The world, especially those affected by paralysis, mourn the death of actor, director and disability advocate, Christopher Reeve, who died on October 10, 2004. He wasn’t just a Superman. He was a super man. In the first photo, Reeve as a young mn. In the second, as he is best remembered. Then, after the fall. […]

not being confined to your bedroom except on days when you have a doctor’s appointment… It’s being able to go anywhere in the house that you want, to the living room to surf the Net and play your favorite Golf Sim, to the kitchen to grab a snack… even to the front porch to catch […]

Robert got his wheelchair the other day, finally. And man, is it nice. Sitting next to the Invacare 9000 rental (list price, $989), the Tilite SX (base price $3095; final bill to insurance company, $8165) looks like a Lexus sitting next to an old Ford Maverick. And it makes all the difference in the world […]

It finally happened. The physical therapists at TIRR warned it would. They always said, it’s not a matter of if, but when. When you fall. I was running late getting off work last night and called the house around 6 p.m. When Robert answered, I asked my customary question, “Is everything okay?” He replied that […]

Here are some tips to avoid awkwardnss when interacting with someone in a wheelchair (from wheelchairnet.org): It is appropriate to shake hands with a person who has a disability, even if they have limited use of their hands or wear an artificial limb. Always ask the person who uses a wheelchair if he or she […]

We picked up the prescription for Roberto’s chair FINALLY today. Monday, I’ll fax it to the home health care peeps who will be calling to schedule a time to come to the house to measure Robert for this chair. I always thought a wheelchair is a wheelchair is a wheelchair. Not so! There are different […]

I was over at SpinalCord.org and found ProjectWalk. I’ve never been so encouraged by the videos I watched of the progress some of these people have made. It was very heartwarming to say the least. I’d love to get Robert into this program or one like it. Insurance won’t pay for this, natch. And the […]

And one more night of being alone in the house. Robert’s durable medical equipment arrived today: Hospital bed with motorized head and foot, and an Invacare MicroAir 3500S low pressure mattress to prevent pressure wounds. Wheelchair with roho (not rojo!) cushion. I’ve got the sheet (twin) on the bed, his pillows (including the two brand […]

The doctor at Kindred Hospital had Robert undergo an echocardiogram to examine his heart muscle and valves to be sure there was no ongoing infection. That happened on Tuesday. The results were negative; the infection is gone. This afternoon, after lunch, he will go to Heartland. It’s a bit of a drive, but I don’t […]