I need a new wheelchair!

I have mentioned this before,

now I am really organised. 

I went with my physio and Niki, to meet Ashley, the man who will build the chair for me.

Here is what it looks like before it is customised.

 It's about as close to a 4X4, or a motor bike, as I am ever going to get.

Of course it will not look much like this picture when it is finished being customised.

This is when the problems start getting big.

The chair is "loaned" to me by the government,

the good thing about that is - they pay for its maintenance,

[but not tyres].

The trouble is we only get $6000 for the chair

and $2750 for the "mods".

To make this chair work for me ,I will need --

a special back that can fold flat,

a seat that can both tilt and stay flat ,

leg rests that go up and down 

and a specially designed foot plate that will keep my feet in the correct place.

The seat will also rise so I can reach cupboards and high counters when I am out.

As well as all these new  gadgets I will hopefully be able to use my old headrest, chest harness, 5 point seat belt,

dead brake, tray, knee pads, chest pads 

and my Roho pressure cushion.

If any of these don't fit the new chair, I will need new ones.

The chest pads alone cost $500!!

It all adds up to an enormous amount of money.

BUT, it means my freedom,

once I am in my chair I can do just about anything I want,

except climb stairs!

Finding the money for my wheels is a giant worry,

the money must be found, before the the government

will even consider providing the chair.

This is a problem for all us wheelies, 

just imagine if you needed a ventilator , 

or special controls so you can drive your chair 

with your mouth or head. 

There are so many wonderful pieces of equipment 

that can be used , 

if you can pay for them!

The trouble is, "disability is at the bottom of the government priorities and wheelies are even further down.

I think we are still seen as "poor cripples",

"confined" to our wheelchairs, just sitting around, waiting to die.

That of course is far from the truth in most cases, 

we have goals and dreams like everyone else in society.

I think the media is one of our biggest enemies,

they still portray us really negatively, we are either "inspirational" 

or "bravely battling our disabilities".

Now I am going to get very controversial,

this is my blog and I can say what I think.

A while ago there was a case in Western Australia;

a man became a quad and was put in a nursing home, he was fighting to have the right to end his life, because he had nothing to live for.

I cried for this man, I know what it is like to feel there is no future that is worth having.

Where were the people who should have been helping him  to learn new skills and become part of the world again?

Stuck in a nursing home, with no positive support, 

is hell on earth.

Perhaps he had received all the physical and emotional support he needed, if he did that is good, but in the media it was not mentioned, only that he was a quad, and could do nothing for himself.

Of course the public are going to think that acquiring, or having  a disability means your life is not worth much at all.

I love life,certainly it is different to what it was ten years ago,

the challenges are different to what they might have been, 

but the sun still shines and my dog still kisses me!!!

Well that was a rant!

Now I will have to move, as my big boy has woken up and is starting to pile everything on my tray,

his way of saying "lets go out"!

Until next time --- keep fighting!!