August 29, 2006
This morning when we looked at the wheelchair, both Gary and I noticed the cushion looked low in air. I never had to fill the cushion we had at Shepherd, and I have filled this one at least once a week, so we think there is something wrong with it and will contact our supplier. After Gary got in the chair, it slipped sideways on him, and looking at it we were frightened to see that either the wheel was coming loose or the wheel lock (brake) had slipped. We got Gary transferred back to the bed as soon as we could and figured out it was the wheel lock. Gary took a hammer to it, and that fixed it, at least temporarily.
Mechanical things continued to be our bane today. Whenever I apply the brakes on the car or turned a corner in it, I hear a squealing sound. Plus, water is flooding the floor of the car on the passenger side, coming from in front of where Gary’s feet would be. It is cool water, so Gary thinks it has to do with the AC. So I will have to take the car in to get it checked out. At least this car stuff has happened after getting back from Atlanta.
I talked with both the foreman of the “garage people” and the owner today, the latter person coming to the house. They again both said that Joe was wonderful to work with, the owner adding that we were blessed to have such a generous relative who postponed his own work to come out and help us out – and that we were also blessed to have such generous friends in the math department who gave of their time to aid us as well. Don’t we know it. We are also blessed to have connected – or re-connected – with so many people who sent us their good wishes and shows of support through their emails, cards, letters, and visits. I know I’ve said this before, but you really can’t say thanks too many times, can you?
In terms of work on the garage, the final inspection by the city was made today, and work will begin on building the breeze way between the garage and the house tomorrow (so Gary won’t ever get rained on). That is expected to be finished by Thursday. The owner also said he plans to clean off the cement of all the red clay that accumulated on it during the construction, and he will partially fill the drains with cement so the water level is raised to the level of the pipe and water doesn’t stand (and thus provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes).
In the afternoon, Gary asked me to come into the shower and see what I thought about “the curtain problem,” that is, how he would keep his chair dry if he were taking a shower alone. He parked his chair next to the shower bench, and then wheeled it in a way that would imitate what he would be able to do from the bench. We decided it would work to put in a curtain perpendicular to the existing one, but then I suggested he go ahead and make the transfer to the bench and manipulate the chair from there to see what he would really be able to do. He said it was a good thing I had suggested that, because it turned out the problem wasn’t a problem. He was able to push the chair far enough out of the shower area that he could close the existing curtain on it, but the chair was close enough that he could reach it without any danger of overbalancing and bring it back to him.
Gary opened package number thirteen tonight, the last one except for a still-to-come video of the Flightseeing trip. I confess we’re not sure what the little gift is – a replica of a moose antler perhaps? It does have carved moose on it, but for all we know it could be a replica of a whale’s tooth.
The postcard included by Norma said she wanted Gary to know she thought of him the whole time during the trip, which made Gary cry. The thoughtful little packages you all put together for him touched him very much. Thank you.
This morning when we looked at the wheelchair, both Gary and I noticed the cushion looked low in air. I never had to fill the cushion we had at Shepherd, and I have filled this one at least once a week, so we think there is something wrong with it and will contact our supplier. After Gary got in the chair, it slipped sideways on him, and looking at it we were frightened to see that either the wheel was coming loose or the wheel lock (brake) had slipped. We got Gary transferred back to the bed as soon as we could and figured out it was the wheel lock. Gary took a hammer to it, and that fixed it, at least temporarily.
Mechanical things continued to be our bane today. Whenever I apply the brakes on the car or turned a corner in it, I hear a squealing sound. Plus, water is flooding the floor of the car on the passenger side, coming from in front of where Gary’s feet would be. It is cool water, so Gary thinks it has to do with the AC. So I will have to take the car in to get it checked out. At least this car stuff has happened after getting back from Atlanta.
I talked with both the foreman of the “garage people” and the owner today, the latter person coming to the house. They again both said that Joe was wonderful to work with, the owner adding that we were blessed to have such a generous relative who postponed his own work to come out and help us out – and that we were also blessed to have such generous friends in the math department who gave of their time to aid us as well. Don’t we know it. We are also blessed to have connected – or re-connected – with so many people who sent us their good wishes and shows of support through their emails, cards, letters, and visits. I know I’ve said this before, but you really can’t say thanks too many times, can you?
In terms of work on the garage, the final inspection by the city was made today, and work will begin on building the breeze way between the garage and the house tomorrow (so Gary won’t ever get rained on). That is expected to be finished by Thursday. The owner also said he plans to clean off the cement of all the red clay that accumulated on it during the construction, and he will partially fill the drains with cement so the water level is raised to the level of the pipe and water doesn’t stand (and thus provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes).
In the afternoon, Gary asked me to come into the shower and see what I thought about “the curtain problem,” that is, how he would keep his chair dry if he were taking a shower alone. He parked his chair next to the shower bench, and then wheeled it in a way that would imitate what he would be able to do from the bench. We decided it would work to put in a curtain perpendicular to the existing one, but then I suggested he go ahead and make the transfer to the bench and manipulate the chair from there to see what he would really be able to do. He said it was a good thing I had suggested that, because it turned out the problem wasn’t a problem. He was able to push the chair far enough out of the shower area that he could close the existing curtain on it, but the chair was close enough that he could reach it without any danger of overbalancing and bring it back to him.
Gary opened package number thirteen tonight, the last one except for a still-to-come video of the Flightseeing trip. I confess we’re not sure what the little gift is – a replica of a moose antler perhaps? It does have carved moose on it, but for all we know it could be a replica of a whale’s tooth.
The postcard included by Norma said she wanted Gary to know she thought of him the whole time during the trip, which made Gary cry. The thoughtful little packages you all put together for him touched him very much. Thank you.
posted by Peg Daniels at 7:42 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home