Re: What it is like to have TM?
Jo Ellen Finkelstein (ghellen(AT)ninenet.com)
Thu, 07 Jan 1999 10:58:18 -0600
Alton wrote:
>
> This topic was inspired by a phrase in a note by Sarah0069(AT)aol.com. In
> my mind I see a several cartoons:
> .................................
>
> Being in a wheelchair and:
>
> confronted by a path with a vacuum
> cleaner hose across it.
>
> looking up at a store item on a high shelf
>
> having messy hands with the sink and rags
> on the other side of the room
>
> learning (when you have no time to spare)
> that the only toilet around has a stall
> door too tight for the chair
>
> looking down and realizing that the catheter
> bag fell off and was ruptured by the chair
>
> Being on crutches and:
>
> walking into a store with a slippery
> floor (someone moping the floor?)
>
> trying to find a parking spot that has
> no ice where you will step when you get
> out of the car [recent & not funny!]
>
> heading to checkout with something
> tucked under you chin [in a store
> that has no shopping carts]
>
> .................................
> OK, I've tossed out a couple. Anyone else
> care to take a turn?
>
> Alton, who had a wry grin while typing these
>
> OK, an irritated grinHi Alton, Joellen here. How about waking up to find that your night bag
has burst all over the carpet ( carpet company couldn't get the stain
out)
Or trying to get back into bed with your transfer board because you feel
a BM coming only to start going when you start to transfer (yuck)
Trying to explain that you do have some4 feeling in your affected area
but it isn't enough to help you walk again.
Finding that all routes to your apartment are blocked by people who park
in such a way as to block the sidewalk, and you can't go through the
grass because it's been raining and the ground is so soggy that you
would get stuck in the mud, and it's raining!
not being able to go wisit your mom because her house has steps at both
entrances and you can't go up them in your chair!
Going to a place that's supposed to retrain you for a job, that
supposedly works with handicapped people but the entrance is not
accessable (doors too heavy to open and hold while you wheel in) and the
bathroom stall (handicapped) has no turning room so you can't use it.