Along the river run at Tulsa,
Oklahoma there is an area that is groomed and polished by the beautiful
minds of men and women who have created a recreational kind of park. At this
park there are wide walk ways where people can rent the three wheel, low
rider bike for exercise. I wasn't aware there was such a thing for adults
until we saw those. My disabled daughter had a monster machine called
“Varoom” when she was a child. It had the large front wheel and two smaller
back wheels. The tri-cycle was low to the ground and she zipped up and down
the front sidewalk as if she had no disability at all. Because the toy could
not be turned over I always felt secure with her using it.
My first thought was to build
wide walk ways on this acre both for Rhonda and the children's roller skates
as well. However, at this time with the book sales just barely moving along
I cannot do this. It then occurred to me that Rhonda would probably be able
to use our drive. We will have to put in a gate and a fence across the front
so no one can rush in on her unexpectedly.
For over forty years we have
never depended on any agency or insurance to pick up, the costs of Rhonda' s
equipment. When my husband was working and not retired, we were always over
that line to qualify. The last time I looked at their wheel chairs they were
the big, unwieldily, awkward designs. We have found a company that sells the
small, light chair I can easily pick up and put in the trunk and it is
reasonably priced. The small wheels, on the front allows her to use her legs
to push herself around which is a necessity since her arms are mostly
paralyzed.
Rather than to bother with
all the bureaucracy, time-consuming paper work, etc. etc. my husband took a
job after retirement to pay for her spa and lift. The spa was a used one and
is very temperamental but he manages to keep it going. The lift was
unbelievable priced. Incredibly over-priced. But, I suppose, when the
taxpayers are footing the bill this is what happens. I'm thankful we were
able to not take a penny of the hard-working taxpayer's money. We know how
hard it is to pay those taxes. When I had the sciatic injury, the value of
that water therapy was worth a mint, though.
Goals are a little like a
sin; sin defined as not having hit the target you have before you. We set
goals and we manage to make them, sometimes. The two book signing's over the
weekend netted half of what I need for Rhonda's three wheel, low rider
bicycle. Not to worry, there will be other book signing's that is if this
old bod can hold together.
Rhonda's picture when she was
a child:
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