Something that made me very sad while recovering from my stroke was the fact that I didn’t have a reason to dress up anymore. I love dressing up and putting together outfits with all my clothes but when I had a stroke it took way too much energy to get ready for the day and it was pointless also because I never went anywhere! Now, I mean I can’t wear some things (like high heels because of balance) but that’s okay, I make do with what I can and now I have energy and places to go so I am back buying clothes and putting together outfits that now I have reason’s to wear! I LOVE to shop, so I try to make my money go as long as it can, so I can buy more clothes and that is why I LOVE Forever 21. It is pretty cheap and their stuff is the styles that are in at the moment. Another fav of mine is Target, they always have really cute stuff and they always have some waaaayyy cute stuff in their sale sections. The lace jacket I am wearing, it’s from Target and was in their sale section and I LOVE IT. Also, that little black scarf I am wearing is from Target. It is so cute and always helps bring more to an outfit, I don’t know if you can tell but it has sequins on it and that I really feel brings a little sparkle to the outfit. Anyway, everything I am wearing is from all over, kind of random but that is what I like.

Also, I know my make-up can be a bit extreme but I like to stand out and have what I am wearing say to people that I don’t care if I have a disability, I am still confident to wear what I want. Another favorite of mine is wearing bright eye-shadow. I have hot pink on and it is from M.A.C. Cosmetics, my favorite place to buy eye-shadow. It stay’s on and never flakes all over the place.

Today is Tuesday, December 21st. Christmas is this Saturday and I LOVE IT! I love this time of year! I love all the lights and decorations, parties, family get-together’s, and just the spirit in the air. And, then a month after Christmas is the 2 year mark of when I had my accident! It’s amazing how time has flown!! The Fall Semester for BYU-Idaho is now over and that is SO CRAZY! I remember like it was yesterday and thinking it would never start and now IT’S OVER! I mean, part’s of school seemed like forever while I was in it, but now that it is over, seems like time had flown! Now, I just wish we could skip the winter and then it be spring time haha but I know I need to be patient. I decided that I won’t survive going to class everyday in the snow and, then when it becomes ice, that scares me! I was thinking maybe I’ll take online classes and live in the same apartment up in Idaho but I realized I might go insane, since I can’t really go on my own any places, I would always feel trapped. I feel like going up to school this last semester was so important and it helped me a lot in so many things! It helped me to become independent again and it pushed me to become closer to my old self again. It helped me to become social again, helped me to learn how to take care of myself again, I learned how I can live on my own again, and so much more.

During the Semester I had been working with Sister Dienhart, a teacher at BYU-Idaho who teaches ballet and had a stroke herself. I mentioned I was planning on working with her in an earlier post, I had been going to a beginning ballet class of hers and then we had worked one-on-one once a week also, to get back my ability to dance again. I had to hold onto the bar when the class would move to the middle of the dance floor and still when the semester ended but I improved in being able to control my foot a lot moore and my energy improved by the end of the Semester. She was an angel to work with and is an inspiration to me that I will be able to dance again!

My room-mates and I before going to church. From left to Right there is me, Amanda Ellis, Alex Grooms, Laura Hargiss, and Stephanie Cumsille.

Last Friday I came home after the Semester had ended at byu-i and on Sunday my family and I went to see the lights at Temple Square, they were BEAUTIFUL!

Progress Up-date

I forgot on my last post to update on my progress so here is an update if anyone was wondering. I am doing really good but still progressing. I still have trouble with my balance, I still fall over at times, I walk in zig-zag patterns because when there is a bump in the road, or a slant in the side-walk my legs will react to little gravity pulls and so I just have to go where my legs take me. My right leg will start shaking when I am standing on it too long. Sister Dienhart is still working very hard with me in and out of the dance class, still when the class goes to the middle of the floor to practice ballet moves, I have to go over to the bar and hold on because of balance problems. My progress is still coming, there are very little improvements I see daily but so small that they are sometimes very hard to notice. All is good though and there it is! The end. J

K, I know I haven’t updated my blog for some time. Going back to school and having to think again is something I am trying to learn how to do again, so doing the blog hasn’t been a main priority of mine lately. My progress is still coming along though, very slowly but coming along. Here is a few picture's from school, I am sorry that I don't have a lot, I will try and take more and then post them!

