Sharon Korkes

Wobbling Into The Woobles: My First Crochet Adventure

Today was an okay day. I’ve been in pain — manageable in the morning, but by afternoon, my hands start complaining, and walking even short distances (like to the kitchen or bathroom) kicks things up a notch. My hands, especially, have been feeling it lately. Still, I’m trying not to let it get me down.

One thing that definitely lifted my mood? My Woobles package arrived! For those who haven’t heard of them, The Woobles creates beginner-friendly crochet kits that walk you through making your own adorable little animals — no experience required. Each kit comes with everything you need, plus super-clear video tutorials that make it easy and (dare I say?) fun.

I’m starting with Nico the Cat, because of course, I am the Cat Mom. My hands aren’t thrilled about a crochet project right now, but I’m looking at it as both a fun challenge and a way to give my fingers some gentle exercise. Plus, the Woobles kits are so cute, it’s hard not to want a whole menagerie.

If you’re curious, you can check them out here: thewoobles.com. They have everything from penguins to bunnies to dinosaurs — basically a small zoo you can make with yarn.

Tomorrow, the adventure begins. Fingers crossed… literally.
Stay tuned to see if Nico the Cat turns out picture-perfect — or if he ends up looking more like Nico the “What-Exactly-Is-That?” 🐾

Helpful Equipment I Use

John has been so helpful to me. He has purchased or rented the equipment I need, even before I knew that I needed it. I use them every day, and they have allowed me to move around my home almost as if my legs were not hampered by the CIDP. Here is a list of what I use.

I want to add links to each of the products below, but that is taking a while. I’m going to publish this without the links, but I hope you’ll come back as I update them. It is so weird to use my hands and fingers right now. Even my fingertips are struggling.

So, here we go.

Shower head
This shower head has a rainshower head mounted at the top with a handheld shower head with a hose that easily reaches when I am seated. It also has a toggle to pause the water when needed and turn it back on again.

Walker
This is what I used in the hospital and when I first came home. It was helpful, but after a while, it became a bit difficult to use. It had small wheels on the back legs, but I still had to pick it up to move a step across the carpet. I really wanted something that would help me achieve a more normal walking gait. Soon after, John invested in a rolling walker. That was a game-changer.

Rechargeable hand massager
John gave me this when I first started having hand pain and mobility issues. It gently massages and warms my hands one at a time. I usually use it for 15 minutes at a time, but lately, because my hands have been hurting more, I can only use it for about five minutes.

Step and handrail beside the bed
We have a high bed, and these help me to get in and out of bed safely.

Electric Leg Exerciser
I use this while seated on the couch. It has pedals that move my legs like those on a bicycle. It does it automatically, and I have a remote control to turn it off and on and adjust the speed.

Foot massager
This is similar to the hand massager, but for my feet. I can have both feet massaged at the same time. My feet and legs hurt all the time, and this helps to give me some temporary relief.

Bedside commode chair
We haven’t placed this beside the bed, but instead removed the bucket underneath and put it over the toilet in our bathroom. It is raised higher than the toilet bowl and has arms. That helps me to be seated appropriately.

Rollator Walker
This has been the most helpful for me. It has handlebars with hand brakes that I use when the rollator is parked, and a seat with a basket underneath. I use the basket to transport small items from room to room, like the book I’m reading, a notebook and pen, or my iPad. It also has a cup and phone holder that I use to hold my water bottle and iPhone.

Pouch for the front of the rollator
This was gifted to me when I was in the hospital the last time. It was handmade by volunteers. It is meant for a walker, but it fits nicely on the front of the rollator. It has pouches that allow me to carry things from room to room, like my pain meds, crackers for a snack, etc.

Cup and Phone Holder for the Rollator
John thoughtfully got me a cup/phone holder that clips onto the handlebars of my Rollator. It is very helpful to carry my water bottle to be refilled or even a glass of wine in the evening. The phone holder is, obviously, where I place my phone when moving from room to room. I’m due for a new iPhone, and we have confirmed that it will fit in the phone holder.

Bench for the shower
This is a bench that fits the back of the shower so I can sit facing the shower head. I’m still afraid of taking a shower because getting in and out, especially when the floor is wet, is a bit dicey, but the bench helps a great deal.

Hand cream for pain and nerve relief
I use two different hand creams throughout the day. They help a little bit, but applying the cream and massaging my hands is mostly what gives me temporary relief. The creams I use are Hempvana Ultra Pain Relief Cream and Nervive Pain Relieving Cream. I have also used Aspercream with Lidocaine.

