Wheelchair!

It is a new day…

Oct 22, 2024

I rented one of these electric wheelchairs this past summer for a trip to the Butterfly Pavilion and a park during our family reunion and it quickly became apparent that owning one of these chairs would be life changing.

I have gone from cane to walker to better walker to manual wheelchair, then another manual chair purchased off Craig’s list, to sort of giving up on going anywhere because I did not have the stamina to do anything.

I have had scoliosis my whole life and while I very effectively used yoga and swimming to get me through my pregnancies and stay mobile and active, these past few years my spine has developed spinal stenosis and caused neuropathy in my feet and hands.

I am always nervous about falling.

Because of asthma and chronic hypoxia I also have had to use an oxygen concentrator off and on for ten years and since Covid hit, I have had to be on supplementary oxygen 24/7 and have been struggling with the symptoms (never ending fatigue) of long covid for years.

I believe I have POTS but I am not willing to spend the money to go get a diagnosis. I certainly have all of the symptoms, especially dizziness when I stand up.

This chair will get me outside every day and to church, temple, farmers market, park, and for rolls around my apartment complex ALL BY MYSELF.

I have been so loathe to ask anyone to push me around or for help because I did not want to be a burden. The chair breaks down into pieces and the heaviest one is only 35 lbs, and can easily fit in our trunk. It takes up less space than my newer walker!

I found a company on EBay that refurbishes these electric chairs with new batteries and sells them for people like me who cannot afford a new chair.

My oldest daughter Michelle lives with us and I told her last night I feel like a new day is dawning.

When you are disabled it is so easy to stay home. But I am determined to live my life and go out and do things.

I am so grateful to Paul this past year as he supported me getting a therapy dog.

Rosy Joy has been a wonderful companion and now that Paul is required to be in the office three days a week, I have her to keep me company when he and Shelly are at work.

It was so joyful to go out and do some fun things with my granddaughters during our reunion and I feel so blessed to be alive and still here to enjoy life when so many people with my health history have lost their lives during the pandemic.

God is great and he wants us to live an abundant life!

Shelly continues to bake for our family and makes a batch of sour dough bread every week. Paul and I both feel so grateful to have her in our daily lives!