Living with Cerebral Palsy

Well, I got my new wheelchair. It is wonderful! My seater rumpus feels sooooo much better! Unfortunately, less than two days later, my toilet got stopped up, wouldn’t quit running, and subsequently ran all over the floor!

Now, if you are like me, you don’t have the money to pay a plumber time and a half to unstop a stool. Even if he is only here for five minutes, the base charge is probably over $100. So, me and the new wheelchair braved the bathroom tsunami!

So, armed with my trusty plunger, I plunged in, ready for battle. Unfortunately, the fight was more difficult than even I could’ve anticipated. My hand was getting sore, so I wore a glove. I took rest breaks. I was beginning to think I was going to have to retreat and call in reinforcements.

However, I was persistent. I am sure I have friends that would’ve come and helped me. But, frankly, I love them too much!

Finally! Mission accomplished. Now, I just had to clean up and mop the floor with disinfectant. Now, if you are in a wheelchair, you know all of this activity is not a 5 minute proposition.

By the time I was done, the only thing extraordinary about becoming a wheelchair plumber was how sore all of my extremities and gut were from the experience!

If you have spastic cerebral palsy, you know what I mean. When you are really working hard, all of your muscles tense up and get involved. For example, my legs work in tandem. I can move them a very little; when I do, they both move together, no matter how much I concentrate. I don’t know about you, but my leg muscles never completely relax, not even in sleep. The muscles are always working, usually in opposition to whatever I want to do. But, this was ridiculous!

Unfortunately, the war wasn’t over. Two days later, my stool wouldn’t quit running and exceeded its boundaries once again. It was time to take down the cause of the war, and claim victory once and for all!

After careful inspection and strategy building, I put down the plunger and traded it in for a screw driver! My toilet had a screw loose!

So, are you “handicapable”? Are you able to repair minor household problems, or do you have wonderful helpers that are there when you need them? Have you ever exceeded your own expectations living with cerebral palsy?