CBD Oil
This oil is THC-free and contains 2000mg. I use the dropper to put the oil under my tongue. I use it 2-3 times a day.

This seems like a lot when I see a list like this, but they are used throughout the day and only take a short amount of time. Each of them is helpful in its own way, and I will continue to use them until they are no longer needed (which I’m praying will be sooner rather than later).

Some of the products mentioned here are affiliate links, and I make a small commission. There is no cost to you.

Uncertainty

Today has been another rough day. I don’t know where my fingers are, I don’t know where my feet are. It’s the weirdest thing I have ever felt. And also the most frustrating.

I think I may have posted this before, but it’s hard to tell where my feet are when I need to get up and walk. Yet, they do what they need to do. My hands hurt and are numb. I don’t know how I am typing this entry, yet I am. It’s like the mind wants to do something, but the body doesn’t want to cooperate.

This is the absolute weirdest thing I have ever gone through.

Journaling + Tsunami Warning

I’m always curious about how others journal, and have lately been reading a lot about how writers have used journals. Unfortunately, I haven’t journaled in a while, and I was encouraged. So I pulled out one of my own blank books to start journaling again. Once again, I was not remembering what I am going through health-wise. And once again, I was disappointed.

I could barely pull the journal off the bookshelf and hold it in my hands. It’s just a simple faux leather hardcover book, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, with 96 pages. I don’t know how much it weighs, but it can’t be more than a cup of coffee, which admittedly, I haven’t been able to hold either.

As I opened it to a blank page and planned to write, I realized that I could not write anything that would be legible. I couldn’t even hold my pen.

This hurt me on a deep level. I’ve written in a journal since I was a young girl. I haven’t written consistently at all, but I’ve been trying. Now, I can’t seem to handwrite at all. That makes me so sad.

Thankfully, I have found an alternative. I can write online, duh. I’m using the online journal, Day One. That has been working for me. It is still very hard for me to type because I can’t feel the keys, so now I just “hunt and peck.” But I will take what I can get.

On another note, there is a tsunami warning for the West Coast and Hawaii due to an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Japan. Hawaii’s west coast is evacuating. It seems like this may be a serious thing.

Say Hello to Bluey McRollface

My legs, thanks to GBS and CIDP, aren’t exactly doing the heavy lifting these days. Numbness, weakness, and general rebellion from the thighs down have turned a simple stroll into a high-stakes event. So, enter the rollator.

Okay, friends—this post is one part confession, one part celebration. The confession? I now require a rollator to walk safely. Hopefully, it is just temporary. The celebration? She’s got personality. And she needs a name. If I’m going to roll through life a little off-kilter, I might as well do it with style, humor, and a trusty sidekick by my side.

The Wheels of Change

The first time I used the rollator, I felt awkward and clunky—like I’d accidentally walked onto the set of a medical drama. My legs, thanks to GBS and CIDP, aren’t exactly doing the heavy lifting these days. Numbness, weakness, and general rebellion from the thighs down have turned a simple stroll into a high-stakes event. So, enter the rollator: not just a mobility aid, but a steady companion for unsteady grace.

And you know what? She’s grown on me. She’s sleek, she’s sassy, and she’s a cheerful shade of navy blue—like a Smurf with a driver’s license.

Naming My Not-So-Stealthy Sidekick

If I’m going to walk around with a set of wheels, I may as well treat it like the diva she is. And divas need names. Serious contenders so far:

Bluey McRollface (because the internet has taught us that every naming process deserves chaos)
The Rolling Duchess (for when I’m feeling extra regal)
Sapphire Sass (she’s classy and snarky)
The Stumble Coach (honest advertising)
Walker, Texas Swagger (she doesn’t chase bad guys, but she is bad news for door thresholds)

Naming her made something shift in me—something light. It’s easier to laugh at the weirdness of all this when you’re doing it with a friend. Even if that friend is made of aluminum and comes with a built-in seat.

Joy on Wheels

The best part? I no longer dread using her. Now, when I grab my rollator, I smile a little. Sometimes I even talk to her (quietly — John doesn’t need to know that, LOL). I’m happy to let Bluey stretch her wheels and exercise my feet and legs in the process.

