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What a week it has been! I had my cystoueroscopy (same day surgery) =
procedure last Wed. I fared well, except I had a difficult time waking =
up from the anesthesia (3 hours later than expected). Good news - =
nothing physiologically wrong with bladder/urethra. Bad news - =
incontinence due to TM and can do nothing but continue to self-cath, =
take meds, and hope for change.
Friday I left with for Boca Grande, which is a beautiful island south of =
Sarasota, FL. I was my best friend's bridesmaid. It was exciting, =
beautiful, and I had a wonderful time! My mom went with me - everyone =
thought I should be escorted after the effects of the anesthesia, so we =
got to spend the week-end together. We went to the wedding rehearsal =
Fri evening. It was at the church which was small, quaint, and cute. =
And old. I had to be carried up and down about 6 steps in the church in =
my chair, and a pew had to be unbolted and repositioned so that I could =
fit through to my destination spot. Everyone and I ean everyone, =
including the pastor, was great the entire week-end about the chair. =
Pictures were taken at the croket club, sitting on a bench with a ivy =
lattice covering it. The wedding went fine, except when I went to go =
past the pew that was moved the night before, I GOT STUCK! It felt like =
a lifetime, but the brides mother just yanked on my tire and helped. I =
thought everyone noticed, but they said they didn't. At least the =
pastor was honest with me, because on the way out after the wedding he =
jokingly said, "Someone must have moved that pew on us overnight because =
I know your chair didn't grow." Unfortunately, on my way out of my spot =
by the pew, I got stuck again. This time the groomsman gave me a little =
push to help and we continued to walk back up the aisle as if nothing =
had happened. He handled it great. =20
At the reception, I was carrried in my chair up about 25 stairs - by =
this time I am really having faith in my "lifters." Once inside I =
mingled and ate like everyone else. As the evening progressed, I was =
carried in and out to the back deck, where there was a live band =
playing. The fun really began when the bride and groom took their first =
dance together. I was upfront watching when the groom's mother (who is =
truly a beautiful woman inside and out) came up behid me and told me, " =
Once they are finished, it's our turn." I told her I had not yet danced =
in my chair. She didn't care. I told her I was ready as long as she =
would "lead." That was my first dance. It was wild and crazy. I =
clipped the flowergirl's legs (thank God she said she was OK, but I know =
my foot pedals had to have left some bruises). A few minutes later one =
of the groomsmen broke in to dance with me. We did "twirls" and "sways" =
however we could. It was so much fun. Later another groomsmen danced =
with me. By now I am getting the hang of dancing, better. Either I was =
gaining more control and not rolling over anyone or eveyone else was =
moving out of our way. I really didn't notice since I was having so =
much fun. Later I danced with the groom, with the bride's permission of =
course. Considering I really only knew the bride and some of her =
family, it was the best wedding I ever attended! At midnight the =
clubhouse began to politely kick everyone out. There was a party =
nearby, and I was invited. I was exhausted and had not properly =
self-cathed the entire day. I wore a diaper to be on the safe side. I =
politely declined the invitation - our hotel was 30 minutes away and I =
don't think my mom ws ready to party any more. I am so glad I did not =
let myself get talked into going - even though the bride and groom both =
asked me to go. By the time me and mom got back to the hotel, I had an =
accident. Unfortunately, the diaper did not protect my dress or =
cushion, but it could have been worse. I could have acidentally ran =
over my dress (floor-length) with my chair and ripped it off myself. Or =
I could have been dropped down 25 stairs, or, or or. Considering =
everything, I still had the best time since my injury 7-98. Oh, two =
guys asked for my number with my mom nearby. My mom was great! She just =
talked to them like they were a new friend. What I learned from this =
week-end is 1) Try not to get married on an island - everything is =
upstairs. 2) If you do get married on an island make sure you have =
someone willing to lift you. 3) Or just pray that you get lucky as I =
did and you meet some really nice people who are not disabled-phobic and =
will lift you wherever and whenever you want! and 4) Always be willing =
to try something new and exciting. =20
Carri
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