As has been mentioned several times, I need lots of help, Even in the shower. When I was younger and my parents could pick me up they would give may baths. As any adult knows however a bathtub can be sometimes hard to get out of, especially if you have to lift someone out of it. After about the age of 15 a bath no longer became an option for me because I was just too heavy to lift out.
I am constantly amazed at how Evie’s mind seems to understand exactly how my situation works. What you see above is exactly what I sit in when I shower. (I don’t have a cat swinging from the curtain but I guess that could be in my future). The chair is on wheels and I transfer from my wheelchair to the shower chair, and it rolls directly into the shower. I tend to use a wand that I can hold to rinse myself and ask for help when I need it, for things like washing my hair.
My shower experience varies wildly depending on who is helping me. If it’s my dad, we don’t use much water because he’s trying to get me clean without much mess so he will turn the water on as needed and then turn it off while I’m using a washcloth. This is not the most pleasant way to take a shower but it gets the job done, and he can go on about his business after wards without being soaked. If Jane is helping me it’s a completely different story. Much like most of you, a shower does wonders for my perpetually sore body, I take my time and use the water to relax some perpetually sore muscles. You would be amazed at the difference it makes to the way I feel.
I went through a phase in my life when I was younger and could still use the bathtub where I really enjoyed soaking. I think most of the joy came from the fact that for that 30 or 45 minutes that I was in there, I had to complete privacy. Complete privacy is a rare thing in almost every aspect of my life. Anyone who is in a wheelchair understands that this is a trade-off that has to be made to get the help you need, but I’m sure my mom found it strange that a teenager wanted to soak in the bathtub. It’s something that I miss these days. Especially when I’m having a particularly rough day physically. I do have some privacy in the shower. Jane is very good about giving me my space, but it’s not quite the same as soaking in the bath tub for 30 minutes.
Before Jane came along, I was able to shower about three times a week. The reason for this is that taking a shower every day the way most people do is a a lot of work for someone else to help me. Since jane’s arrival I’m able to shower whenever I see fit.
Why am I telling you all of this you ask? The reason is simple. I started this blog to allow anyone who read it, to get a glimpse of what my life is like. Simple things that most people take for granted every day, are a little more complicated for a man on wheels. I’m not complaining, it’s just a fact. Complications or not. I still get things done. Pro tip we are all more pleasant be around when we shower regularly. It may take more work for me to get it done but I’m pretty sure the people around me are thankful that I make the effort. To those of you with cats, I wonder if other handicapped people have cats who play at being Superman with the lift harness? I don’t blame her, but one day I might actually get stuck in there. Have a great week everybody.
As always thanks to Evie for another wonderful cartoon.
Your doing a wonderful job of educating people and making them feel grateful for what they do have. Good job Jamie. Poor me has never been in your vocabulary. I love a strong man. That you are. Love sent your way. Aunt Connie
I’m just glad somebody is reading it 🙂