How did I get here?

One of the thoughts I get from time to time given my condition is “How did this happen?” Or “How did I come to be in a wheelchair?” After all, on 2nd September Anne and I had our day planned out. We were going to go to look for some patio furniture in the end of season sale and then drive up though the Cotswolds stopping for lunch, to attend a wedding reception in Stratford upon Avon.

We did get to look for the patio furniture (the store we went to didn’t have any as it happens.) Then next I knew I’d collapsed, I was rushed into hospital only to wake up 3 weeks later with a right leg that was immobile. But I was alive. (From what I’ve learned since, I am fortunate to be alive as the condition that made me collapse – Abdominal Aortic Aneurism; “Triple A” – is extremely serious and survival rate is very low. In fact, every doctor I’ve seen since says at some point “You do know you’re lucky to be alive?” Yes, I do and I am grateful.)

Maybe sometime I will blog about how I processed all I went through. I don’t think I’m ready to do that yet, though I feel it might be good to do so. For now, let’s just say I am OK with what has happened but I do ask myself “How have I ended up like this?” “How did I get here?”

Medically, I have ended up like this (with limited function in my right leg) as I have Femoral Nerve Neuropathy. (Put simply the blood supply to my nerves was interrupted and they ceased working. But gradually they are starting to function again.) So, I know why but how?

There’s no answer. It was one of those things. There was no warning of me having a Triple A. I felt fine. It just happened.

And I’m pleased that is my attitude. There is no one to blame. I’m not angry at God. I don’t believe He allowed this to happen as some sort of test of my faith. I just had a leaky aorta. (In another life, I might just have to form a punk band called “Leaky Aorta”!)

It’s no point getting maudlin and saying, “Why me?” OK, I do have some days when I feel down. But I am alive! Spring is here. The birds are singing. And I have things to look forward to.

Now some of the things I am looking forward to will seem odd to you but they’re not for me so bear with me.

We have a holiday booked for the middle of May. (To a cottage in the New Forest adapted for people with disabilities.)

We have a new car coming (next week all being well.) A Honda C-RV. This will have some adaptations made for me.

So far so good. Now it gets weird.

I am getting a walking frame from my physiotherapist. (She saw me on Monday and felt I had made such good progress that it would be good to try a frame. At best only for small steps but steps nonetheless.)

I am getting a mobility scooter.

Yes, the kind I’ve always moaned about when driven by some old biddy in town. Or some old git trundling along the road at 4 miles an hour with no idea of the tailback behind him. Yes folks. I’m about to join that club.

Seriously though I am excited about the scooter. It means that when we go out Anne doesn’t have to push me in my wheelchair. It means I can have some independence. I can go out for a ride around the area we live in. I can get to Sainsbury’s. I can do some shopping which will mean I am taking some of the load off Anne’s back.

More than that, the new car will have a hoist fitted in the boot so the scooter can be lifted in and out. The new car will also be adapted so that I can drive it with my left foot.

How did I get here? Via my Sterling Sapphire Mobility Scooter of course!