Back in the saddle...
This morning when I got ready to head for dialysis I noticed my old AMF gym mat in the garage behind my van. I told my dad that I had forgot we even had that still and he said he was going to play with my van when he returned from dropping me off to get filtered. I guess it was finally getting to him more and more that I could not go and go the things that I had done a year ago, being imprisoned by the fluid gain following renal failure.
I had attempted a while ago to get back to driving and found that my triceps are not as strong as they use to be or that my arms were two inches too short. This being due largely to the angle that my arms are at trying to jump up from the floor to the top of the driver’s seat, so a reasonable fix was to raise the floor. It only needed to be a few inches, because I could still lift and hold myself up using the armrests on the wheelchair, but dad went one step further and re-removed the rear passenger seat as he did six months ago.
When I opened the back of the van to come home from dialysis there was a step about four inches tall in between the front seats. I was unsure if I could jump that without a brace on both sides but I gave it a try. I was correct so dad grabbed some other pieces of the mat, about 2 inches thick, and put it in back of the existing step. I jumped onto it, then up onto the other step, and bingo, into the driver’s seat I went.
I got back out and went inside, happier than I have been in quite some time. After I cathed this afternoon he had just finished the final things, capping the bolt holes from the missing seat, and trimming up the edges. He asked an incredibly dumb question, do I want to try it? Of course, so out the door I went, up in the back, and up into the seat. Then the next obvious question, want to drive around the block? Insert key, fasten safety belts, and hang on!
He was a bit unsure of my ability I believe, after all I have not driven in about 11 months, but I checked the mirrors, revved it up, put it in gear and we were off. I almost pushed my luck and headed for 4100, but turned into the northernmost part of the subdivision. Then I went 2 streets west, two streets south, and back west to Charles Drive, north back to home. Pulled up in front without hesitation and backed it back into the garage next to the Malibu where we started.
I came inside with a smile and a half, believe me. Then called Kyri, had to tell her about it, lol. Now I am sharing it with the rest of you. This has to be the biggest boost in my recovery since, well, since November or December. Now to dust off the pool cues and hit the bar one of these nights.
*HUGS*