Traviling with Dick was challenging but worth it!!

-
Thank You all for the kind words. The biggest thing with flying is calling ahead to let them know your needs and then be prepared to be patient. When you get to the airport it works best to have a person who is a "transporter" they will push your IS's wheelchair while you handle the boarding passes and carry-on luggage (I use a backpack and hook it on the back of IS's chair). Waiting for transporter can take time but it is well worth it, I tried to have a little cash on hand to tip them, they take you through the airport, & know where the elevators & gates are. The transporter will usually wait until you board and they will have a aisle chair. The person at the gate desk will board handicapped first, but be ready....you are also the very last off the plane (so if you have a connecting flight allow yourself plenty of time to make your connection). Two persons will lift IS and put him on the aisle chair (very thin) and get him into his seat, we always get his roho on the seat first.

We used our sons car so every in & out was difficult, we had his manual chair and had to break it down every in & out. IS is not able to help with his transfers at all and his legs become rigid causing them to stick straight out and very difficult to bend, straining our backs. We were trying to save money, I guess if you have money get 1st class plane seats and rent a van with a lift!!!!

The hotel is difficult but I tried to work it so we only had to do one bathroom day while we were there. I put him on the toilet the night before we left (we had good results) showered. Then we skipped a couple days, did it at the hotel, I did end up having to call the front desk for a strong person to help lift him out of the shower because the seat was way too low and not adjustable. The toilet was also very difficult (no raised seat) so I had a hard time doing his stims ( We were both exhausted afterward) the bed was pretty level to his chair so I was able to do those transfers alone.

But we had to weigh the options, if IS did not go he would have never seen where our youngest son was living!! So I think (and so does IS) it was well worth it in the long run!!! Just be patient and take it one step at a time!1 :)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Introduction

-
Have you ever had an internal voice? No not the same as hearing voices. It's like an internal conversation with yourself. I first notice that I had this when I was a young girl watching the Walton's. Remember the one when John Boy said "Mama, sometime I just have to write". It was at this time the I realize I had to do what John Boy did, keep a notebook by the bed. I make list all the time and when something profound pops in my head I have to write it down, if I won't it will just stay there till I write it. I always have a need to figure out, WHY??? Why people do what they do is a big one. I also try to solve things. A strong faith is another part of who I am. I am in no saying that Iam perfect or a holy roller. I just have a real need to keep learning more of what the bible has to teach me. I know I will be a better more loving person by having this knowledge. I have had many trials in my life and I will share more as I go, it is going to take some ...
Read more

Creating My Backyard Bird Sanctuary

-
 Sitting on the screened in porch on my deck watching many cardinals.  This started my summer project  of my  backyard bird sanctuary.  Which then took on a like of its own. I proceeded to cut Back many weeds and honeysuckle bushes to clear a huge area, I then sprayed poison ivy and many other ground coverings. I then went to the local garden store purchased a cardinal bird feeder, gathered my St. Francis statue that I had stored at my daughter's home.  I then saw my vision coming to life. My next purchase was a garden bench and a bird bath.  I hung another bird feeder.  I was seeing all minds of animal activities, birds of all kinds but speed of  cardinals.  Of course many squirrels, a fox on a chipmonk which I save from being eaten when I opened the door. But it was the deer family who hugely entertained me.  The deer were bucks with eight points,  a momma and two spotted babies.  I started placing pavers in the dirt whi...
Read more

If This Isn't a Sign...

-
When I was in third grade and attending Catholic School, I had a nun for my teacher. She use to always tell great stories about prayer, I loved to hear her stories. They always stuck with me along with her way of praying. She believed in signs and that was how she knew her prayers were answered. She also told us that when ever she heard an ambulance she would say a "Hail Mary"; I have done that since third grade. I have planted alot of things in my yard and gardens and on the back hill I have a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that leads to my gazabo. Many years ago I planted many daffodils and some tulips. The daffodils came up very plentiful but to my disappointment only one red tulip would come up and bloom, year after year, the one red tulip. I always thought of this tulip as a sign that my brother Mark was okay with the Lord up in Heaven. Mark died back in 1979, in a tradgic car accident. Last year I swear I only remember the one tulip blooming. Well, I know ...
Read more