A decade to think: Redefining success
Jen is:
A daughter, a sister, a survivor;
A motivator, a comedian,
A leader
Next weekend will mark an important anniversary for the Schuringa family. Ten years ago this week, on May 19, 2013, the car accident which forever changed our lives took place, and Jen’s journey of living with a brain injury began.
Jen and her community have made unbelievable strides over these years. Here are some highlights:
2015 - Moving home: Shifting from a maintenance-focused long-term care model to a home-care-based custom-designed rehab program for Jen’s needs
2016 - Smiling: Overcoming the trauma and devastation of her new reality and smiling again every day
2017+ - Flourishing caregivers: Watching the caregivers around her gain personal and career success after working with her
2018 - SIt-to-stand: Success with sit-to-stand exercises via new tools; Jen regains some movement
2023 - Independent biking: Riding a recumbent bike by herself (self-propelled) for the first time in 10 years!
Jen is extremely motivated and has worked hard for each success and to live life to the fullest. We are very proud of her and thankful for all of the support we have received along the way.
To commemorate this occasion and to kick off our official training for the Camino we are planning a two day walk on the Niagara Parkway Trail next weekend. We will stay in Niagara on the Lake and practice transporting and using Jen’s equipment. We will attempt to hike 13kms each day. Jen will be cycling for a portion of the walk, and using the jogger with a safety harness as we go up and down hills.
Stay tuned for updates and pictures!
~ Janette (Jen’s mom) & Whitney (Jen’s sister)
P.S. Thanks to Leigh (one of Jen’s caregivers) for this amazing video, showcasing Jen’s progress over the last year to achieve the biking milestone, one pedal rotation at a time.
