Happy 2018

Happy 2018!

I hope everyone enjoyed the Holidays.  I spent the week after Christmas with my parents.  In more than just a cordial visit, I went up with hopes of getting my old wheelchair (the Tank) repaired, getting the van repaired, and having  some nice R&R spent with my folks and my sister.  I managed to accomplish two of these goals: got some nice R&R and got the van fixed (it had a leak in the gas lines).  I often have the fear of what will I do if the van were to break down on the roadside.

This once happened to my brother, who also has SMA.  He and his family were travelling when a piece of debris on the road cut into the gas tank and effectively disabled the van.  They were stuck, and with the power-wheelchair, it’s not like they could just hitch a ride with any ole car.  In fact, they called the Highway Patrol, who tried to flag down another accessible vans to help, but were unsuccessful.  Eventually they managed to get the van running enough make it to a nearby town and get some patchwork done to get them back on the road.

As for the unresolved item, “the Tank”.  Turns out, most companies won’t even look at an older chair, and the ones that will remain unable to do much as the parts are no longer in production.   The speed control on “the Tank” is burned out, and thus the chair remains in the lowest possible speed setting (a literal snails’ pace of less than 1 MPH).  So, “the Tank” remains a antiquated backup option for when the main chair breaks down again (which is usually sometime in the summer).

So now, a new year, new stories, and braving a week of sub-zero temperatures (oh Wisconsin!).

Happy New Year