I had an experience this week that has already given me a very different outlook on my condition.
My mobility was affected by MS from day one, and after about five years it became clear that wheelchairs and I were due to get acquainted sooner or later. I was discussing this with a friend, and wondered aloud if anyone is making carbon fibre wheelchairs. He immediately googled this, and found Carbon Black System.
It was a wonderful surprise, to see something so beautiful and functional, and to think that I might not be having to use some unattractive, heavyweight device – but it was a less welcome surprise to discover the cost. It seemed out of reach, but I kept it in mind.
About 18 months ago I got a wheelchair from the NHS – a Quickie Lite, and although it looked much nicer than anticipated, I found it way too heavy and awkward to get in and out of my car, and barely used it.
But, a small bequest from my late grandfather finally put me within range of affording a Carbon Black, and I decided to go for it. I took three months to build, and it was delivered just over a week ago. But because I was relapsing quite badly, I was in no shape to road test it, until a couple of days ago.
Instead of the usual anxiety I get when wobbling around a supermarket with my stick, I was actually grinning when zooming around the aisles, and got the groceries done in nearly half the time. I’m normally around a 6 on the 1-10 scale of anxiety, but I was around a 2, which is a revelation.
I was so encouraged that I decided to go straight from there into the city and get a couple of things I’d been needing, but unable to get to, for around two months. I found I could get to both places in town, and easily deal with assembling and disassembling the chair. It even made conversation with clerks easier as I didn’t have the anxiety and the stress of trying to keep my balance and appear ‘normal’. I found people to be so considerate, and one middle-aged Italian woman helped me get up a slope that was a touch steep for me. The whole experience restored my faith in a lot of things.
Being able to buy clothes, talk to people and get around by myself was something I had been thinking may be relegated to my past. In one day it has been worth every penny.
Feel free to ask me any questions here or via private message.
