Greetings Family! My name is Tameka Cobb and I am a family Occupational Therapist. I graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences and I received my Master’s degree from Alabama State University in Occupational Therapy. I am the mother of Kennede Cobb, daughter of Carolyn Cobb, granddaughter of Vera Todd, and sister to Brandy Cobb and Kimberly Cobb-Ray. It is important to name my SHERO’s because without these ladies, I would not have my credentials, Tameka Cobb MSOT,OTR/L.
What is an occupational therapist?
A lot of people think we assist with helping clients find employment however it is totally opposite. An occupational therapist (OT) works with a client to help them achieve a fulfilled and satisfied state in life by using "purposeful activity or interventions designed to achieve occupational outcomes which promote health, prevent injury or disability to develop, improve, sustain or restore the highest possible level of independence" (Wikipedia 2018).
I am currently employed at Florence Nursing and Rehabilitation in Florence Alabama. The most common diagnosis that I rehabilitate are reverse total shoulder replacements, total knee replacements, total hip replacements, CVAs (cerebrovascular accidents) also known as stroke, CABG (coronary artery bypass graft), dementia, and COPD(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). As an occupational therapist, I am responsible for ensuring that my patients are functioning at their highest levels to allow them to participate in meaningful activities such as self-care tasks, instrumental daily activities (driving, household tasks, gardening, extracurricular activities, etc.), and transfers.
My babies (patients) are very dear to my heart and I am so thankful to be able to help others! My prayer daily before I walk into work is, "Lord please let me touch someone today and give them the hope they need to know it's going to get better."
I am very passionate about my profession and would like to share why I chose my career. I was born with a rare bone disease that was misdiagnosed as a child in which my femur bone broke multiple times. I spent a couple of months in a cast to allow healing. Once the MD removed that cast, and shortly thereafter, after weight bearing guess what happened? Yes, it broke again. So now they decided surgery and a body cast from the waist down!! I remember starting kindergarten in a wheelchair and having to relearn how to walk again! I remember how caring and dedicated my physical therapist and occupational therapist were. I am so thankful for that!! Fast forward to my adult years, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease!! I started OT school and after a week into the program, I was hospitalized due to a flare up for about a week!!! The program only allowed for two “C’s” to be made throughout the program, and a few of my professors did not think I would succeed because of my illness. Little did they know that was my drive!! Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13 were my scriptures that I stood on daily.
I am not sharing my story for sympathy but to encourage someone in my family to step out on faith and to stop letting fear consume you! Do not worry about what you do not have but capitalize on what you have!!
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