The Immortalization of My Mother's Foot at St Thomas' London

I've been dreaming about my mother's death these last few days, no idea why. It reminded me of her extraordinary story in taking Alexander Technique lessons. I'm short on the specifics, long on the tale, so enjoy an uplifting story of redemption… A Nasty Fall and a Broken Bone The doctors at St Thomas' Hospital in London were terribly excited looking at the fracture of my mother's foot - they had seen nothing like it before. In fact, they politely asked if they could copy and file it in their library's X-Ray records. They did, so if you have access you can look up my mother's foot: Maureen Lovell Chance. The hospital did it's best, my mother returned home to Sydney, but slowly the difficulty of walking, the resting pains, the trouble it gave her increased. It seemed it would never get better. After a year she sought help, and got a reference to an Orthopaedic specialist in Macquarie St - Sydney's equivalent of Harley St, London - where the very best see their patients. The news was shocking. Her foot, in the opinion of her doctor, was fatally weak and she needed a caliper leg brace to maintain the ability of her legs to walk. It was a horrifying revelation to me mother, but they made another appointment for a month's time to do the fitting. A Summit Is A-Foot She summoned us all - teachers of the Alexander Technique. It was 1987. The cast included my Self, my two sisters Rosemary and Elizabeth, Mum's best friend Judy Champ, and her son-in-law Bill Brenner: all teachers of the Alexander Technique. She requested we each give her a lesson once a week, totally 6 lessons with Sundays off. We agreed. After three weeks she cancelled her appointment with the doctor - her foot was giving her no more trouble. "Excuse me Mrs Chance, but I have the doctor online…" Mum: "I see." Doctor: "Mrs Chance, I see you cancelled your appointment." Mum: "Yes Doctor, my foot has fully recovered. My children and friends have helped me." Doctor: " I am concerned Mrs Chance. In my experience, a foot in your condition will only worsen, please reconsider." Mum: "Thank you Doctor, but really it's OK. My children have taught me Alexander Technique." A pause. Doctor: "Alexander Technique?" Mum: "Yes, my foot has completely recovered." Doctor: "Honestly Mrs Chance, I find that very hard to believe. Please let me re-examine it - I will not charge you for this appointment…" My mother dutifully went along for her free appointment, happy to show the doctor the fruits of her lessons. After his examination the doctor was amazed. "This is not the foot I saw a month ago. It is remarkable. I have never seen anything like this." My mother was very proud of her children, and delighted to be confirmed in her own diagnostic abilities. To her death, her foot gave her very little trouble. Another practitioner was sold, and a few more referrals came the way of Alexander Technique teachers in Sydney. To my 40 ATSuccess members: can you share an uplifting story to startour next month together?