RetiredGySgt
Diamond Member
I am disabled. I use a wheelchair but can walk a very little with a walker. I have used a wheelchair since around 2016, from then till 2020 I could walk and get around just not very far, If I went anywhere, I always took my wheelchair. December of 2020 I fell and shattered my right ankle, I had covid so they wouldnt operate and put in pins to fix it. Spent January through August 2021 in a Nursing home since I couldnt put any weight on the right foot. In septemeber went home. Rehab had gotten me to where I could walk a short distance.
I had a hospital bed and got lazy. I was able to get in the suv till about april of 2022. By then I got too weak and fell trying to get in the suv at a doctor appointment. Had to call 911 to get me up and in the suv, when I got home had to call again to get out of car and into bed.
After that I quit walking altogether and just used the wheelchair. Got hooked up with the local handicapped bus service to get to my appointments. I pretty much just stayed in bed except for appointments and occasional time I got up.
In 2024 toward the end of the year or early 2025 the grandkids came to live with us as their parents had legal troubles. at first I just stayed the way I was a vegetable in my room. As time passed I wanted to interact more with the kids so got up more.
In June or so of 2025 VA came through for me and I got on home health care. Team of doctors and such now visit me at home and va takes me to any VA appointment. They got me a new bigger bed and a powered wheelchair. I started getting up more and interacting with the kids. My wife got listed as my caregiver and we got a CNA one day a week to give her a break.
about a month ago I started going to the local Dollar General. it is only store nearby. It is 1.2 miles away and me and the CNA go there in my wheelchair, she walks. Takes about an hour 20 to 25 minutes each way and 20 or so minutes shopping. I take 20 dollars with me that is my allowance for the trip.
I go outside and watch the kids in the afternoon after school for 20 minutes or longer, I have bed sores so being up can be painful on bad days. My granddaughter likes to go around the block on her scooter or bike and she asks me to take her which I do.
I just ask the VA for a therapist to help me learn to walk again. I can go about 10 steps now with walker. so, things are looking up.
We are looking into modifying one of the SUVs so I can get in it. Too small to let me drive my wheelchair into it but there is a seat modification that will allow me to get in, will just have to get a manual wheelchair for that. Havent been in a car since I fell and quit walking. Havent been to a store except recently to Dollar General since then. Looking forward to getting out again if we can swing the modification.
So that is me as of late.
I had a hospital bed and got lazy. I was able to get in the suv till about april of 2022. By then I got too weak and fell trying to get in the suv at a doctor appointment. Had to call 911 to get me up and in the suv, when I got home had to call again to get out of car and into bed.
After that I quit walking altogether and just used the wheelchair. Got hooked up with the local handicapped bus service to get to my appointments. I pretty much just stayed in bed except for appointments and occasional time I got up.
In 2024 toward the end of the year or early 2025 the grandkids came to live with us as their parents had legal troubles. at first I just stayed the way I was a vegetable in my room. As time passed I wanted to interact more with the kids so got up more.
In June or so of 2025 VA came through for me and I got on home health care. Team of doctors and such now visit me at home and va takes me to any VA appointment. They got me a new bigger bed and a powered wheelchair. I started getting up more and interacting with the kids. My wife got listed as my caregiver and we got a CNA one day a week to give her a break.
about a month ago I started going to the local Dollar General. it is only store nearby. It is 1.2 miles away and me and the CNA go there in my wheelchair, she walks. Takes about an hour 20 to 25 minutes each way and 20 or so minutes shopping. I take 20 dollars with me that is my allowance for the trip.
I go outside and watch the kids in the afternoon after school for 20 minutes or longer, I have bed sores so being up can be painful on bad days. My granddaughter likes to go around the block on her scooter or bike and she asks me to take her which I do.
I just ask the VA for a therapist to help me learn to walk again. I can go about 10 steps now with walker. so, things are looking up.
We are looking into modifying one of the SUVs so I can get in it. Too small to let me drive my wheelchair into it but there is a seat modification that will allow me to get in, will just have to get a manual wheelchair for that. Havent been in a car since I fell and quit walking. Havent been to a store except recently to Dollar General since then. Looking forward to getting out again if we can swing the modification.
So that is me as of late.
