Occupational therapy was nothing I had ever imagined myself doing. I had no clue what an OT was or even the things they helped other accomplish. It wasn't until January of 2014 that my sister passed away and my life had been flipped upside-down. My grandmother became very sick because of this tragedy. She was staying in and out of hospitals and acute rehab settings. My grandmother finally came home and with the support of home health services she was able to adjust to living at home independently again. I decided it would be best to live with my grandmother for the next 6 months until she was able to live independently. While staying with my grandmother a physical therapist had asked me what my major was in undergrad. At the time I knew I wanted to partake in some type of medical field, but I wasn't for sure what type of career that would be. She talked to me about occupational therapist and how they did such amazing work with the patients she had worked with. She told me it's something to look into that would be a very rewarding career. I loved taking care of my grandmother and other individuals so it had to be the correct career choice for me right? Well I still was uncertain if it was really what I needed to do in life. I had the opportunity to help my grandmother as she declined. I helped with showers, toilet transfers, and realizing that things were changing and we had to adapt to them. The time I spent with my grandmother before she passed made me realize that occupational therapy was what I was called to do in my life. It was then that I knew occupational therapy had chose me and I was ready to help others no matter the circumstance.
 |
Pictured left to right:
Myself, Madison Harris (sister), Margaret Dunavant (grandmomma)
