Posted: 5/10/2008 at 11:59 PM
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About a year after my accident I fell off my bed in the middle of the night. My only experience getting back into my chair from the floor was in rehab and it was a total failure. The PT had told me to face my chair, take off the cushion, try to get on my knees, push up with my arms, then do a 180 to sit. I couldn't even get enough leverage to push up. I felt totally defeated so I didn't try again until this incident in the middle of the night.
I got in the position I was taught and pushed with all my strength only to get my knees stuck under my chair in the area just behind the footrest. That meant I was sitting on my feet and the footrest was digging into my ankles. Not only was I stuck, I thought I might be breaking my legs. I called out for other people in the house but nobody heard so I knew it was up to me and God to figure this one out.
After much struggle, God gave me a burst of strength, I un-wedged my legs, and pushed up enough to get into sitting position. I felt total relief and had a good story for my family in the morning.
What I realize now, 7 years after that incident, is I can get on and off the floor whenever I want. I just make sure I am next to a couch, chair, cushion, stool, pretty much anything that is about a foot tall and use it to my advantage. I actually started out by using a bunch of cushions, stair stepping my way up the couch. Now the faster way is to position the my wheelchair next to the couch, put one hand on each, push up and swing to the couch (with the cushion removed) then transfer to my chair.
I love the freedom it gives me with my kids. I can stretch, do pushups, I can even do a somersault off the couch. http://picasaweb.google.com/emcqueen/Disaboom?authkey=WMWT4n3bev0
Floor time makes me feel like a whole person and my sons get to see me out of my chair.
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The video is amazing! Seeing it is even better than hearing about it! Thanks for sharing! It brought me a lot of joy!
that's a cool story, I can only imagine what was going in your mind when no one in your house heard your call in the middle of the night.
It's amazing what can be done when you get the fear outta the way and face the challenge head on. Falling on the floor that night turned out to be a blessing as you're an acrobat now. :)
You remind me very much of myself. Your story is very very similar to one that happened to myself! It's amazing that when we need help the most, somehow, someone somewhere helps us!! Your video brought tears and smiles to me...it reminds me of my own 4 girls. They like nothing more than the simplicity of which life can offer when mum or dad is rolling round on the floor!!!! Loved it with knobs on! thank you so very much for the reminder!
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