Walking Spirit

A while back I talked about how life was returning to normal. In regards to the daily activities of life, working, driving, shopping, etc... life is getting closer and closer to normal. However, it is far from what normal life is/was truly like. In general I try to focus on the positive improvements and special moments in life to remain positive now. However, there are times when I find myself thinking back on life as it was before.

I don't know what triggers these moments, and they don't last all day, nor do they ruin my day but they do put things into perspective. While I was still in the hospital Mary Lowe, a dear family friend and co-worker of my Father, made a comment to Dad about how this would become the "new normal". A year and a half later it is becoming the new normal, which does make it easier to deal with, but it is hard. People frequently make comments to me about how "they couldn't do it" or "would have given up." My response is that no one knows how they would respond to something like this until it happens to them. The reality is that I am alive and am simply living life. The fact is the New Normal is very difficult which is why I don't think about the old normal very often.

It's important to me that everyone understand what the New Normal is. I start my day by getting into a wheelchair, taking pills to help control the phantom pains and sensations, and then getting onto a bench in the shower where I have to do several balancing acts to get everything clean. I tend to choose what pants I'm going to wear based on whether or not I remembered (if it was necessary) to change my shoes the night before.

I have to wear pants that have been altered with zippers that run almost the full length of the inseam so that I can get them on easier. I put my pants on one leg at a time, and then I put my legs on one leg at a time. I do another balancing act while pulling up my pants and trying to make sure my shirt is tucked in. Once the pants are on I then stand up and, while leaning on my bed, put weight on my left leg to be sure it's on all the way. (It rarely goes on all the way while I'm in a sitting position.)

Then, while still in the wheelchair, I make my way to the garage and try to keep the cat from getting into the garage at the same time. This is why I have to stay in the chair because, it's my only chance at moving fast enough to keep the cat out. (6 out of 10 times this works) If the cat gets in the garage it adds at least another 5 minutes before I can leave for work.

I drive for an hour, with my hands, which is really quite fun, but sometimes I'm already exhausted by the time I get to work. Once I get to work I have to pull the wheelchair out of the car and put it together. At work it is a challenge to find opportunities to walk because I usually have to carry something with me, which I can't really do with two crutches unless it fits in a shoulder bag. I do get up when I can and the staff has started to push me to walk as I've realized that I'm having more difficulty walking longer distances again. (A direct result of returning to work full time and not walking as often as I was during my LOA.)

After a long day I make my way back out to the car where I get in the car, position my legs, dismantle and load the wheelchair and then start the hour drive back. Once I'm home I usually take my legs off, and then take the pants off the legs. (unless I have someplace else to go). At the end of the night I take the liners off my legs, wash the liners, wash my legs, put lotion on my legs, and take more pills to control the phantom pains and sensations.

I walk up and down stairs sideways and slowly. When I go up a ramp it's pretty easy as long as the slope is right but going down is almost always scary. Stepping off a curb is a scary process as well because I never know if I might fall. In fact, I have to be prepared to fall at anytime, because I don't really get any warning.

This is just the every day process of the "New Normal". The only way that I can positive is to not think about it as anything other than what life is now and enjoying what is fun about life. I have to enjoy the moment or else I would get lost in the mire of the process of living.

Thank you for all the comments this past week. They really do help me, as reading your comments is always one of the moments I look forward to each day!