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Friday, March 20, 2015

"Tooling Around"

For the past four years, as most of you know, Bob has been pretty much bed bound. I mean, he really only gets up out of that hospital bed when I force him to because we have somewhere to go -- i.e. doctor's appts., therapy, medical tests or rare scheduled "fun" thing.  In the past, many well-meaning folks (other caregivers and medical providers) have advised me to contract with one of the "house call" medical groups, meaning doctors/nurses/therapists who come to the home instead of us going to them, but I've always refused, because, I tell you, if we did that, Bob would never move out of that bed at all.

And I do think getting up and going somewhere is good for his soul, even if only to a doctors office, even if it means more work for me.

So it was quite a shock, a real surprise, and a truly wonderful development that Bob, 2 weeks ago, wanted to, for the first time ever, get out of bed and, in his words,  just "tool around" on "the remote".

Um, "The Remote" is the name he uses for his new power chair....  all righty... Took me awhile to figure out what he was talking about there...

Anyhoo, two times, since the move, he has requested to get out of bed to just "tool around".  He has been excitedly exploring the house and the neighborhood (in the company of me and Boomer).  He is, also, learning to maneuver "the remote" -- though our woodwork, doors and walls pay the price!

I tell you, the move to this new house and the new power chair have been truly a Godsend for Bob. He certainly is coming out of his shell. And this interest in just "tooling around" would not have happened at our former (very small) house with the old manual wheelchair...

Here's some pics from our last adventure:


The new porch/ramp is nearly done!







Down the block! That's our house in the background.



He still only "tools" at about 0.5 mph... and I'm still terrified he'll hit a bump and topple over!

But it's so very good to see him getting "out and about"!



7 comments:

oc1dean said...

That is so cool that Bob is engaged in this part of life.

Barb Polan said...

This is all so beautiful.

Jenn said...

Grinning ear to ear! Go Bob!!! So then, The Remote, is this a "British" term? lolol

Anonymous said...

Some of the best "therapy" is what you've been doing for Bob all along. Including him and "tooling around on his remote". You know they always speak of a man "loving his remote". This just proves that point! :-).
Good for you both!
Regards,
Kan

J.L. Murphey said...

Go Bob go! I warned you about the woodwork and walls with those chairs. lol But it can't help you to smile at his progress. Amazing what a little independence can do...enable the daylight out of them.

Isn't it great!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic. And the nicked up woodwork, door jams, walls, be damned....lol. I hope he continues to get more exploratory adventures out and about.

Hugs & prayers, Dan

Grace Carpenter said...

That's beautiful.