Hiya Darling Ones,

There has been some very minor, minute, minuscule movement on the big issues in my life. If you have forgotten what those are, they’re The Dole and Non-Janky Wheelchair.

On The Dole front I got a sheaf of papers from Social Security asking me if I hired a representative (I did) and asking me how I’d like to conduct my hearing (via video call). Now, according to the lovely paralegal I work with, I wait a “few months” for Social Security to schedule my hearing. I will get a letter in the mail with that information 75 days before my hearing.

Progress?

On the Non-Janky Wheelchair front I had my appointment at the Seating Clinic. Surely you remember that. . . it was the appointment I scheduled in July for October 30th.

That was a bit of a doozy because I got have the argument with my mom in front of the nice physical therapist. My family, as represented by my mom in that room, is adamant I get an electric wheelchair. They do not think I’m capable of propelling myself in a manual wheelchair and they don’t want to push my ass around.

I, the person who will have to use the wheelchair, am adamant I get a wheelchair that will fit my 6’5″ frame and also fit inside a car. The whole point of the wheelchair is so that I can go places that are not the doctor’s office.

My fam had visions of either strapping the many-thousands of dollars wheelchair to the back of my mom’s RAV-4 on a sort of bike rack, or getting a trailer hitch. To them subjecting an electric wheelchair to the elements of the Minnesota roads was reasonable. Also, they never imagined I might want to go some where without them.

The Tea Ladies and I are just waiting for me to get a decent wheelchair so we can all meet up for lunch. They’re even willing to come and get me!

Part of my argument is that while I might not be very good at the wheelchair right now I’ll get better with practice. I used the Janky Wheelchair once before Sister #2 broke it. I haven’t had a chance to get good at it. Sheesh!

It’s more than a little annoying we even had this argument. It’s my wheelchair. For me! I’m an adult who can make decisions. They acted like I was being cheap or ashamed about asking for an electric wheelchair. Their opposition to what I wanted made me feel as though my logic was unreasonable or I was using magical thinking about the manual wheelchair.

I wasn’t! I recognize it will not be easy at first, but noting ever is. I’ll have to work at it, just like everything else since the stroke.

Thankfully, the therapist was #TeamJodi. She explained how part of her job was writing a narrative to the insurance company convincing them why I needed a Non-Janky Wheelchair. She said electric wheelchairs are large and expensive and probably not something I could use at home unless I had a spacious house. She doubted insurance would pony up for an electric wheelchair just for use in the community.

So, I was right and my family was wrong. Also, I learned my back is 29-inches long and I have good posture.

NOW. . . I wait a few weeks for a call from the wheelchair showroom people and then I can go check out the wheels. Then 3-4 months after that I could have a Non-Janky Wheelchair. I can’t hardly wait!

I’ve had enough of this stuff,
Jodi