It was Thanksgiving day back in 2002. I was only 23 years old and my life forever changed on that day. I had a placental abruption and Brendan was born at 33 weeks. He lost oxygen during delivery due to incompetent care but was a fighter and turned 17 this year. My journey in life over the past 17 years took many turns I was not expecting but I try to stay strong and have my husband by my side even when I am not.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
5 reasons being in a wheelchair STINKS... and 5 why it can be FUN!
1. He has to wait for someone to help you go to the bathroom and being a mom of 4 sometimes he has to wait a while!
2. He can not do everything he wants to do because sometimes we are too exhausted to lift him. For instance we can't take him to CoCo Keys water park (which he would absolutely LOVE) anymore because we can't carry him up four huge flights of stairs.
3. Getting in and out of rooms and buildings can be very difficult and sometimes impossible on his own.
4. When he drops something on the floor he can not pick it up.
5. He doesn't really have friends outside of school and never goes to peoples houses because no one would know how to care for him.
1. He gets to ride on a lift everyday getting on and off the bus and he has a big ole smile on his face every time.
2. He gets special treatment at times like free trial cell phones at the mall and skipping the super long lines at Disney World.
3. He can do tricks like spin in circles and wheelies AND he always a chair which according to his sisters is pretty lucky!
4. He can hold his younger siblings on his lap and take them for a ride.
5. He gets to hold onto the shopping cart while mom pulls it when shopping alone and loves the fact he is 'pushing' the cart.
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4 comments:
Gosh I can totally relate to this post!! Totally!!!!! I cannot keep Emma in undies, big girl undies, full time because of the lifting and challenges potty while outside of the house. She cannot yet push her manual chair more than a foot. She seems to have trouble finding the wheels. But she seems happy with her chair. She just got a new yellow one a few weeks ago, one with 22 inch manual wheels. She doesn't know how to use it independently yet. My dream is that she can one day. Right now that looks a bit sketchy. Plus, I know all about not being able to help her do all the things she would enjoy because she is just getting too big--and she is an only child! Brendan is blessed to have you guys though and such great sisters and brother. Emma does not have any real friends her age yet...well, may be one. She definitely cannot stay all night with anyone either...no way. I don't even think that she could spend the night with her grandparents because they don't know how to take care of her either. Sadly, they never ask either. A break would be great!
I hope she can learn to wheel it. When they first suggested a wheelchair I wasn't ready and I totally thought he would need a power chair. The therapists disagreed and I thought this kid is never going to be able to wheel this thing around. His right arm was very limited. Well who would have known 2 years later he would be able to wheel himself all on his own to his hotel room from the lobby? Not me! I also think it has helped his right arm gain strength and motion. So have hope!!! It took him a while to learn. He has little biceps too, they are so cute!
My son Isaiah would agree to all of the above!
I can totally relate to this post as can many other families at the Cerebral Palsy Family Network. We faced daily issues with my brother Mikey growing up, and also had concerns about him using a wheelchair. However, we found that like another commenter said, it helped with his strength and range of motion.
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