Welcome Reader

Chanel Vlok McCabe Occupational Therapist
Author of Hand Matters Blog

Hi there!

Welcome to the Hand Matters blog.

I would like to introduce myself to you.

My name is Chanel and I am a small town girl from Swellendam. Just saying that name in my mind fills my brain with endorphins. My happy place. Beautiful. With green trees and mountain tops. The sun on your skin while you are lying half emerged, floating on your back in Bosbou Dam in the nature reserve. Ah, how wonderful!

They say you must write the way you would have a conversation when writing a blog. Or something like that. It must read comfortably. Wait, I’m losing track now. Let’s get back to me. Writing about yourself is not as easy as one might think.

So I grew up in a small town called Swellendam in the Western Cape. I passed matric and went on to study Occupational Therapy at Kovsies in Bloemfontein. From there I moved to Gauteng and have been here ever since. I’m moving up in the world. Next I might find myself in Botswana. Get it? Joke 🙂

I am short, blond and have blue eyes. I am 26 years of age, soon to be 27 in March. I am married and have a precious little daughter. Being a mom has been so much more than expected. So wonderfully more. I can’t even remember what my life was like before I was blessed with her. She is like a gift I get to open every day.

Other than being a mom I am also an occupational therapist. What does an Occupational therapist do you might ask? Well, ultimately an occupational therapist helps you to be functional. I like that about Occupational Therapy – functionality. Cool word isn’t it?

Currently I am employed by the Department of Education working with learners at school. Before that I have worked in the physical rehab setting as well as in the psychiatric setting. My true passion, I believe, lays in hand therapy. Being a hand therapist is my ultimate goal. I am aspiring to obtain my Diploma in Hand Therapy and thereafter a master degree. Until then I am grabbing every possible opportunity to learn about the wonder of the hand.

And how wonderful hands are! Rattles my brain… Just look at your hand. Miraculous, – how bones and joints, ligaments and muscles, all covered with skin, work together in harmony. Each little part doing what it is supposed to do without you telling it to. Have you ever thought about how mechanically perfect the hand is? I truly marvel at the wonder of the hand.
So much more than meets the eye.

That is more or less me and my career dream in a nutshell.
I look forward to the challenge and adventure of writing a blog concerning hands. Being able to learn something new every day is a privilege not to be taken for granted. I am grateful for this opportunity given to me.

Please join me on my journey of exploring the wonder of the hand.

Here we go!