Light at the end of the wheelchair tunnel

Chaya sliding out of her current wheelchair

I am  happy to report progress this week on the wheelchair front.

For six years, Chaya has been suffering in her current one. It was the brainstorm of a physiotherapist at Chaya's old school who was the designated seating "expert". She alone selected it and all its accoutrements.

And we, never doubting her expertise, purchased everything she recommended. Trusting her title was deserved, we blindly followed her advice.

From the day it was delivered to us, Chaya has been sliding down in her seat, particularly after a seizure. Like in the photo on the right.

When my  husband is away from the house, I am forced to leave her in that uncomfortable position because I'm not allowed to lift her weight (lest I wreck my pelvic organ surgery).

The bureaucratic phase which involved an assessment at Alyn, followed by reams of paperwork that that the expert person there, other professionals and we were all required to submit to the Ministry of Health. So we are eager to finally acquire this new Italian wheelchair which promises to prevent sliding via its slight tilt backwards.

According to the importer's representative who brought a demo chair to our house, this tilt will also readjust pressure spots, thereby relieving the ones by which she is sometimes plagued. He assured us there's a good chance we'll have the new wheelchair delivered by the time my husband leaves for his brief overseas trip in November. Hoping hard.

On the swing front, no such good news. The local person we've been referred to by the overseas manufacturer is on vacation now. But an associate of his told my husband that in the past they've encountered opposition from another municipality, similar to the sort ours dished out.

The tip of her tongue sticking slightly out, as it is in this
photo from the hydro pool, is how we know when Chaya is feeling happy

Her impression was that some folks there simply don't want children with disabilities frequenting their playgrounds.

I managed to attend C.'s weekly hydrotherapy session yesterday.

Normally I'm with grandchildren at that hour so Elvie, her caregiver, is with her on her own and sends me photos and videos. But seeing it in real time is such a very uplifting experience. The pool is still the only venue in which Chaya thrives.

Yesterday she seized right before entering the pool and right afterward. But during those 35 minutes of floating, she radiated calm and contentment. We were even treated to several of her "smiles" - the tip of her tongue sticking out as the photo above shows.