Here’s another update, as Sam and I have began a new phase in our lives; he is having to rely on me a lot more than he has ever had to do in the past. Intricate surgery to repair a torn Achilles’ tendon has left him hobbling about on crutches, unable to weight-bear on his right leg. He can still work but hates being incapacitated, and sits dolefully at a makeshift desk all day that has been modified so that he can sit with his right leg propped up on a stool. I run around like a blue-arse fly, but am enjoying being able to do something for him instead of it always being the other way around.
Yesterday I suggested that he sit in Dot’s wheelchair in order to get out and about around the village and feel the sun on his face. I always feel better after some fresh air, and Sam is in danger of getting a nightclub tan at the moment. To my surprise he agreed.
Sam is more than twice the weight that Dot was. I am not gifted with a beaudacious set of biceps, and there was a disappointing and immediate impasse as soon as he flopped down in the chair. However, Sam immediately perked up because here was something he could do with ease; he could don gardening gloves and push himself along using the outer metal rims of the back wheels.
So off we set, with him pushing himself and me pushing gently but mainly steering. Usually I don’t look down at the pavements when I walk about the village, but now we needed to search for dropped kerbstones, as the effort involved in getting Sam and the chair up a normal kerb would be enough to make me bust a gasket.
Have you ever tried to push a wheelchair containing a 14 stone man along a pavement that has a camber? It ain’t easy I’ll tell ya…especially when some bright spark has parked their car half in the road and half on the pavement. We couldn’t get past, and had to double-back to the dropped kerbstone. Now we were zooming along the narrow road, and I could hear a car coming. Sam shrugged and said “Bollocks – they’ll have to wait.” And wait they did, revving impatiently until I could find another dropped kerbstone further along the road.
By now I could feel rain on my face. Sam can only wear short trousers due to the cast, and he was grumbling that his knees were cold. My shoulders were beginning to ache with my puny efforts at manoeuvring the wheelchair. Our first foray out into the elements did not last very long!
Back at home Sam performed wheelies in the garden while I unlocked the door. Then it was time for me to give him his heparin jab to prevent blood clots. As I took the syringe out of its protective cover Sam gave me a wink and suggested playing Doctors and Nurses. I stuck the needle into his abdomen and informed him that we already were. His face fell somewhat as he replied that playing Doctors and Nurses was unfortunately not turning out to be as much fun as he had originally thought.
This morning the sun shone and we did a quick doughnut around the block. Sam was pushing those wheels so hard I had to run to keep up. Things can only get better…
Awesome story! The ☀️ is such a reminder of dancing through the storm because there’s always light after dark.. be blessed
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Thank you.
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Great report Stevie. Sounds like you two are having fun despite the obstacles. I actually was chuckling while reading this, envisioning the pair of you trying to navigate the wheelchair. 🙂
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I could push Dot okay, who only weighed less than 7 stones. However, it’s a whole new ball game when you’ve got a 14 stone man in there! Luckily he pushes it himself on the inclines.
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A Good workout! LOL 😉
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Oh yes.
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Look on the bright side… Its great excercise… And u probably built some real muscles there💪
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Ha ha, you’re probably right!
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I like the sound of your new fitness programme! I foresee a book.
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Pushing a grown man in a wheelchair is going to give me shoulders like Charlie Atlas!
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I enjoyed your funny story and could see us doing something similar. My dad was so opposed to using a wheelchair that at the airport he simply threw his carry-on luggage in it and pushed it down the hallway! Of course in his last year, he did have to rely on it as he was immobile. I hope your hubby will be back up and walking on both feet soon. The humour gets us through everything.
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He’s remarkably cheerful – I think it’s because he can still work and feel useful.
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I can well imagine his frustration having been immobile for many years, at one time in a full body cast. I admire his – and your – fortitude and humour, it’s not easy to maintain over a long period of time. And wheelchairs are certainly not designed to be comfortable or easily manoeuvred. I had to give up using mine because my husband kept injuring his back lifting it in and out of the car and pushing me on uneven pavements, we are blessed with a lot of cobbles here, too. How long is he expecting to be in a cast?
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Another 5 weeks and then an orthopaedic boot. Goodness, I cannot imagine what it must be like in a full body cast. I assume then you were flat on your back for 6 weeks?
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I could just about get out of bed, by full I meant from neck to below hips, legs were still able to work, although with inactivity they were extremely weak. I had a baby and young son. I was in the cast for 12 weeks – they ‘lost’ my records. My husband threatened to take a chainsaw to it of they didn’t call me in for an appointment. That got their attention! My spine was red raw where the cast had rubbed off the skin. You can see with all these stories why I lost faith with the medical profession.
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Goodness me. Yes, doctors do make mistakes. I know because I’ve suffered due to their ineptitude as well.
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I’m so sorry to hear that and I apologise for filling your comments with my negative medical stories. I regret it every time I do it, but I relive these events whenever I read your posts and it is still too real and too raw even though they happened many years ago. I promise to do better and I hope you and your husband cope ok while he is immobile. Wheelchair use is a trial but occasionally they can be fun. My young grand-daughter used to love coming shopping so she could stand on the pedals and get a ride, and when my daughter passed her driving test it meant we could have mother-daughter time where I could buy her clothes and enjoy spoiling her.
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We managed very well at the supermarket this morning. I’ve learned to look at the floor now to gauge its ‘pushability’. A smooth, flat, tiled floor is wonderful for wheelchairs!
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Oooo yes! But people with trolleys rarely see you, they push while looking sideways and you get bashed legs more often than you can count, same as for children in buggies I expect. It’s good that he can join you on shopping trips now.
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“Intricate surgery to repair a torn Achilles’ tendon” OWWWWW!!!!! Glad to hear you two are making the best of things, but…OWWW!!!
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He’s not in too much pain surprisingly.
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I like the sound of your other half, what a sense of humour!
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Yes, he’s got that British dry sense of humour just like I have. Sometimes it’s a laugh a minute here….
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sounds wonderful!
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thanks for the re-blog.
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