Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Wheelchairs suck, but they work
I hate using my wheelchair, but I saw this video today at work and wanted to cry. And not tears of joy for the plucky heroine. Tears of sadness.
The heroine dreamed of not using her chair. After becoming a paraplegic in a car accident, she told her mother she would walk across the stage to get her diploma like the other kids. So she did. They set up parallel bars and she walked across the stage using her upper body.
Everyone cheered and probably felt great.
Not me, though.
What's wrong with using a wheelchair? I may hate my wheelchair, but it does a damn hard job very well. I wouldn't dream of not using it. Does that make me a loser?
She was able to walk across like the "normal" kids, but what about the kids for whom walking is not an option? What message is sent? That wheelchairs suck and if you can shed them life would be better and people would cheer.
Maybe I'd like to shed my chair, too, but then I'd fall down or never get out of bed.
P.S. For the record I don't want her to see this blog because it seems I am harshing on a child. It is cool she graduated despite her disability and all. Her classmates ought to have cheered like hell. I just dislike trying so hard to be able-bodied. God, what is wrong with me?
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wheelchair
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4 comments:
How is accepting and embracing a tool that makes your life better a bad thing? I'm going with 'it's not.'
I know this is off-topic,but is it possible that the same man does the reporting/voice over for all local news human interest stories? He must be making a killing.
I agree with you totally. I just wish they would make these darn wheelchairs more sturdy. My chair that is barely over a year old is already falling apart. The footrests don't lock well and a bolt fell out of my armrest so it keeps falling apart. I was at a retreat for work and people had to rescue me when all of a sudden the armrest came out and hoot tea and papers started flying off of my tray as it collapsed. It was quite a sight.
sdt
I admit to mixed feelings but as I say it does a really hard job I could not do. Mom thought of you graduating when she read this, sdt. And thanks for lightening the mood, Ellen. Hope you are able to sleep sometime.
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