Here is a picture of my FHE group after an activity:

For my friend Kelsie’s color photography class, she took pictures of me for one of her assignments. Here is a few of the pictures she took:

The Lovely Cabin

In the summer my family and I take lots of trips to our cabin. We spent memorial weekend at our cabin because of the 3 day weekend and that was the first time my family and I went up for a trip this year. My dad built the cabin when my sister’s and I were little and we spent almost every weekend up there at that time so now my sister’s and I are a little sick of it but we still love it because so many memories were made there. Here are some pictures of the trip my family and I took. Also, I probably won’t be posting very many posts for awhile. I am trying to get my balance really good before I go back to school so I am going to be working hard on my balance until then.

Someday...

Today was kind of a yucky day. It has been raining a lot lately and come on, it's May, the weather should be wonderful but it's not! My sister's, their kid's, and I all wanted to go outside but it kept raining and was cold so we all spent the day inside. I love summer day's so I want the rain to go away but I guess i'll enjoy it because it's all I can do right now anyway!



My sister Aubrey holding her little boy Blake, my sister Marie holding her newborn baby Ava, and Marie's little boy Logan sitting just below her eating a chip. Trying to enjoy being inside.

Oh, and I really like these shoes! I can kind of be obsessive with shopping sometimes and I'm pretty sad that I can't wear high heels right now, it would be impossible to wear them, my balance is still really horrible! I'll just dream until that day comes...

Create Video by Elder Uchtdorf

I know this video is kind of old but I still love it and it still remains true. My sister showed me this video when I was in the hospital last year and at that time it was very hard to see. I had to squint and look at the screen just at the right angle to see the picture and now I can see the picture really good, I love how time can heal! Really, we have the power to create and I am so grateful that we can because right now my body is having to create new pathways for my brain to use so I can have all those functions that my body once had. Really, having this experience I have learned how amazing the body is blessed to be. Also, a ballet teacher that I had at BYU-Idaho, Sister Dienhart had a stroke herself. She was thought by doctors that she would never be able to walk again but re-learned to walk and is now back TEACHING DANCE! I don’t know the whole story, I only know bits and pieces but she is amazing and I think of her a lot when I feel something is too hard or I can’t do it. I e-mailed her asking her thoughts of me being in dance class in the fall and she e-mailed me back telling me to take the class of hers and also she will help me a lot. I am so excited! I know the Lord helps me achieve my goals when I do what is right and when I rely on the Lord for help! I can’t wait for the feeling of being back in the dance room again!

Happy Birthday Megan!

My friend Megan is on a mission for the LDS church in San Diego, California. Her birthday is coming up and I made her a blanket. I made the blanket by crocheting and it has been great for my occupational therapy. Occupational is everyday tasks that people do like cooking, cleaning, or the fine motor skills like writing or putting on make-up, etc.

Also, I am now in an institute class and I really liked this talk that my teacher used in her lesson: Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer
Elder Richard G. Scott
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Utah Valley Specialty Hospital

Utah Valley Specialty Hospital, the hospital I stayed at and been going to for my rehabilitation since after being in the ICU in Idaho. They had an anniversary party for their success of being a hospital since their opening and I was invited to the celebration as a guest speaker to tell a little bit about my stay at the hospital and about my experience thus far.

I have had some wonderful therapist and these are few of them. Left to right is Nikki, Brittany, me, and Shanlon.

Re-learning to walk - Videos

Here is video’s of me pretty much re-learning how to be a normal person again. The first video is of me at physical therapy, second video is me practicing walking at our cabin, third video is after I left the rehab hospital and my family and I took a trip to St. George. The last video I just put on my blog to show what it was like at that point in my life. That video was taken about a month after the accident occurred. I just left the ICU and was then taken to a Rehab Hospital where I was to re-learn practically everything. I now want to start focusing on the future and what is going on now in my life so this will be my last post about the past. Also, I want to announce that I am pretty sure that I will be going back to BYU-Idaho in the fall. I can change my mind kind of fast so it is still a maybe, but I feel like going back in the fall would be a really good choice and since I’m doing really well right now, I’m pretty positive it will happen. It may be kind of hard but I feel I can do it right now and that is 4 months away so hopefully by then I’ll be doing so much better that it won’t be too hard.

