Tag: life

Power Through or……

Get Stuck. I got stuck. I have the video to prove it. Let me explain, I have been touting the amazing ability that the ibot could go through sand. Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready for the test drive. Well, I tried to dip my toes/wheels in the sand about a week earlier than the getting stuck pretty good happened.  Common sense told me on the first trip don’t go too far into the sand.

That first trip, ok. That first 4 feet felt amazing and exhilarating and a little scary.  I had stopped to soak the feeling in, then started to turn around.  I realized not a good idea, so back up into my same tracks. I was back on solid ground and was amazed at how I still glowed.  I took a picture of the tracks and headed back up the ramp. 

I also stopped to take in the amazing view that I had not gotten to see this up close before.

Fast forward about a week later and I want to try again.  This time, I want to go farther because Roy would be videotaping me. (I have to have my 15 minutes of fame). I did get a tad farther until I figured out I needed to go faster.  My problem was I stopped, lost traction, and could not get started again. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers.  Through teamwork, we were able to get the wheelchair back to solid ground. 

I do have to say that this is and was a learning experience.  I called the company and was assured that the ibot was fine.  I am just glad that I can learn lessons the hard way sometimes. My next sand adventure will be up at a place that has mats to get you over the soft sand.

I just need to approach the outdoor world like I approach this disease, power through and ask for help when needed.  Enjoy the video of my short journey into the sand.

When Embracing Life Changes

It can be good, bad or indifferent. My change has both been good and bad. I believe for me there is no such thing as indifferent change. Maybe indifferent because you just realize that the change is more of the status quo just physically a tad worst. As I’m going down this rabbit hole of embracing change. I will back out and explain what has been happening to me that is causing me to embrace the good in change.

Earlier this year, I realized that if I wanted to continue to explore and take pictures, I needed something more. The fact that my old chair would not provide me with what I needed was hard to accept. Also hard to accept was having to transport the chair, have help unloading the chair then try and take photos, I was exhausted. I have a progressive disease and have entered that next stage. This means there is no getting better; it will now be a long decline.

So, early this year, I saw an ad for a wheelchair (ibot) that would make my photography and life easier. I wasn’t sure if the VA would entertain the possibility of providing me the chair. Roy said, “If you want to try then go for it.” The VA San Diego had a chair that was available for a test drive. Off we went to San Diego and the SCI clinic to test drive it. I answered some questions about why I needed it, plus did a test drive. I knew right then and there this chair would be a life changer. The next step was to get fitted for the chair itself and more test driving. I also started to adjust to the fact that yes, I needed this chair. There is a stair climbing mode that I did not get. Not sure I want to attempt that.

Up in Balance mode

The picture on the left is from one of the training sessions. The cool thing about being on two wheels is that I won’t feel talked down to. I understand that it is not intentional it does happen though. Another thing this chair does is to go over curbs and go through dirt and sand. I did learn the hard way I have to have a little more confidence when I do go through sand.

In recent months I also have come to grips that I can’t do what I used to with getting things in and out of our vehicle. Time to embrace a new way to transport things. This new chair does not break down, and Roy’s scooter was getting hard for us to bring in and out. The handicapped accessible van was actually easy to accept the help it provides. I am now able to have the energy to take pictures, go on trails and every once in a while, go shopping. Then I can still put the chair away and have some energy. When I started to use my original wheelchair, I was completely ok with ‘man handling’ the chairs. Both Roy’s scooter and my old chair came apart for easy transport. It’s strange how progression and age change the ability and desire to ‘man handle’ things.

Fast forward or rewind to April 15th one of the better days of my life.

first time in my chair

I say that because I knew then that a new horizon had started to open up for me. I will say I was a tad overwhelmed with the ‘bells and whistles’ positions and controls. (I am still in that learning circle). Just so everyone understands I even had to take a driving test. (Still not legal to have a driver’s license in California.) I love the fact that this chair is completely custom to me. I am posting a video that is a sped-up version of the first time I went on two wheels with my chair, and it went through different positions to learn my body’s center of gravity.

Now that the groundwork and backstories are shared. I am looking forward to sharing first experiences with my chair. I will also be able to share how I got some unique shots from my ibot. In the coming weeks I am hoping I will be able to share baby osprey pictures with you. Just like last summer, we are settled in Brookings, Oregon.