It’s a reminder that I can take something heavy—like losing mobility—and paint it with a bit of humor and a lot of heart. Maybe it’s grace. Maybe it’s grit. Maybe it’s just a woman and her shiny blue battle buddy, rolling through life together.

The Day My Legs Quit and My Cat Took Over

It started with a simple walk to the kitchen. Or rather, the attempt at a walk. My legs, bless their rebellious little hearts, just gave up halfway. It wasn’t a dramatic collapse—thankfully, I had my rollator. It was more like a controlled kneel to the floor, like I was melting.

Some days I feel like my body is a toddler throwing a tantrum—flailing, unpredictable, and way too loud. This week had one of those days. But as always, I’m still here, figuring it out, one shaky step (or nap) at a time.

When My Legs Clocked Out

It started with a simple walk to the kitchen. Or rather, the attempt at a walk. My legs, bless their rebellious little hearts, just gave up halfway. It wasn’t a dramatic collapse—thankfully, I had my rollator in front of me. It was more like a controlled kneel to the floor, like I was melting.

I sat there, half-laughing, half-gritting my teeth, wondering how in the world I was going to stand back up. I considered just making my way back to the couch on my knees. But, by some miracle, I did manage to stand back up, turn myself around, and slowly make it back to the couch. Graceful? No. Determined? Absolutely.

What Helped: The “5-Minute Rule”

When I get overwhelmed (or immobilized), I’ve started using something I call the “5-Minute Rule.” I give myself five minutes to feel whatever I’m feeling—frustration, grief, rage that my legs are acting like divas. After that, I shift focus. Sometimes I breathe. Sometimes I stare at the cats until they judge me back to reality.

It doesn’t fix everything, but it keeps the spiral from pulling me under.

Comic Relief, Courtesy of the Cat

Speaking of the cats, Minnie saw me on the floor and clearly assumed I had finally accepted her superiority. She jumped up onto the seat of my rollator, which she had never done before, sat down, and looked at me. Not helpful, but oddly comforting.

Honestly, if she had opposable thumbs, I’m convinced she’d be running this household—and possibly this blog.

How about you?
Have you had a “melting moment” lately? If you’re in the thick of it, know this: you’re not broken—you’re adapting. And even on the floor, you’re still standing in your own kind of strength.

Unsteady Legs

I’ve been having trouble with my legs and weakness. It’s hard for me to walk from the living room to the bathroom. I am having to rely on John for so many things, and I don’t like that. I don’t like having to ask him for help because I know he has a lot going on. He’s working on his trading, and that has to be monitored constantly.

My Diagnosis

I have been diagnosed by a few doctors with having Guillain-Barré Syndrome as well as Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP). It came as a bit of a surprise because I had never heard of those diseases. When the doctors told me about it in the hospital, I was at a loss. I didn’t know what the heck they were talking about. They explained them to me, but once I was home again, I did research on my own.

Just as a reminder, my feet, legs, and hands are affected. It is hard for me to walk because I can’t feel my feet. I can’t tell where they are. Are they on the floor? Are they pointed in the right way?

I’m managing it so far, but it is tough. I haven’t told anyone how hard it is for me because I don’t want them to worry. On the other hand, I could really use some support. So I am torn.

All About Grace

I’ve never really thought about grace before. What is it? What does it mean?

There are apparently many definitions of grace. Here is the one that resonated with me: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification

I can tell you that over the past several months, I have learned about grace.

When I have trouble dressing myself? I give myself grace.
When I have trouble preparing my own meals? I give myself grace.
When I have trouble getting into bed? I give myself grace.

I don’t like it one bit, but this is my life at the moment, so I have to deal with it.

I am extremely thankful to John for taking care of so many of my needs. He stepped in when I didn’t even ask for it.

Let’s Do This

Well, here I am. I’m starting a new blog to document the illnesses I am going through, but more importantly, how I am dealing with them.

My diagnosis has been Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.

This has been one of the hardest things I have had to go through. It has tested me to my limits, but I am glad to say that I have not let it take me down.

I most certainly am having some hard things to deal with. Just typing this entry is painful for me, but I am determined to push through it. I can’t allow myself to just sit by and let this illness take over me. I have things I want to do, and I am determined to still do them. It might take longer than I would like, and it will probably hurt quite a bit. But I will win.

The purpose of this blog is to document what I am experiencing and how I am getting through it. I’m hoping that it might help someone who is starting to experience the same thing.

So, let’s do this.