Cake Mix Cookies

My favorite cookies of all time, cake mix cookies! So good and so simple! I learned the recipe in my Junior High homemaking class. These cookies I made for my Laurels class I taught last Sunday and I made them extra good (and extra fattening) by adding some M&M candies, putting frosting on the bottom, and then sticking 2 together. Really, do whatever you want to them. I love chocolate so I made the cookies out of a chocolate cake mix. Here is recipe below:
2 eggs
3 Tbs. butter
Cake mix
And that is everything! Its okay if the ingredients don’t stick together very good, don’t worry, it’s supposed to be that way. 350 degrees is what the oven tempter is set at. Bake for 5-7 minutes or if you don’t think they are done enough, keep them in longer, I like mine to be kind of doughy. They will seem undone, but let them sit, they will harden. Add whatever you think will be good and there you go, that’s everything!

2 more little miracles entered this kind of crazy world. Good luck!

Well, my two older sisters finally had their babies come out! Congratulations to them both on their two little healthy baby girls!

Camille Jane Cook, 7 pounds, born March 30th

Ava Nicole Reynolds, 6 pounds and 10 ounces, born April 11th

Cousins

My Dad, Mom, little sister Rachel, and I went to Colorado to visit family and see my cousin Cole give his farewell talk before he left on his mission for the LDS Church. I thought this picture was really cute so I just had to post it!

"Turn to the Lord" by Donald Hallstrom

I loved all of Conference but one talk I really felt was directed at me was the talk “Turn to the Lord” by Donald L. Hallstrom. I think since I can feel the ending to this trial coming closer, I am getting really anxious to be like the person I once was and it’s making me get angry and frustrated a lot easier. I have a tendency to get frustrated really really easily. So, to help not do anything irrational I have to go to room and think about life and what could be the outcome of acting a certain way. The link to the talk that has helped me so far is below, if you would like to read it. Maybe it will help someone in someway, you never know.
"Turn to the Lord" by Donald Hallstrom

Easter/Conference Weekend & a little bit more

For General Conference and Easter this last Sunday, together with my extended family, at my Grandparent's house, as a tradition we watched General Conference, had an Easter-egg hunt for the younger kids, and a special Easter dinner. General Conference, for those who have no idea, it’s when leaders of the LDS Church give talks reminding the members for now-day’s what they should be doing to protect from the evils of these times and can be seen and heard all over the world by T.V., internet, radio, etc. Also this last weekend, my cousin’s, Aunt, and Uncle came from Colorado to drop off their son, Cole, today(April 7th) at the MTC(Missionary Training Centre). He will be serving a 2 year mission for the LDS Church to teach people about the gospel in Tampico, Mexico.

My Easter basket. Isn't it so cute? haha my mom is so cute!

My cousin Ella and I. Helping her open her Easter-Egg's after the Easter-Egg hunt.

My cousin Cole and I, after watching him give his last talk in his home-ward before leaving on his mission.

5k

So, I started training for that 5k that I'm going to do in August and right now I'm only doing a mile and then I'll work up to 3 miles. I have to admit that I am dyeing doing that mile and I'm thinking, "how in the world am I going to do 3?" I need help. I really want to run a 5k by August but I can't do it alone, if you are able to fit me in your prayers, please ask Heavenly Father to make the impossible possible. Thank you so much and don't think I'm going to stop working at it and only rely on prayers to get me there, it's just the help will be nice:)

Thoughts and some pics

This whole experience has been like a rollercoaster ride for me, going through up’s and down’s almost daily. I ask myself, kind of a lot, why I have to go through something that most people will never go through in there lifetime. I come up with many different reasons, and hopefully someday this whole experience will make complete sense to me. I try to stay positive to help me get through each day, which can be sometimes hard and for right now, I just try to get through this time in my life, one day at a time, and I can’t wait for the day when this is all over. Be thankful ALWAYS for what you can do right now because if you’re not careful, it could be gone in seconds, which is what I have to remind myself almost daily when I get frustrated about not being able to do something I use to be able to do before. When I first realized I was in the hospital I could not even fathom the idea that someday I would be the same person again. I can confirm the truth in this scripture from the Doctrine & Covenants because all my improvements have been so small that it’s hard for me a lot of the time to see the small improvements that I’m making daily. D&C64:33 “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.”
I don’t think these pictures I’ve posted have been posted before so hopefully they are new to the viewer. My Uncle took these pictures, it’s me I think the day after my surgery and I look pretty horrible right there.

