#stepsforbeth

[Renee_Carney]

Adversity can appear for any of us at any moment. The adversities we face do not define us, but the actions we take in the face of adversity do shape us. This week, I was reminded that actions during adversity do not just mold and shape individuals, but they also provide the opportunity to shape, and shine a light on, the communities of an individual.

This story of Community begins further back in the Twitter timeline—Beth Crook’s July 22nd tweet is where we are first introduced to the #stepsforbeth call to action.

If you have never had the chance to attend InstructureCon, you may not know how big of a request this was. InstructureCon has always had golf cart shuttles, but since the move to Keystone, CO, shuttle busses have been a necessity—for both distance and elevation (9,173′). Asking people, some of which are complete strangers, to walk more than they have to at 9,000’ elevation, is a mountain of an ask.

  

Despite the elements, when it came to supporting one of our own, distance and elevation were no match for the sense of caring in our Community. Prior to, and throughout the conference (July 25–27, 2017), the steps rolled in. Here are just a few highlights:

July 24th:

@KRogersSA - Today I did 8,618 #stepsforbeth - walking around #InstCon is prettier than riding in a shuttle!
@KonaRJones - It's been a busy start to #InstCon! Got in 13,229 #stepsforbeth and definitely earned the extra slice of pizza at dinner!

July 25th:

@poprox_conroy - It's 6pm and I've walked 8,604 #stepsforbeth ❤️
@KRogersSA - Second day at #InstCon for me and I did 14,766 #stepsforbeth.

July 26th:

@malapertmarc - 14,102 #stepsforbeth maybe I should have taken the shuttle bus.
@lindajeanlee - Last #InstCon day step total: 15,298 steps, 150% of my daily goal! #stepsforbeth
@aggal98 - 13,164 #stepsforbeth today. Loved every single one of them! #InstCon
@erinmmilne - Did 15,386 #stepsforbeth at #InstCon today!

July 27th:

@mjennings_uab - 13,668 #stepsforbeth on the last day of #instcon
@kblundstrum - 8,976 #stepsforbeth

July 28th:

@rseilham - 38,031 steps at #instcon #stepsforbeth

@AmyWard3086 - Thursday step count 16,478 #stepsforbeth #instcon

My non-scientific calculations captured over 400,000 steps logged for Beth this InstructureCon, and those were just the ones that were tweeted with the hashtag.  The caring keeps rolling in… check out #stepsforbeth on Twitter.

 @BethCrook ‌, you’re an amazing woman, with a humble heart and genuine love for those around you! Today, in my own 12,889 steps for you, I reflected on how you turned your adversity into an opportunity to unite and build up the communities that surround and support you. 

Thank you for this lesson in humanity!

:smileyinfo:  Keep logging your steps, and encouraging one of our own!  Tweet them, or add them as a comment to this thread!  Beth, we look forward to following your progress!

[kona]

So much love for this!  @BethCrook ‌ is amazing and I've logged 7,942 stepsforbeth today!

[kenneth_rogers]

Thanks for doing this,  @Renee_Carney ‌!  @BethCrook ‌ was a crucial member of the Intelligence Exchange and was greatly missed, so the least I could do was log my stepsforbeth‌ during the week! 

I suggest everyone else go and follow Beth on Twitter. She's really letting you in on her journey and showing you how awesome she is

[scottdennis]

[BethCrook]

You all...Renee..speechless.  Seriously.  It is because of you and your constant support that I'm pushing forward as hard as I can in every session.  I'm walking out of this place when I'm discharged!  It's incredible to know that I was paralyzed only 2.5 weeks ago from this stroke.  I've got a long road ahead of me, but I'm not giving up.  I'll be walking beside you at InstCon18!!

[Renee_Carney]

We're looking forward to that, Beth!

[kmeeusen]

 @BethCrook 

I almost cried for joy when I saw you post in the Community earlier this week! I don't tweet, and I don't Fitbit, but I would walk to the Moon to see you well.

And at InstCon '18, we will all walk with you anywhere you want to go! You will be leading a parade, girl!

Kelley

[BethCrook]

I cannot wait!  Long day today.  First day wearing shoes and had to actually relearn how to walk with shoes on my feet.  Crazy right?  At this point, I can walk very short distances with walker and beyond that I'm in the wheelchair. But all of this progress in 2 weeks!  So let's see what the next two weeks bring!

