Tag: wheelchair

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.

Observations from Sea-t Level

I know a lot of people who follow me know I’m in a power wheelchair at least part-time. This trip has been an eye opener any way you look at it. I am so glad to have had it on the journey because without it, I would have watched the water flow by from the window in our cabin. Instead, it provided me wheels all over the ship. Although I could only get out one door on the boat deck and one door on the sun deck. That was not a problem, it is a fifty-year-old ship, so I understand it was not built that way, and there are just so many ways that it can be adapted. I will say the cargo elevator is large. (More on that later.) The interesting thing for me was noticing things out of place or out of reach.

This is one of those times you do not realize things until you do.

This trip has helped me come to grips with just how much has changed for me and how strong I am. I was pleasently surprised how helpful fellow passengers and crew were. It is funny that just opening a door takes 4 steps that used to come natural and never thought about when you are on two feet.

  • 1. approach door and grab handle
  • 2. step back and pull door
  • 3. open door and walk through
  • 4. get out of way so door can close.

I do those same steps now but never realized how heavy doors are and how often I used to use two hands to do some of the steps. I was so grateful that there were a bunch of people on the ferry who were in the places when and where I needed doors opened for me. The good part was by the end of the trip I was confident and ‘skilled’ enough that I was getting good at the four steps. When the places I had to go was an empty room. Speaking of rooms, we did upgrade to a handicapped room which was a blessing in disguise the door had a push button to get out.

Talk about open doors let you go places. THEY REALLY DO!

Two things here I bring up: One just how helpful the crew on the M.V. Kennicott was even if one of them was working unexpected overtime. (That is a story I’ve covered already) Second how out of reach normal buttons and levers can either by accident or because it was designed for the rest of the population and would be illogical to have two sets.

Now onto the elevator and why I had a ride in it. There was a ramp that I used to get up to the passenger elevator except it was not flush to the ground. That said, a lip anywhere you have one is difficult for the wheelchair to get up. I brought this up to the Chief Steward and she suggested the freight elevator. They had a ramp that went right up to the edge of the doorway, easy peasy.

Just a few observations while in my seat at sea