Wheelchair Drama

This week was supposed to be THE week. The roommates were out on a trip to Mexico for 9 days total. This would have been 9 full days of the house to myself, doing chores, hobbies, and going to coffee shops to work on this blog. 9 full days alone. Of course the universe had other plans.

It was 9:23 am. I heard the front door close and our Alexa notifying me that someone was at our front door. The roommates were gone. 9 days have started now. I got into my wheelchair eager for the week ahead, it moved for a second, then stopped. The maintenance screen flashed on the controller, the flashing wrench almost mocking me. “Not today… come on.” I turned it off and on again, I plugged it in again. I tried every trick I knew. It wouldn’t budge. I couldn't move, I couldn't leave my room, I was stuck.

Two hours on the phone, all while sobbing, only got me an appointment with National Seating and Mobility on Monday; it was Friday. It also got me a full weekend with my mother, since I couldn't reach anything in my manual wheelchair, and a semi plan with my father for father’s day. My solo vacation had turned into a weekend with my parents. While not what I had in mind, we adapt. My mom helped me do a bunch of chores I had been putting off while I was in school, my dad and I went to the movies, National Seating was coming Monday… I could give away my weekend. 

Monday came around, my appointment was anywhere between 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. He came around 10 am just to tell me they would have to replace my motor. “This chair is barely a year old… like it’s practically brand new.” I tried to express my frustration. 

“And you haven’t had the motor replaced?” He asked as if it was as common as getting your oil changed on a car. In my 27 years of owning an electric wheelchair I have never had to have the motor replaced. 

This chair has been causing me problems since I got it. I already had an order made to replace my joystick mount because it kept getting loose no matter how much I tightened the screw. He said he would try to add the motor to my existing order and when I asked about a loaner chair he said he would have to talk to his manager. (So I’m probably not getting one). 

It is now Friday as I’m writing this. A whole week has come and gone. I have been sleeping on couches of different friends and family. My solo vacation has made me see more people than I do in a month. 

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it is that I am a problem solver. When you’re disabled with a corrupt system in the corporations that are meant to help you, you have to be. I never expect insurance to give me what I need without insurance denying my request, needing to make at least 3 phone calls, and threatening the lives of their loved ones before they give me the proper manager that can actually give me answers. I know not to get my hopes up. I’m someone who always has plans A, B, C, all the way through Z. I make plans on top of plans and have 3 other plans in case those plans fail. 

Plan A. Wait for them to order the motor, have the motor be delivered, and for insurance to approve said motor. Well, seeing as my order for a joystick was ordered 2-3 months before this… plan A is probably a no go. 

Plan B. Get a loaner chair from the company. The guy said he had to talk to his manager and they would have to find a chair like mine, if they had one. Judging by the call I got on Tuesday from him saying they didn't have one but he would call me when they did… also probably not gonna work out for me. 

Plan C. My wildest plan yet… buy a wheelchair. The past year I've been saving any money I got from dog sitting, cash in birthday cards, and anytime a friend paid me back in cash rather than zelle. I saved a good chunk, enough for a down payment on a car. The only reason I didn't think of it sooner was my brain always thought of it as car money, nothing else. But it isn't just car money; it's my money, money for a rainy day, and boy is it fucking pouring. 

A few months back my friend… we'll call her Bean. Bean found this company that sold light, foldable, electric wheelchairs. The future really is now. I followed their Instagram and I've had my eye on them for a while. They don't just sell this miracle machines that were built to go outside (unheard of in the wheelchair space as I've been constantly scolded for taking my wheelchair on walks), they were pretty fucking cheap for an electric chair. 

The Air Pro. Only $728 (on sale, $878 with tax), 39 pounds with the battery, 15 miles on one battery charge, soft pink. She was beautiful. 

Well, soft pink if you were willing to wait till August to get it… ivory was the next best thing. And the best part? 1-5 (business?) days. I only had to deal with being legless for at most a week. 

So while I wait I write this update to apologize for pausing a blog I barely even started. I guess I'll come back to tell you how the story concludes. Hopefully with some coffee. 

Oh hey there! It's been a minute, a little over a week to be exact. I swear I spent the next 4-5 days just STARING at the order tracking screen like it was my Uber Eats delivering my fried chicken, but it eventually came! It got here on Wednesday and I've been spending the last few days putting it through the ringer.

Please ignore how rough I look I was sleeping on people's couches for a week

Wednesday evening was my first test. Getting a new wheelchair is like getting a new car. You gotta drive it around to learn all it's new little quirks. I drove around my house first, crashed into the corners of the wall a few times. I tested it on my ramp that leads into the house (its pretty steep so it really is a test). Then I took it for a walk around my neighborhood; honestly so far so good.

Thursday was the real test. I had physical therapy that is about a 20 minute walk from my house. Notably this wheelchair is slower than my other electric one, so I took the bus halfway. I was almost in the clear when I got stuck in the ramp leading up to the sidewalk. My chair seemed good with curbs but this one was a full divot on both the street and sidewalk; so I got a wee bit stuck. Thankfully a random lady got out of her car to help me. I called my roommate after physical therapy and she picked me up to take me home.

Saturday was the 4th of July. I had plans to go with my dad to my uncles. I knew my chair fit in my roommates Prius trunk but would it fit in my dad's back seat? Honestly? Yeah; easily. I was able to drive myself around my uncle's house. I was able to get myself food, I was able to get on the grass to watch the fireworks. My dad had to help push me into the house over the steps but he said it was as easy as getting my manual chair over the steps so that's a win.

This chair isn't a replacement for my electric chair completely, however, it does a pretty solid job. Also, it is a great replacement for my manual chair, which is what I wanted it for originally. We are mostly back ya'll, not fully though, but I can go back to getting coffee.