[kmeeusen]

Wow,  @BethCrook you are rocking your recovery!

This is just too cool, and so good to hear!

Stay strong, and stay motivated!

Kelley

[awilliams]

I tweeted about this, but I think it belongs here too. I was sad that I didn't have a fitness tracker and that my Samsung health app didn't seem to be tracking my steps. Then I found out it was and I just wasn't using it properly. Here's a recap of my stepsforbeth‌ since leaving for Keystone last Sunday.

#StepsforBeth - YouTube 

[scottdennis]

Hey Adam,

I was sad that I couldn't participate either, during the conference so I asked for a fitbit as my birthday present this year.  Too late to participate but #stepsforbeth‌ pushed me to finally get a tracker.

[BethCrook]

It's NEVER too late to participate!   #stepsforbeth will be happening on twitter and facebook for a long road toward recovery.  

[scottdennis]

Tweeted!

[tdurbin]

I am just now hearing about the #stepsforbeth #StepsForBeth

In the action packed days at my first InstCon, I logged in well over 46,959 steps or roughly 24+ miles in 3 days. (my phone app is inaccurate & clocks step count significantly lower than actual). It was an amazing event & it would be my pleasure to meet you at next years InstCon. Having my phone off for half a day & not tracking the 2 other days spent at pre-cons & the un-conference Friday, I would guess that there is well over 30 miles for the week.

Keep up the amazing progress, take care of your health & focus on recovery! Next year will be an amazing year for sure!

Good luck!

[BethCrook]

Looking forward to meeting you next year Tye!

[cgaudreau]

During the InstCon dates, I tallied 18,830 stepsforbeth‌ on my small little campus tucked all the way on the other side of the states.

Nice community you got here, Beth

[BethCrook]

No, nice community WE have here!!  You too!

[jbreslow]

Hello,

I don't mean any disrespect to Beth or anybody supporting her, but what is this all about? Why are people counting steps for Beth? Unless I missed something, I am new to the community, this post doesn't seem to give much background on what #StepsForBeth is. I wanna know! I wanna be in the loop! I wanna be one of the cool kids!

Thank you kind people of the Canvas Community!

Josh

[Renee_Carney]

Hi Josh.

This is a great question.  It is hard to know the back story without looking at the Twitter thread, but here is a quick summary.  Also, I'm going to see if I can embed the thread somewhere in this post!

Beth is a very active, respected, and loved member of our Community.  Before InstructureCon, the annual Canvas conference, she was even working with other community members to put together the https://community.canvaslms.com/message/71659-canvas-intelligence-exchange?sr=search&searchId=b00884...‌, a community initiated and community facilitated meet-up!  A few weeks before the conference she experienced a spinal stroke - and one of her requests was for people to track steps at the conference to help inspire her recovery.  The conference is now over, but we're still counting!

[jbreslow]

Thank you for the back-story  @Renee_Carney ‌, that helps.

This community blows me away. Everyone seems so supportive and helpful, it is really awesome to see. Kudos to everyone.

Josh

[Renee_Carney]

I agree!  It really feels like an extension of family!

I tried to embed the feed in here, but didn't have much luck.  You can read the tweets here #stepsforbeth

   Default view will show you the top tweets.  I usually click "Latest" to view them all.

[BethCrook]

Correction - exactly 1 week before I was supposed to fly to Keystone!!  Details, details....      

 @jbreslow  My husband started the hashtag on facebook and I gave it to the Canvas Intel co-organizers to help me in recovery as a fun joke and then it ran from there.  And I'm finding soooo much inspiration from all of the #stepsforbeth and blown away by the support.  It makes me do that much more in therapy.  

I just got my discharge date of next Wednesday, just after the 1 month mark of my stroke!  Cannot wait to see my home and cuddle with my young kiddos and figure out my new normal.  Until then, I push hard in therapy and create Canvas courses for work!  (not even kidding!  keeping my brain busy!) 

[jbreslow]

Hi  @BethCrook ‌, it is great to hear that you are doing so well and will be back home soon. Stay strong!

