Wheelchair Gave a woman Freedom after antibiotic | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health Wellness

The Chair That Gave Me Back My Life

Although the wheelchair is the international symbol of disability, this chair brought with it a redefined ability

1117
The Chair That Gave Me Back My Life

In This Article:

When I returned to my home state of Washington in July 2017, my broken, disabled body was less able than it had been in years. My first order of business was to make appointments with both my primary care practitioner and my pulmonologist. My asthma had been flaring, causing me to spend at least one day in an emergency room each month to seek breathing treatments.

The result of my July visits was a diagnosis of pansinusitis with a complete obfuscation of ALL of my frontal sinuses. My prescriptions for my inhalers were renewed and I received two new prescriptions, one for a steroid, prednisone, to lessen the inflammation inside my sinuses and an antibiotic, levofloxacin, (generic for Levaquin) to clear the infection.

What happened in my body after I took that medication was something unbelievable. Every single tendon in my body became inflamed. I had no idea how much our bodies are held together by tendons until mine didn't work.

Walking hurt, so I stopped walking. When it stopped hurting as much, the pain was replaced with neuropathy and when I walked, I began falling. The day before my 52nd birthday, a powerchair was prescribed. I waited with bated breath for the freedom that it offered.

Certain dog toys proved to be very annoying in a manual chair

M Slighte

I borrowed a manual wheelchair from a local medical equipment bank since my insurance was covering the powerchair, they wouldn't also pay for a loaner manual chair.

Combining the strength in my weakened feet and legs with my damaged shoulders and elbows, I could get around my apartment as long I stayed on the wooden floors.

On March 6th 2019, it finally arrived!

You can tell by my smile how I feel to be out and about

M Slighte

Late in February, the phone rang. It was NuMotion. They scheduled a man named Nick to deliver my powerchair to my apartment on Thursday, March 7th at 2. I waited anxiously.

On Thursday at 2:15 when no one had shown up, I called NuMotion. They stated they had scheduled my delivery twice: Once on Thursday and once on Friday. Apparently the fact that I had been waiting for six months caused them to think one more day would be fine.

When Friday did arrive, so did Nick from NuMotion with my chair. The first thing I did was take it for a spin!

There seems to be an issue here...

M Slighte

Once the powerchair was in my possession, I wanted to use it. However, my use of the chair outside of my home was limited because of the fact there were six stairs leading down to my apartment. Although I had submitted a request for reasonable accommodation from my apartment complex, asking for a way to get out of my apartment, I had not heard any answer.

When Nick delivered the powerchair, I asked him if there was an equipment ramp that I could borrow for caregivers to move the chair up and down for appointments. He brought a loaner the next week.

At the top of a very steep ramp...but OUT!

M Slighte

The pain of getting pinched in back of the chair, between the chair and the wall while attempting to get the chair up the ramp was worth it. The ramp worked!

I was able to get out of the apartment.

The ramp folds in half so that people can get up and down the stairs, but it is still in the way

M Slighte

I was informed early in April that a tenant had put in notice who lived in an accessible apartment and given a possible move date of April 20th. But April 20th came and went and no one moved out of that apartment so I stayed in mine. Neither the complex management nor my neighbors are happy about the situation either.

That sidewalk bump in front of the chair looks small, but it feels BIG!

M Slighte

Once I got outside of my apartment, I quickly learned that everything from entrances to parking lots to broken sidewalks affected my ability to feel safe. Navigating a city that's been my home for the most of my 52 years suddenly was completely different.

I was happy to learn both my trophies for Ms. PacMan as a teen and my love of motorcycle riding would come in handy learning to lean into the corners as well as maneuver the joystick that now controls my mobility.

In front of church the first time in a powerchair at church

M Slighte

When I sit down, I am safer. I have less risk of falling and injuring my hands and wrists that I depend upon to write. When I fell in November, I sustained a badly injured shoulder that is still "frozen" to this day.

Sitting down, I have gained a different perspective. I look at the world differently and the people of this world sure look at me differently, when they look at me at all.

Sitting down allows me to be safer while my feet and the rest of my tendons heal from the effects of the antibiotic, levofloxacin.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

134812
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

31643
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

28959
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments