For many months after her accident, Molly had virtually no control of her body. The things we take for granted, she could not do. Her body would spasm in response to a gentle breeze on the other side of the room. Doctors were giving her little or no reason to hope. Eventually, in the tiniest ways, she began to focus on what she could control, and to play with different approaches that might result in a small bit of progress. If she could move a finger or toe on a given day, she would practice with it.
Molly has put together her own training regimen that continues to this day, literally learning alternative ways to will her arms and legs to move -- even though the systems that allow the rest of us to move no longer function properly in Molly's body.
Six days a week Molly spends two hours in a 92 degree heated therapeutic pool, in which she can now walk unaided. Her sessions include fifteen minutes in deep water with a mask and snorkel, where she playfully somersaults and tumbles with the intention to reintegrate her whole body movements.
"I can walk now, but I need balance support. When I'm moving through the world, I'm aware of everything - every uneven piece of sidewalk, every sound, every indication of what may be coming towards me."
Although Molly can dress and feed herself, each action takes a great deal of patience, time and effort. On a good day, when her limbs are cooperating, she can get dressed in fifteen minutes.