12 Things I Learned as a New Electric Wheelchair User
A slightly irreverent guide to freedom, bumps, and unexpected coolness that comes with being a first time wheelchair user When you’re a teenager learning to drive, you get lessons, a theory test, and a whole lot of rules before you’re let loose on the roads. Thankfully, there’s no such thing for new electric wheelchair users […]
Halved in Height but Feeling Taller Than Ever – Resilience
So much has changed physically. Sitting in a wheelchair has transformed me from the tallest person in the room to the shortest. Yet emotionally, I don’t feel any less tall. I am learning to be more resilient, roll with the punches and actually grow (not physically :-)) Yes, I can’t walk properly. I rely on […]
Inspiring Me, Surprising Me: The Grit and Grace of PSP and PD Warriors
When I was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), I was completely at a loss. Googling it was a mistake, the prognosis was grim, the stories were heartbreaking, and the tone was overwhelmingly bleak. Parkinson’s Disease (PD) didn’t feel much better. Neither diagnosis felt like a gift. And to be honest, the speed of progression […]
Feeling Electric – A Wedding Reflection (last wheelchair story for now probably….)
I’ve now been to two weddings in the last two days, and the common feature, which I’m genuinely pleased about, is that they weren’t about me. People spoke to me normally, I felt less tired and stressed, and most importantly, I was simply a guest. And I enjoyed it. I won’t pretend it wasn’t strange […]
Day 1 with the Wheelchair – A totally new perspective (and happy one)
That I’m writing this with a positive tone says everything about my first day using a wheelchair, and the fact it was probably overdue. But It wasn’t easy. I chose to rent one in the morning, it felt better than buying outright, and then went to a wedding using it. I nearly backed out twice […]
Shopping for Wheels: Choosing the Right Mobility Aid :-)
Before buying a car (set of wheels :-)), most of us dive into research, looking for speed, style, versatility, looks, that elusive X factor, and of course, price, deals, and features. We each have our individual systems. I’ve always loved speed, but my condition has forced me to slow down. Still, I half-agree with Jeremy […]
5K → Walker → Wheelchair in 190 Days
The First ‘P’ in PSP Stands for Progressive: 5K → Walker → Wheelchair in 190 Days As I write this, I remain positive about life, despite what I’m about to share. I truly enjoyed my weekend with my daughter. My nature is optimistic—but I can’t pretend the pace of my PSP journey isn’t frightening. It’s […]
