Wait for it... Wait for it...

So this week, after five months, I finally received my new wheelchair. Everything seems to be working well, minus a few adjustments (that is a whole post in and of itself), but that isn’t what has me a little perturbed. I am completely baffled as to why it takes five months to get a new wheelchair.

If there is anyone who knows about slow and steady, it’s me. The tortoise and hare have both crossed the finish line 10 times since I’ve started writing this sentence. But at least I have a good excuse. The repair and insurance companies; what’s theirs?

I find it very hard to believe that it takes months to go through the entire process of fitting, approval, delivery and modification. And if I am completely wrong about this, I would love for someone to walk (or roll) me through the steps. I can eat my crow as well as the next guy.

But if there is no viable reason for the long turnaround time, something needs to change.

Contrary to popular belief, most people with disabilities are not hermits. We do more than just sit at home all day and veg out in front of the TV. Many people with disabilities do, in fact, have jobs and lead very active social lives. Besides, I need something to do in between Xbox Live matches and the next movie in my NetFlix queue. 

So having to wait months for a new chair is simply unacceptable. If I didn’t have a back up chair, I would have been stuck in my room, sitting on my old, green recliner for more than five months. Last time I checked, taking off five months of work wouldn’t have been the best idea. That would mean no job, no social life, and most importantly, no Xbox or NetFlix.

I depend very heavily on my chair as my connection to the world and my livelihood, so when that is taken away from me, I am left confined in my own home and body. Not being a part of society for a day, let alone five months, is devastating, so something needs to be done.

I am already at the mercy of my disability; I can’t afford to be dragged along by meandering insurance companies and incompetent companies. 

There is No Fate But What We Make

A couple weeks ago, I was talking to a family friend with my mom and he informed us about some unfortunate news; his wife recently had one of her legs amputated due to some health complications. And ever since her leg was amputated, she has not been very optimistic about her situation and recovery.

Her husband told us that she doesn’t put on her prosthetic leg very often and isn’t interested in physical therapy or becoming more active in everyday activities. As he conversed with my mom and me, you can see the concern he had for his wife all over his face.

After he gave us the update, he shrugged his shoulders and let out a great sigh.

“I don’t know what to do to get her to be more positive,” he said. “If you were in her situation, I sure you would be ecstatic if you still could walk.”

Our friend had a good point. I would give almost anything to walk again, but we all deal with pain and loss differently. He continued to talk about her situation and asked how I stayed so positive through all my health problems.

I didn’t really know what to say. Yes, I probably would handle her situation differently, but everything always looks different when your hindsight is 20/20.

When I was first told that I was paralyzed, I was shocked and saddened. While my situation was no laughing matter, I tried to look for something to smile about. In the end, all that mattered was the fact that I was still alive.

If I couldn’t walk, I would use a wheelchair; if I couldn’t do something, I would just ask for help. I wasn’t going to let my disability keep me from the life I wanted. Even though my body was broken, I was still the same person that I was before I got sick. My life may have turned down a path I didn’t want to travel, but if this was my path, I was going to make the best of it.

At the time, our friend asked me if I had any advice for his wife. I simply told him that she just needs to stay positive. Yes, her situation is unfortunate, but it is only her attitude that will make her life seem unlivable. If she keeps thinking that she can’t overcome adversity, that’s exactly what will happen.

Like Sarah Connor always says, “There’s no fate but what we make.”

If you want to live a life worth living, it’s simply up to you. Unless you are the leader of the Resistance and are continuously hunted by futuristic robots, then you may be out of luck.

Paralyzed Graffiti Artist Writes Again

Graffiti artist, Tony Quan is diagnosed with a degenerative condition called Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease, but with the help of a few of his friends, a little determination and about 50 bucks of electronic equipment, he’s painting and doing what he loves again just by using only the movements of his eyes.

Check out this great vid.

The Eyewriter from Evan Roth on Vimeo.

Possibly the Best Cover of All-Time

These guys did an excellent job. I hope they cover Journey's "Don't Stop Believin" next.

Algae and Light Help Injured Mice Walk Again

In a recent article by Wired Magazine, it was revealed that a team of Stanford graduate students used a plant algae and blue lights to help injured mice walk. The entire process is a little far-fetched, by the possibilities are very encouraging. If this has any implications on helping quadriplegics, sign me up. Who knows, maybe I'll turn into a neon glowing Swamp Thing! 

Hey, at least I'll still have my engaging personality and be able to walk again!