Funny Story, PN and my Easter Trip to Rome
 

I can't help but share this recent story ....

I live in Europe, had cancer surgery and chemo last year which gave me pn, haven't done anything fun since the day I was diagnosed with cancer, now starting to recover from chemo.

So I say to my partner .... "Come on, let's finally do something fun, let's go to Rome and see the Pope for Easter"

He says, "Are you sure? Do you think you can do all that walking? What about your neuropathy?"

Me: "I'm sick of being held back ... no problem ... let's go for it"

Him: "I don't know. Are you really sure?"

Me: "Screw the neuropathy. I'm sick of all this health stuff. Let's seize Life. I'll ignore it. I'm fine"

Him (Rolling his eyes): "Well ... okay ... let's take it slow".

So, in Rome, day 2, walking down the steps of the Colosseum, I am not so great with my feet, step hard on the side of my ankle, fall down the stairs (you knew this part of the story was coming). Badly twist my ankle, swells up big, can not walk, can not put any weight on it.

My wonderful man who is smart enough not to say "I told you so" gets ice, bandages me up, arranges a wheelchair and pushes me all around Rome, St. Peter's Basilica, Museums, Gardens, Monuments, etc.

The funny thing is it actually worked to our favor. We just rolled to the front of enormous lines full of hoards of people, escorted to special secret elevators that gave us special access and got in places free. We would just point to the wheelchair in the car and police removed road barricades to let us park right next to monuments where cars are never allowed. It was great. We actually got around and saw more than if I had been walking.

The funniest thing of all was how people behaved. When we were just outside in front of a religious place with the wheelchair many people could care less, be rude, step in front us, be very unhelpful, etc. Then the minute we would get inside a church, all of a sudden the same people would be so kind ... "oh help the poor lady in the wheelchair get to the front". Perhaps they think God is only watching inside the church.

So I learned that even if I were to end up wheelchair bound, with some determination there is still a lot I could do and I could still have a some fun.

Natalie

reply
 

made me smile

I liked your story! What a wonderful Easter! Joan

You do get that.
We live in the UK for 3 years and went everywhere with my mum in a wheelchair. The most helpful people on the underground were the skin heads. They would pick up mum in the chair and carry her down the escalators while the rest of the gang would clear a path fur us!

Glad you had fun

How funny.

I was also surprised how many people had posted hints and tips about traveling around Rome by wheelchair on the internet. This meant I could quickly do a search, learn how to do it and then switch our plans to accommodate my new situation in a short space of time.

I'm not saying that I understand the challenges of being in a wheelchair but it was encouraging to see some of the possibilities that exist to still have fun.

I'm happy you had such a great time. Looks like you and your partner made the best of a bad situation!

Sounds like a good trip. Yes, there are many accommodations for someone in a wheelchair. That is nice.