Here's a blog posting:
Blog Entry for Jan 21st 2017
Over the past several weeks, I have been learning how to drive (a wheelchair, of course) all over again. This is a brand new chair that I will keep to facilitate my mobility. It has displayed a couple of problems, so far. It's recline feature doesn't work, and it still needs set up for TV control, as well as integration with my cellphone.
Still, it is good to get out and around, and it serves that purpose well. The chair has five speed profiles. I have thus far tried the first two; turtle, and rabbit. Turtle starts to move at about 0.2 mph, and goes 1.2 mph at peak. Rabbit is essentially twice the Turtle mode with its top speed at a blinding 2.4 mph (a tiny bit faster than your average walking speed - and Yes, I realize we live in a "home with long halls").
I have been afraid to try the "Off-road", "Commuter" and "Oh, my gosh!" settings, but they are there for the bold to try. Absolute top speed is about 7 mph, which seems really, really fast when you set as close to the floor as I do. Range, without a recharge, is about 14 miles. Not enough for a vacation trip, but good for a joyride to the mall.
We are looking forward to going home to our condo, or possibly moving to a unit closer to town. That probably won't happen before Summer, but we are starting our research along the issues of handicapped accessibility. On that point, have any of you noticed how is many doctors' offices and hospitals are
substantially un-accessible? As a licensed engineer, I am, perhaps, overly sensitive to this issue, but now that I have become wheelchair bound, I really understand the laws and standards that grew out of the ADA.
Changing therapy providers is another activity that is consuming us. We were using a rehab unit near one of the major hospitals here, but I think enthusiasm fell off when they realized how slow and incremental my recovery could be. The newer unit is closer to the apartment unit we are living in, and seems a bit more enthusiastic about my prognosis. Time will tell.
Aside from that, I have been improving and getting some motion back in my hands and feet. I still cannot stand or use a walker, and my arms and hands, are still unable to be used, but we have detected some weak muscle activation that keeps us encouraged
Nancy has been a real trooper through all this, despite having her own heart and medication issues. Fortunately, we have a great group of doctors, friends and supporters that are always at the ready to help. We can only pay this forward, as we move on - I sincerely hope none of you ever need the type or amount of support we have received. Thank you!
Well, that is all for now. I will try to provide another update shortly.
-- Steve
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