Happy “Occupational Therapy Day” – I’m Doing Some PR For the OTs

Today is "World Occupational Therapy Day 2016". I know - it doesn't get much press. The reason I'm celebrating? My lovely wife is an occupational therapist down at Sparrow - AND, I've actually had OT. If you've never had occupational therapy, you're probably wondering, "what is it?"

Here's the definition from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists:

The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. In occupational therapy, occupations refer to the everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life. Occupations include things people need to, want to and are expected to do.  

That means, if you injure a hand, suffer a stroke or sustain a head injury that prevents you from doing your normal daily activities - like getting dressed, cooking, typing or a lot of the skills associated with work - you'll probably see an occupational therapist. I had to get OT last year after surgery to repair a tendon in my pinky finger that my dog Axel tore, because he's a big German Shepherd and one day, I had his leash wrapped around my hand too tight. After getting OT, I am happy to report I can now drink tea, with the Queen, with my pinky outstretched, whenever that call comes.

Neither one of us were clear on what OT was, when my youngest daughter had a severe stroke back in 2003. To say OT helped her would be an understatement. It took a long time, but today, thanks to the OTs (and physical therapists) at Sparrow, there's not much she can't do.

So, happy "Occupational Therapy Day". To celebrate, I'll be ordering Chinese food tonight for my wife - by dialing with just my right pinky.

Banana Don and Stephanie McCoy amuse and thrill you every weekday morning from 5:30 – 10AM on the radio at 100.7 WITL.

Banana Don can be reached via email at don.jefferson@townsquaremedia.com and on Twitter at @WITLBananaDon and @WITLFM. Also, Facebook friend Banana Don and Stephanie at Facebook.com/BananaStephanie and Facebook.com/WITLFM.