[ysmalls]

 @BethCrook , glad to hear that you are getting stronger each day.  

Positive thoughts being sent your way.

[BethCrook]

Hi everyone!  After a month in the rehabilitation hospital, I moved home yesterday!  It was pretty exhausting, but so good to be home with my kids and in my own bed.  I'm still in the wheelchair and using the walker sparingly until I build up my strength more and get my leg/foot brace next week. No rest because I start out patient PT today! Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers and I'll keep posting to #stepsforbeth on twitter as I continue therapy and challenge you all!       

[Stef_retired]

Hi,  @BethCrook , and Welcome back! I've been following your journey on Twitter, and am so happy to see you here again. 

[BethCrook]

Thank you Stephanie!

[kona]

You are amazingly strong and I'm so happy to hear that you're back home! 

[kmeeusen]

Woo Hoo, Beth!

Another awesome milestone!

Kelley

[Renee_Carney]

We're looking forward to the challenges!  It is so great to hear you are home!  I'm super excited to see pictures of you in your amazing flower garden!

[BethCrook]

That was one of the first things we did when I pulled into home on Wednesday was ride straight down to the back of the property so I could see the flowers.  It grew so much and there are soooo many flowers!  Unfortunately I cannot get down there to cut.   But Jason will go down and cut me a fresh bouquet this weekend and I'll post a photo of it

[BethCrook]

Update on me:  Today, is the first day of school.  And my 2nd day back.  I came in for a day early last week, but it was a lot of welcoming and catching up with people and figuring out how to navigate with the wheelchair, etc.   But today, I'm back into the throws of the first day of classes.  And it seriously could not feel better!  Today is the first day I feel normal!  I can help people without even thinking about HOW to make it happen.  For example, here someone asks for help with their Canvas course and I have it fixed in minutes.   At home, my son asks for chocolate milk and I have to think through all of the logistics of the wheelchair and walker, and are the cups in the high cabinet or within reach, and if it's a full gallon of milk, I cannot lift it using the walker while maintaining my balance, so on and so on.

Today....I feel normal. I am thankful for this place.

[Renee_Carney]

So so thankful you get a place of 'normalcy', Beth!  And, Thank you for sharing!  Wishing you an awesome fall start!

[kmeeusen]

Woo hoo, Beth!

Isn't it funny when everything seems more comfortable at work than at home?  I had an injury (nothing like you, my dear) and subsequent surgery last Spring, and felt totally useless at home, but when I got to work it was just challenging and I felt useful.

So glad to hear you are progressing so well.

Kelley

[kona]

Yay!! So happy to have you back with us! And so happy to hear that you're back on campus and busy working away! You are amazing and inspiration to all of us!

[BethCrook]

Okay crazy friends!  I need my cheerleaders strong this week!  New diagnosis (Transverse Myelitis), new treatment, back in the rehab hospital for 1 week of hardcore ironman training (aka - 4 hours of intense PT a day).  Last week I posted over on my fb group about a list of items I plan to do when I am fully recovered:  Indoor Skydiving, Dance lesson, Zip lining, a 5K....  AND what do I go and do?  Sign up to do a "Virtual 5k" for charity while I'm here this week.  With my own rules:  1) It cannot be done during therapy time...needs to be in additional time in the gym. Yep, because that's how I roll.  2)  I get to do it in batches, but 3) it must be completed this week while I'm here under the watchful eyes of physical therapists, and 4) I can use the NuStep machine, bike, or wheelchair races.  But really really trying hard to get it done with my feet!

So if you were on my twitter #stepsforbeth cheering squad and challenges during InstructureCon and during August, start posting your steps and HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE! The sooner I get back on my feet, the sooner I get back to work and in Canvas!

[Renee_Carney]

We got your back, Beth.  You're Pandaforce is here for you!!!!

[Renee_Carney]

Got my steps logged from yesterday  @BethCrook ‌.  Looking forward to doing more for you!

[kona]

Glad to hear you have an updated plan for recovery! Your goals are awesome and especially the virtual 5K!! You’ve got this!!!

[Stef_retired]

A new diagnosis, wow,  @BethCrook ‌! This is an ambitious recovery plan, and you're going to see me on Twitter with my #stepsforbeth cheering you on all the way through it!