I was scheduled for knee surgery and my surgeon (Dr. Todd Clevenger) provided a list of providers. I called my way through the list to get some idea of prices and available times because I have a very busy schedule. When I called Siskiyou PT, Marcelle answered the phone and was so welcoming and happy to share information with me; which was so different from other places I called that day. I decided to choose Siskiyou PT. I wanted to go some place where I wouldn’t feel like I’m imposing just by walking in the door; that they’re happy to see me. Everyone at Siskiyou PT has been. I chose surgery because my injury was keeping me out of my martial arts. I have firm goals and time markers that I want to meet and everyone at Siskiyou PT has been incredibly proactive in helping me reach them. When I don’t understand why I’m doing a particular movement, John and Kendra explain what muscles the motion will activate and how that will affect my strength, endurance or balance. They’ve shared information with my trainer at the gym to develop a program that works in tandem with my PT and helps me rebuild my knee back to where I need it. They’ve let me push myself as far as I feel comfortable. They’ve also made sure I didn’t overextend myself because I pushed too fast, too soon. And most importantly, when I felt like I couldn’t do anymore, they gave me the encouragement (and maybe a little prodding) to do “just one more” repetition. When I pick up my sword again, I’m going to be ready to give my best, right out of the gate.
I’m a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (sca.org), an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of the middle ages and the Renaissance including the martial arts. This form of sword-fighting has been my focus of study for over 15 years and has long since been my abiding passion. The SCA has also offered me a world of other things to explore: historical clothing, foods, medieval entertainment and a family of like-minded people all over the world. If I went to New York City or Japan or even Antarctica, I’d find a member of the SCA there. I’m also an expatriate Cheese head (Go Badgers!) and a die-hard Packers fan. (And yes, I *do* have one of those cheese wedge hats).