Comparison: Hand-writing

I am right handed, have always been. When my right side was messed up, it was really hard to adjust. I don’t remember the first time I tried writing but what it looked like, it was horrible. The first picture displayed is a picture of one of the first times I wrote. My hand writing was a mess right after my accident, just scribbles on the paper. Having ataxia, I could not control the pen. During the first month, I had tubes down my throat making it so I could not communicate. Since I could not talk, I tried to write but no one could decipher what the scribbles on the paper said. When I realized no one could figure out what I was saying on the paper, I remembered I had learned the alphabet in sign-language when I was in second grade. I started spelling out each word with sign-language to communicate. My family printed off the alphabet from the internet to find out what I was trying to say. The second picture is what my hand-writing looked like about a month after the injury. A little better but still a mess, at least you can tell what I’m writing on the paper. Third picture is of my hand-writing on August 29 of last year. Last picture is what my hand-writing looks like right now. Much more controlled but still needs work and it still takes me sometime to write anything.

Comparison: My Voice

The first video is a song that my friend, Kelsie, and I performed at our high school talent show. We decided to record that song again, one night, just for fun, while being roommates together in college. The song, “Behind these hazel eyes”, originally performed by Kelly Clarkson, to hear my inspiration, listen to it here. Some parts of the song were changed from the original song to fit what my voice could do. The other video is how my voice sounds right now. I’m singing my favorite song by the LDS church, “Abide with me ‘tis eventide”. To listen too a much prettier version, you can listen to it here. The video doesn’t show my face because I hate watching myself sing right now. I know my voice isn’t the same right now but with lots of practice, prayers, and time my voice will sound the same again and if it doesn’t (unless it’s better) I’m going to keep working at it until it does.

Then


Now

Swallowing

It is really crazy how many little things the cerebellum controls. One of those things controlled by the cerebellum is swallowing and I had trouble with this for a little over 6 months after my surgery. Whenever something entered my mouth that made me have to swallow, I would cough uncontrollably after. At first, whenever I would cough, everything in my mouth would spray out everywhere, it was very embarrassing and way annoying when this would happen. I uploaded a video that shows somewhat of an example.

Progress Up-Date

For my 21st birthday I got a new camera and I have decided to video record my progress. I will post the video on my blog about, probably, every other month, hopefully. I got a new camera because I fell on my last one (stupid balance problem haha). Sorry about it being sideways. I had my sister record and she flipped the camera sideways, then I had no idea how to make it go the right way on the computer so, I’m really sorry about that. Next time the camera won’t be the wrong way. Because I didn’t want the video to be too long I left out some things I wanted to say. Since the right side of my cerebellum was the side removed, I have more problems on my right side. One of the problems is my right leg starts to shake when it gets tired. I’m not tired but my leg is and when it starts to shake, it tends to get really annoying. Another thing is my balance is horrible on my right leg. When I walk I have to hope that I’m balanced on each leg enough that I can step and not fall over. But, my walking has gotten SO much better; I can’t say enough that I have been incredibly blessed. There is tons more but I can’t list them all.

Re-learning How to Walk

Those first few months after my operation were incredibly hard. The first time my physical therapist had me stand was very hard. Because it took so much energy, I remember thinking I don't care if I ever stood again. The first time I walked with a walker my legs felt like jello, they would just flop along. I had two grown men on both sides to hold me up and then my walker. I would take about 5 steps and then turn around to go back to bed because it would take all the energy from me that I had. I thought I would never walk alone again. I remember thinking, “How in the WORLD can people walk on these two little sticks.” It was the weirdest concept to me. The first time I took a few steps on my own, I remember my sisters and I were in the front room. I was determined I was going to walk on my own. If I ever thought my life was hard before, now I wish for the problems I had then instead. When I took those first few steps by myself my sisters and I started to cry from joy. I will probably never have the joy that I had knowing I accomplished something that doctors thought I would never be able to do again. Now my walking is pretty good, pretty darn good for a girl that at one point couldn’t even lift her head off the pillow. I have been extremely blessed with my recovery. My older sister, Aubrey, when I was learning to walk she would tell me always, “If gymnast’s in the Olympics can do flips and land on this tiny little board, you can learn to walk.” I was so amazed by the athletes in the Winter Olympics. Amazing but we have to remember though, how blessed we are with these amazing bodies that can do so much. We have to remember it was our Heavenly Father that gave us our different talents and abilities and we can never become too confident in our abilities because they can be gone in one second. Did you ever hear about that US snowboarder that was training for the Olympics and hit his head on the half pipe and now has a TBI (traumatic brain injury)? Kevin Pearce, he is only a few months into it and oh my heck, those first few months are terrible. I was a healthy 19 yr. old who was training to do a ½ marathon that summer with my friend, Kelsie. I would say I was in pretty good shape at that time. Then, one day, I almost died, was in a bed unable to walk, talk, or do anything on my own. Well, I have rambled on way too much, just thought I would get some of my thoughts down.

