Author: windupmyskirt

Just an average girl with a lot to say. I am an atheist and a feminist with a sense of humour. recovering from a open heart surgery and a massive stroke.

A bit of good news amongst the bad

So it turns out that I’ve been sick since Sunday and I had no idea. Don’t worry, it’s not covid, but a bout of norovirus, aka stomach flu, making me nauseated and dizzy, and it’s making me either super hot and sweaty or frozen to my core.I’m still dealing with some symptoms, but they’re not nearly as bad as they were. In case you didn’t realize it, that’s the good news.

How is that good, I hear you asking. Well, it means I might be able to use my Zeen after this passes. My body is feeling stronger today, and I’m looking forward to feeling fully better so I can get my butt up onto the Zeen and maybe be able to walk a bit. At least, that is my hope .

Also, I did mention that I’d be posting story posts, and that is still going to happen. It’s just going to be a little longer .

Wow, my brain is more damaged than I thought!

So the Zeen arrived yesterday, and I quickly got on it and tried to walk, but the carpet was the enemy,so hubby wheeled me out to the tiled hallway, where I almost puked immediately. I sat there for a while and tried it again, but I was too dizzy .it was at that point that I came to the realization that I need to slow down and take each step of the process as a goal in itself. Step one is sitting at barstool height without becoming dizzy and nauseated. This may take some time.

Sat in my Zeen for a half hour today. Hope to have another sit later this afternoon.

Yes, 7.5 years after my stroke and the brain is still an issue. It feels as if my brain is floating around in my skull at this new higher height, and it’s not a good feeling . It’s definitely going to take some time before I’m going to be able to get outside with it. But I did promise video today, so the below is a video of the chair I use for outdoor and transfers into the car.

Also to view the video just click the YouTube button

Watch “♿️SELF DEFENSE IN A WHEELCHAIR” trigger warning

This video is mostly preventative tips for staying away from scary situations. I included a trigger warning because she discusses both violent and sexual attacks. The reality of the situation is that if you’re in a wheelchair, you look like the limpy gazelle in the herd,so you must be aware and prepared. She does mention a few things that I’ve not thought of myself , like the foot plate being at ankle height. Her tip for sexual attacks is good, but what if you’re too old for a period, I guess herpes outbreak or genital warts or something might work. A personal alarm would be a good thing to have on your person at all times, or if you’re really scared, dial 911 on your cellphone and keep your finger ready to hit call,assuming you can.

Something exciting is happening here on Tuesday, January 7th

If you’ve been with me for over 2 weeks, you may recall the blog posts I put up about the Zeen, and you might have even wondered if I ever did order one. My Zeen arrives on Monday. On Tuesday, I will be posting my first story post in a series about the Zeen and how it can work for me physically to help me walk, potentially hands-free. If it sounds like my expectations are high, it’s because they are. I do fully understand that it’s going to take time for me to get used to it. HENCE THE SERIES

You’ve likely noticed that I’ve been posting daily blogs and that they’ve been themed under the same subject matter of disability. Yes, my blog is taking another turn, and if new and cool stuff helps physically disabled people enjoy their lives ,is something that interests you ,I hope that you will enjoy what I have planned.

Remember the kid rig? Not a wheelchair makes it for adults, too!

This video was filmed on Vancouver Island, just a few hours north from where I live . It shows us a very cool adventure over a new suspension bridge in an off-road wheelchair made by Not a wheelchair. There really is so much to see, and it’s not easy to do in a wheelchair. I’m about to film my own little outdoor adventure this spring. It’s so good to see more accessibility on the island that I call home.

“Demand for accessible homes in British Columbia

I’ve been thinking about buying some first-floor condos and renovating them to be wheelchair accessible rentals in my city for a while now. Unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of money yet, but I will eventually, and I’ve been wanting to give something to the disabled community here on Vancouver Island. The problem of not enough accessible housing is real and ripe for the plucking for the right developer. Every month, people are released from the stroke recovery floor of the hospital, and many of them have no accessible place to go,which they will need for at least a shorter stay. It’s just good sense to make sure that they have an accessible apartment they can use as a stop gap until they are able to renovate their own homes or until they have been able to fully recover from their stroke. It would be easy to build a relationship with the hospitals stroke recovery unit and benefits both the patients and the rentals and the city.

“Three Day Wheelchair Challenge – Documentary” it’s an eye-opener

This professor just gave the best project to his students. The project guarantees that both the students and the professor will be more bonded and have more respect for each other than ever before. Roll for 3 days in my wheels, as I like to call it, offers the opportunity to really understand what life is like in a wheelchair. The documentary is short, under a half hour, and really worth the watch.