The
quest to
regain
some
sort of
autonomy
over our
lives
eventually
consumes
most
fellow
quad’s.
However,
being
independent
does not
always
mean
living
without
needing
any help
from
others,
but
rather
involves
creating
a space,
both
mental
and
physical,
where
you
simply
regain
control
of your
environment.
Where
you
re-establish
accountability
for your
life and
future.
Like
most
quads,
post
injury,
at first
I was
totally
dependant
on
others
for
every
aspect
of daily
life.
That
includes:
eating,
bathing,
dressing,
transferring,
pooping,
reading,
using
the
computer,
etc.
Pretty
much
everything
I did
and
everywhere
I went
required
another’s
aid and
complicity.
I’d say
for the
first
year or
so that
was
quite
acceptable.
Hell, I
was just
glad to
be alive
and
surrounded
by the
ones I
love.
Each day
above
ground
was a
good
day. I
had very
limited
expectations
as far
as
improvement.
But as
time
went on
and I
gradually
increased
my
strength
I began
doing
things
that I
previously
thought
not
possible.
First it
was very
simple
things
like
turning
over in
bed to
get more
comfortable
and
pushing
my
manual
chair.
The
progress
was
steady,
but so
slow it
almost
went
unnoticed.
Then
after a
matter
of
several
years I
would
advance
to about
90%
independence,
which is
where I
am
today.
Thinking
back,
the
biggest
impediment
to my
progress
came
when I'd
failed
to
believe
in
myself,
when I
doubted
if I
could
achieve
the next
step. I
ultimately
learned
to do
the most
challenging
aspects
when I
was left
without
a choice
– when I
had to
learn.
Necessity
is truly
the
mother
of
invention,
…and
education.
I
currently
live on
my own
in a
fully
accessible
condo. I
have a
PCA come
each
morning
to
assist
with my
morning
routines,
clean
and run
errands;
other
than
that I’m
pretty
much
self-sufficient.
I do
allow
help
from
family
and
friends
at
times,
but I
mostly
try to
things
myself
since
I’m
still in
the
learning
phase,
even
when it
takes me
a
ridiculous
amount
of time.
Rather
than
document
my
progress
in a
story
format
I’ve
decided
to
organize
it in
sections,
or
categories.
I’ll
update
them as
I live
and
learn…The
following
are the
vital
areas
I’ve
found
most
important
to
living
independently:
Coming soon, after some reorganization! |