Visit to Idaho

This last weekend we went to Idaho to visit some of those people that were a great help and showed their support while I was in the Hospital. Along with me were my mom, dad, and my younger sister Rachel. Friday we went to see the neurosurgeon that operated on my head and had removed the AVM. He wanted to see what I was capable of doing so he did some little movement tests and asked what I am doing right now. He was very pleased with the progress I had made. He told me just continue what I’m doing and then continue to get better. After that visit we went to have lunch at the Jamison’s, my relatives. Brenda Jamison, the mother of the family, would be like my mom when I was in the Hospital. She would take care of me so my mom could leave the Hospital a few hours a day. Then we hurried over to meet with President Clark, the president of BYU-Idaho. We talked with him, his wife, his secretary, and President Eyring ( the Apostles, Henry Eyring’s son. He is Stake president of some of the BYU-I wards). We talked for about a half-hour. Then the next day, Saturday, we went to lunch with my good friend, Kelsie and her husband, Nate at Bajio’s. For dinner we went over to Bishop Sevy’s house, the bishop of the singles ward that I was in at the time of my accident. For those who have no idea what a bishop is I’ll try to explain. A bishop acts like a father of a group of people haha sorry, I hope that helps. His sweet wife, Sister Sevy who also came to the hospital a lot to be with me while my mom left for a few hours a day, she had made a wonderful dinner for us. Later that night, the councilors in the bishopric of Bishop Sevy’s ward came over for a visit. The very next day, Sunday, my family and I went to the singles ward I use to be in, it made me miss it a lot. I told the ward a little about what happened and what was going on. After that we met with President Eyring again and had him give me a priesthood blessing. After all that, we headed home. It was a pretty hectic weekend but was really good.

The Neurosurgeon that operated on my head, Dr. Greenwald

Bishop and Sister Sevy

My family and I at lunch with Kelsie and Nate

So, all I could find was the article on the benefit concert. There use to be a video that showed the ad on the news but I guess it was too long ago that it is not there anymore. So, the link is below, that was all I could find.
Benefit Concert in Rexburg

2 Amazing Stories

So, I think these stories both are pretty incredible. Here are the links below, check them out and see what you think!
Melody Gardot's Pain and Triumphs
Utahn climbs Kilimanjaro on one leg

The Scar

Here is my scar if you never have seen it. Luckily my hair is now growing over it and now you would have no idea it was there.

"Come What May, and Love It"

It was about 2 weeks after my surgery that I realized that I was alive and I existed. I was never in a coma but I guess I just never was fully there. I think it was a blessing from Heavenly Father so I wouldn’t be shocked and wouldn’t feel the pain of what just happened during those first couple of days. After I realized I existed I began to remember everything, the dance-class I went to that morning, the headache, the laying on the floor to get comfortable, and then passing out. It started to all make sense but I was still confused about what this all meant. When I was in the hospital I cried a lot. At first I would cry a couple times every hour, then slowly about once an hour, then once a day, then once a week, and then every other week. Now, since I can see the end of this trial is closer I cry now about once a month. The first months after the accident were incredibly hard and I would read the talk, “Come What May, and Love It” by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the LDS Church for comfort. To read the talk, here is the link:
"Come What May, and Love it" By Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
It helped me get through the days in the hospital. A family that went to the same church as I did at home came to visit me while I was in the hospital. I told them about the talk I like to read and since the dad of the family, Kevin Reid, owns a jewelry shop, he had a ring made for me with the words, “Come What May, and Love It”. Since they had given me the ring, I haven’t taken it off because it helps remind me that there is a reason I’m going through this trial and I need to trust in the Lord to get through it.

My Wonderful Family

I have the best support in the world. I have been really blessed with a family that helps me with anything that I need during this whole ordeal. I have 4 sisters and no brother’s but my 3 older sisters are married, so it feels like now I have brothers because they tend to treat me like I’m a little sister. Above is a picture of me and all my sisters and the grandchildren. From left to right my sisters are my younger sister Rachel, Aubrey that is my older sister, me, Sarah my older sister and Marie that is my older sister.



