happy to be going back.

Unfortunately, I had a setback. The week before mids I went in for a routine shot before practice one morning. I got up and passed out, this was very unusual since I was getting them very often.

By that night, I had a terrible headache to the point I couldn't get out of bed. We were all very worried, but were told it was just a bad migraine. (I never even get headaches!)

After four days in bed, we called my mom and said she needed to come down right away. She rushed me to a neurologist, who told me I had a spinal headache.

The doctor had hit my spinal cord doing the injection. I was told I would be on bed rest for 8-10 weeks, and there was no way I was going to Midwesterns... or I could have a blood transfusion done into my back to seal the leak to my spinal cord.

To make a long story short, I opted for the transfusion with the hopes I could go to Mids. We had already cancelled our plane tickets to Mids, because everyone felt I was way to weak and still recovering from the transfusion. I actually had the transfusion the night we were supposed to leave for Mids!

Two days later I got up at 5 am and went to the rink. The nice manager opened the rink for me so I could skate. I decided I had made it to Mids, and even if I was last I wanted to go.

I went home and woke Roberta up, told her to pack and within two hours we were at the airport flying to Mids! What a weekend!

I didn't have my best skates there, but for me just being there on the ice was a huge accomplishment. The first time I jumped in over a week was on my warm up!

After so much success on the National level, and competing at internationals, I finally learned to appreciate my skating this year. I truly skated for myself and the enjoyment. I didn't care if I was last, I was just happy to be skating again. :)

As of right now I am leaving for Las Vegas in the morning! Roberta told me at regionals if I made Mids we would go, so she stayed true to her word, and my mom is also coming along!

I turned 21 last Saturday, and I'm looking forward to a fun two day trip before next semester starts.

I continue to skate when I'm having good 'back' days. I can't deal with anymore needles, so we are looking into the new disc replacement surgery to heal this once and for all.

I was able to skate in a Christmas show downtown Detroit before Christmas, and that was just a blast. I love skating, and I will skate as long as I can!

I hope to find something to fix my back, but if I can't I will skate and compete for the fun of it. I would love nothing more than to get it fixed and be back at Nationals one more time!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! Sorry for this long entry, but I hadn't written in so long I had a lot of catching up to do.

I promise more updates soon, and I will post new pictures when I get back.

Love Always,
Lindsey :)

Monday, May 02, 2005

Hello Everyone!

I'm sorry it's been awhile. A lot has happened since my last post......

Early in February, I had back surgery. It was a very scary thing for me. I had been contemplating the surgery a lot over the past two years and decided this was the best time to go ahead with it.

The surgery itself was supposed to take around an hour, but once they got in the tear in my disc was so large the surgery took over three hours.

The recovery time was worse than the actual procedure! I had to lay still for almost six weeks! The doctors didn't want me moving much to allow the tear to heal, I also had to wear a fiberglass brace.

It was so hard to stay still!

Well, fast forward to now--I'm feeling much better. I still have a lot of rehab to go since I'm extremely stiff from the brace and surgery.

I started skating again about three weeks ago. It feels great to be back on the ice. I did a show the first week I was back. Obviously, I'm not strong enough to start triples yet, but it was still a lot of fun.

I have three more shows coming up in the next month, so check my schedule for those. I'm also doing dance now.

Hopefully, I can test my silvers in May and get through the rest soon. I love it! It's so different than freestyle, but a lot of fun. I'm not sure what the future holds but if a good opportunity came along I might consider dancing seriously.

Let's see what else?!?!? I'm teaching a lot. I'm now teaching at the St. Clair Shores rink, and also the Troy rink.

Summer semester classes start in a month, so I guess that's something to look forward to... ha ha!

This past weekend Naomi (Nam) came in to town to visit me. We have stayed best friends all these years, and it's so cool to think we met so long ago at a team camp. We had such a fun weekend, hanging out, shopping, and seeing other friends. (I will post pictures soon.)

She is doing great, and will have a great year to look forward to. I'm hoping to make a trip out to California to visit some of my friends later this summer. And Naomi is coming back again later this month!

My webmaster (Jamie) is working on a new site for me, so check back soon for all new pictures and a new design. I will post again after my shows.

Everyone enjoy the warmer weather!! This winter has been way to long! Till next time......

Lindsey
xoxo

Sunday, July 31, 2005


Hi, Everyone!

I hope your summer is going well! Our Michigan summer has been hot and humid. But I have to admit, I like it more than the freezing cold!

Speaking of freezing cold, I have been spending my days at the rink. I am coaching a lot this summer. I split my time between St. Clair Shores, and Troy. I love teaching it's so great to have a job you love doing everyday.

I'm skating also, but coming back slowly. I don't want to rush back into anything to soon, and relapse what the surgery fixed.

On that note, my back is doing so much better. It will never be 100% but it's so nice to be able to sit in a movie or go for a bike ride without pain.

My good friend from Denmark was just here for a month. She came last year to skate, this year she came back for a vacation. We had so much fun catching up, shopping, and relaxing!

I just finished summer classes, and I have about three weeks to actually enjoy summer before fall semester starts! I think I will use my free time to catch up on some reading, and relax by the lake. :)

Well that is about it for now, my new site will be up soon, it's almost done! I will also have new pictures.

Till next time,
Lindsey

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all like the new site. I want to send a special thank you to Jamie for all her hard work on it!

Figure Skaters Online is such a great group of people, I'm so fortunate to have been part of this special site!

As this competitive season starts, I'm taking a different route than my usual year. I will be attending regionals this year as a coach!

I have been quite busy teaching and I will attend my first regionals with the kids. This will be a big difference from the past, but I love seeing the kids fulfill their goals, and I know exactly how they are feeling.

I'm still skating....I recently passed two dance tests. I have one more and then I will be on my Pre-Golds.

I just tried out the new hinge boots and Matrix blades. I LOVE them! For the first time in years, I can skate and my back doesn't hurt at all.

I wish they had them 5 years earlier! I'm taking it slow but I can finally skate again with no pain. The boots make my jumps bigger and the landings easier.

I would never go back to normal skates again.

I can't say enough good about them. These boots will definitely help with the generations to come.

Well, I need to get going. I will write again in the next few weeks. I want to wish everyone good luck in this upcoming competitive season.

 Thanks for stopping by!

Till next time.........

Love always,
Lindsey :)