I had polio as a child at age four, way back in 1948. I have been able to have a nice life walking with a brace on my left leg and forearm crutches. I graduated from college walking all over the campus sometimes barely making it to classes on time, but I did it. I met my husband who was a first year professor there and we were married and had three sons.
I am now divorced. When I hit my mid fifties I found that balancing going up and down stairs became increasingly difficult. I found this odd. I was aware of Post Polio, and had started to use my manual chair as a way of trying to save my abilities. I became more and more afraid to go places alone as I seem to fall more often. I worried a lot. I broke a bone in my wrist and still tried to walk with the pain. Finally a friend and a doctor convinced me to find a post polio doctor.
When I was diagnosed with post polio my new doctor told me that I was not to walk any more than absolutely necessary. She said that I needed to use a power chair, and the manual chair would not do as my arms were also effected by polio. I had a scooter that I had used occasionally when needed and I started using that until I could get an electric wheelchair. I felt like the scooter made me look less handicapped. I hesitated to use a power chair. Using the scooter in the house was difficult as it was large and took up a lot of room.
Once I was able to get a power chair, I found that the whole world opened up to me once more. In fact there were things that I could do from the chair that I could not do with my crutches. I had always had to have either my husband or one of my boys help me do grocery shopping. I could push a cart but getting the bags in and out of the car and into the house was impossible. For the first time with a scooter or with a power chair I was free to shop on my own. Yes, sometimes I needed to ask for help reaching things being vertically challenged sitting, but I have quickly learned that people in general are more than glad to give a helping hand. I have also found out that helping someone else makes people feel good.
I have been using my power chair for about fifteen years now. I go to work in a business that my youngest son and I own. I manage the business end doing the books and answering the emails. I paint and sell my paintings. I even have taken care of my grandson when he was a baby from my scooter, and power chair. I found it much easier to care for a baby from my chair than it was walking with crutches. Lots of things have become easier I can carry things and move items around in the house. For the first time I can actually carry a plate of food to the table.
My world opened up rather than closed down with the use of a power chair. There are some downsides, but as a whole having the use and maneuverability of the chair is liberating.
