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English Meetings for participants
EX-Center arranges courses and theme events (often in cooperation with the Swedish Thalidomide Society, NGO) where all of you with multiple extremity damage and those close to you can meet others in similar situations.
Opportunities are given here to discuss questions of common interest, such as medical problems, emotional reactions, assistive devices, prostheses, recreational activities, as well as forms of social and financial support. We can focus the courses’ contents on the interests of certain groups of EX-Center’s participants. We have, for example, set up courses for double arm amputees, for persons with pain problems and for parents/expectant parents with functional disabilities. We also arrange meetings for families of children with congenital extremity damage. We offer opportunities here to meet role models of different ages.
In November 2007, we held the long-anticipated ”Feel-good weekend”, arranged by EX-Center and the Thalidomide Association of Sweden.
Taking good care of your body and your health is of course important for everybody, but for those with functional disabilities it can be especially important. Those of us who strain our bodies in ways that they are not built for may need a little extra to help our bodies maintain the strength to bear this strain. The first of our lecturers was nutritionist Marie Broholmer, who talked about “food for good health – or good food easily prepared”. After that, EX-Center’s coordinator Marie Wikström and occupational therapist Christina Ragnö talked about practical tools in the kitchen. They had also put together a brochure called “The Thalidomide Association of Sweden’s Easy Recipes”.
Psychologist Liv Larsson from EX-Center emphasized that she did not want to talk about pain and pain management, as she felt that sounded too negative. So she turned it around and held a little introductory lecture about “happiness” instead. After that we continued our discussion with her in smaller groups.
Physical therapist Katja Lundqvist then revealed some of the back’s secrets to us. She closed with tips on how we can prevent future back problems.
The Brazil group presented their work. They told about the Thalidomide Association of Sweden’s collaborative project with the Brazilian Thalidomide association, which is being funded by SHIA [the Swedish Organization of Persons with Disabilities International Aid Association].
Participants were also invited to try water gymnastics and Pilates training, both adapted to our various functional disabilities by the physical therapist. We all got the opportunity to enjoy a spa treatment (paid for by those who wished to try).
The weekend was a great success, and we hope that another will be organized soon.
We were a group of ”girls” full of expectations when we met in Vejbystrand. At last we would have our own weekend just for pampering ourselves.
The Sommarsol activity centre turned out to be a lovely handicap-adapted facility with a restaurant, cafeteria (with bar), pools, and exercise rooms. Everything for relaxation!
After a good dinner we had time for discussions and getting together with both old friends and new. On Saturday we had a full schedule.
Physical therapist Birgit Josefsson told us about what we should think about to avoid pain in joints and muscles, as well as how to avoid future problems.
Occupational therapist Anita Stockselius talked about assistive devices and home modification.
After lunch we listened to Elve Wirma talk about stress and stress management. We learned relaxation techniques, which turned out to be difficult for several of us. Stress and lack of time appeared to be common problems, both for us as functionally disabled and for those close to us.
Then it was time for water gymnastics and a dip in the bubble pool. Lovely!
In the evening we had another good dinner, this time serenaded by a Scanian troubadour (a woman, of course), but as her dialect was hard for us to understand – and especially as we had so much to talk about – she didn’t get a lot of our attention.
On Sunday morning some of us got up a little early to congratulate Leila on her 21st birthday. We marched into her room with a breakfast tray. Unfortunately, (or perhaps fortunately for her), she was in the shower when we arrived, but she did get to hear our beautiful song of congratulation!
The morning was taken up with more talk and discussions. After another relaxation exercise session (we were beginning to learn!) and lunch it was time foe our spa treatments. Some of us had a massage, and others chose oil baths. I tried a calming oil bath in a bubble pool surrounded with candles and music. Wonderful!
Tired, satisfied, and relaxed, we parted company, agreeing that this was something we should do again.
Thank you Hanna, Anita, Elve and all who took part in this great weekend!
”Feel-good” weekend
EX-Center’s and the Swedish Thalidomide Society’s participant meeting, ”Feel-good weekend” at Frösundavik, Stockholm, 9-11 November 2007.In November 2007, we held the long-anticipated ”Feel-good weekend”, arranged by EX-Center and the Thalidomide Association of Sweden.
Taking good care of your body and your health is of course important for everybody, but for those with functional disabilities it can be especially important. Those of us who strain our bodies in ways that they are not built for may need a little extra to help our bodies maintain the strength to bear this strain. The first of our lecturers was nutritionist Marie Broholmer, who talked about “food for good health – or good food easily prepared”. After that, EX-Center’s coordinator Marie Wikström and occupational therapist Christina Ragnö talked about practical tools in the kitchen. They had also put together a brochure called “The Thalidomide Association of Sweden’s Easy Recipes”.
Psychologist Liv Larsson from EX-Center emphasized that she did not want to talk about pain and pain management, as she felt that sounded too negative. So she turned it around and held a little introductory lecture about “happiness” instead. After that we continued our discussion with her in smaller groups.
Physical therapist Katja Lundqvist then revealed some of the back’s secrets to us. She closed with tips on how we can prevent future back problems.
The Brazil group presented their work. They told about the Thalidomide Association of Sweden’s collaborative project with the Brazilian Thalidomide association, which is being funded by SHIA [the Swedish Organization of Persons with Disabilities International Aid Association].
Participants were also invited to try water gymnastics and Pilates training, both adapted to our various functional disabilities by the physical therapist. We all got the opportunity to enjoy a spa treatment (paid for by those who wished to try).
The weekend was a great success, and we hope that another will be organized soon.
Women’s weekend
Women’s weekend 25-27 January 2002We were a group of ”girls” full of expectations when we met in Vejbystrand. At last we would have our own weekend just for pampering ourselves.
The Sommarsol activity centre turned out to be a lovely handicap-adapted facility with a restaurant, cafeteria (with bar), pools, and exercise rooms. Everything for relaxation!
After a good dinner we had time for discussions and getting together with both old friends and new. On Saturday we had a full schedule.
Physical therapist Birgit Josefsson told us about what we should think about to avoid pain in joints and muscles, as well as how to avoid future problems.
Occupational therapist Anita Stockselius talked about assistive devices and home modification.
After lunch we listened to Elve Wirma talk about stress and stress management. We learned relaxation techniques, which turned out to be difficult for several of us. Stress and lack of time appeared to be common problems, both for us as functionally disabled and for those close to us.
Then it was time for water gymnastics and a dip in the bubble pool. Lovely!
In the evening we had another good dinner, this time serenaded by a Scanian troubadour (a woman, of course), but as her dialect was hard for us to understand – and especially as we had so much to talk about – she didn’t get a lot of our attention.
On Sunday morning some of us got up a little early to congratulate Leila on her 21st birthday. We marched into her room with a breakfast tray. Unfortunately, (or perhaps fortunately for her), she was in the shower when we arrived, but she did get to hear our beautiful song of congratulation!
The morning was taken up with more talk and discussions. After another relaxation exercise session (we were beginning to learn!) and lunch it was time foe our spa treatments. Some of us had a massage, and others chose oil baths. I tried a calming oil bath in a bubble pool surrounded with candles and music. Wonderful!
Tired, satisfied, and relaxed, we parted company, agreeing that this was something we should do again.
Thank you Hanna, Anita, Elve and all who took part in this great weekend!
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