I’m the auntie of the craziest, loudest, cutest kids ever. The above picture, Left to right is Logan, my older sister Marie’s little boy. Next to him are Amber and Landon who are my older sister Sarah’s little kids. The picture just below that is Blake; he is my older sister Aubrey’s little boy and I always want to smother him with kisses because he is so cute but Aubrey doesn’t let me.


My older sisters Marie and Sarah are prego with GIRLS. We are really glad because my niece Amber needs some girls to play with. They are both due really close together so those two little girls will be really close in age and will be hopefully the best of friends.


Last but not least, my parents. They have been AMAZING! Now, I think nurses are great but no one loves you as much as your parents do. My mom stayed with me the whole 2 and ½ months I was in the hospital and if she wasn’t there, well, I just might not be here. For instance, the first time they removed the breathing tube I was not ready to have it removed and that whole night I was chocking on air, gasping for breath. My mom was scared the whole night and finally ran over and told the nurses I was not able to breathe on my own yet, I needed the breathing tube again. Then another time, after my operation, I was on a whole lot of meds and they made me hallucinate a lot. Being stuck in the mentality that I was still completely normal, I tried to get out of bed to go to the store and a few times I succeeded. Then, it was my mom who was the one who found me lying on the floor since I could not walk or even stand, there would be no way I could get back in bed by myself. Then there has been my dad, he has been the one to push me everyday. Really, I would not be doing as well as I’m doing without him. Everyday, he took me to practice walking and now we are working on running because we are determined that I’m going to run that 5k I’m planning on running in August. Even when I’m in the worst mood ever he still helps me. Even though sometimes I don’t even act like it, I am really grateful for that. So there you go, if you were wondering, that is my family!

A little something for me while I was in the hospital

I promise, if you don’t know already, the best thing for a recovering person from brain surgery is lots and lots of sleep. That is all I would do the first months after my operation. Sometimes it got really annoying how much I needed to sleep. While I was in the hospital my days would consist of sleep, eating, therapy, and going to bathroom. My life was way boring. So, the highlight of my day would be when I had visitors but sometimes the desire to sleep would come over me and as much as I would try to fight it, it would usually win. One day, while being in the hospital, I was asleep and my older sister Marie and her husband Dane said they had a surprise for me. Since I wanted to keep sleeping I told them I didn’t care and they were like, ‘k, whatever.” Suddenly I heard a voice talking to me on the computer and was suddenly awake and pulled the laptop over to me to see what it was. My little sister Rachel had wrote the singer Kerli and told her my situation. Rachel knew I liked Kerli’s music because while having her own style, her lyrics are really positive.
I went to Kerli's concert a little under a year and half ago and met her. It was a halloween party so we got to dress up for it. Here is the picture we took

Kerli made a video for me while being in the hospital; it was really nice of her, so here it is below:

What I have been up to..

On Saturday, January 23rd I went to my little sister, Rachel's cheer competition. She is on her High School Varsity Squad. They did really good! Above is a picture of me and her after she had competed.



Last Sunday I taught the lesson to the yw laurels class in my ward. I made Valentines Day cookies for all the girls. I am so glad because last Valentines Day I was stuck in bed, unable to talk, walk, or move at all so ANYTHING will be better than last Valentines Day and making some cookies would be near to impossible! During the surgery to remove the AVM they had to remove a part of my cerebellum. Here is a little health class for ya, something I never cared about before until now. The cerebellum is located at the base of the brain and controls balance and coordination. The right side of the cerebellum controls the right side of the body and the left controls the left side unlike the rest of the brain that controls opposite sides. The cerebellum is unique because it’s actually is considered its own brain and is called the “small brain”. Since a part of my cerebellum was removed, all my motor skills were affected and since it was on the right side my right side was even more affected. During the first months after the operation I had severe ataxia. My right arm was super shaky and uncoordinated. I remember in the hospital I tried to open a wrapper and kept dropping it because I could not hold onto it. Then one time I tried to clap my hands but missed them both completely. I remember the first time I tried tying my shoe it took me a ½ hour because I couldn’t hold onto the shoelace. Well, I wanted to just give you a little piece of my experience so hopefully this gives you an idea.