update on nancy
Nancy, whom I got to know on the streets of Toronto & have written about in previous posts, is in hospital. She's been there for 4 weeks. Two tumours were found on her spine, removed, then two steel rods inserted to support the spine. She has no feeling in her legs....it's possible she will not walk again. She's wearing a body brace ( a steel frame contraption ) until healing from the surgery is complete. And though she has a lot of discomfort, the truth is I've never seen her looking better. Without access to alcohol, street drugs or listerine, she's clean, clear-eyed & lucid....her intelligence & wacky sense of humour firmly in place. Tomorrow she's being moved to a care facility, where she will have physiotherapy sessions for the next 4 months. Long term plans for Nancy are undetermined as yet but she's been told she will not be going back to her room in Strachan House ( city sanctioned housing for the homeless) as the room can't accommodate the hoist that will need to be installed for her. This is not a loss to Nancy. She hates that place. Says it's an enclave of crack dealers & bed bugs. But at least, for the time being, she's safe, she's warm, she's no longer on the streets. Is it possible to see this latest of many misfortunes in her life as the proverbial blessing in disguise?
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image : the pic above is from those I took first time I saw Nancy on the street, before I knew who she was. Below... taken yesterday in the hospital. Bad lighting. Bad photo. But I wanted to show it to you because I think the difference in her appearance is remarkable. As if the street's harsh realities have melted away. It's been 2 years since we met. It seems she & I have travelled far together. An honour to call her 'friend' now. She's a remarkable woman and a fierce activist for the plight of the homeless many.
_____________________________________
update on nancy
Nancy, whom I got to know on the streets of Toronto & have written about in previous posts, is in hospital. She's been there for 4 weeks. Two tumours were found on her spine, removed, then two steel rods inserted to support the spine. She has no feeling in her legs....it's possible she will not walk again. She's wearing a body brace ( a steel frame contraption ) until healing from the surgery is complete. And though she has a lot of discomfort, the truth is I've never seen her looking better. Without access to alcohol, street drugs or listerine, she's clean, clear-eyed & lucid....her intelligence & wacky sense of humour firmly in place. Tomorrow she's being moved to a care facility, where she will have physiotherapy sessions for the next 4 months. Long term plans for Nancy are undetermined as yet but she's been told she will not be going back to her room in Strachan House ( city sanctioned housing for the homeless) as the room can't accommodate the hoist that will need to be installed for her. This is not a loss to Nancy. She hates that place. Says it's an enclave of crack dealers & bed bugs. But at least, for the time being, she's safe, she's warm, she's no longer on the streets. Is it possible to see this latest of many misfortunes in her life as the proverbial blessing in disguise?
_____________________________________
image : the pic above is from those I took first time I saw Nancy on the street, before I knew who she was. Below... taken yesterday in the hospital. Bad lighting. Bad photo. But I wanted to show it to you because I think the difference in her appearance is remarkable. As if the street's harsh realities have melted away. It's been 2 years since we met. It seems she & I have travelled far together. An honour to call her 'friend' now. She's a remarkable woman and a fierce activist for the plight of the homeless many.
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