Heya

Well, I think that most of you know that due to RSD (and whatever other disease the drs decide I have) I am a quadraplegic, with almost no use in my arms/ legs/ back/ neck etc I am transferred through lifting and I can type with my splints or with my stick/switch and voice. I guess you also know that I am in university - living in halls - studying psychology and I have a 24hr carer who does everything I need. Also, I have been a smoker since getting this disease, (well, I needed something to do when I was up for days at a time with pain?!!)

(yes.. why do you need to know this? it is relevant I promise!)

Well.. tonight my friends from my halls went out drinking - I have been pretty unwell recently so stayed in because I am really struggling with pain etc and just needed to lie down for abit - have some time out etc. Anyway carer (Bek) got me into bed and sorted me out, splints on, pillows, supports, all that rubbish organised and then went to bed. My mates came home and were telling me about their (great) night and then offered to get me up to have a cigarrete with them- these guys have all lifted me before and know what I need them to do etc.. so they went and got my wheelchair out of the charging room, lifted me out of bed into it, and we went outside, talked abit more, smoked (they have to hold my cigareetes up to my mouth etc - bizzare, but you get used to it!) , and just chilled generally (literally!! - though impressively for 18yr old (RUGBY) boys they remebered a blanket for me!). Anyway, went in and got lifted back into bed etc etc - they got me sorted etc (luckily Sarah was there as well... nothing like guy mates re arranging your pjs! )

Anyway - to cut this thing short... two of the boys returned it to the recharge room, and broke it... completly... I don't know how!! but they have managed to make it so it won't turn on. half of my flatmates are engineers so they've looked at it and don't know what I've done.. it is totally TOTALLY dead.. which is NOT good!! as I only have my very old spare manual which has no supports for keeping me upright/ headrest/ tilted/ reclined/ etc...

and tomorrow I am supposed to be travelling 300 miles home by train and across london to get that exact wheelchair home - to get the new additions this constant deterioation of bloody RSD needs..a new headrest to lock my head instead of just support it, some new foot rests etc to try and make it more supportive for me so I look less like a bag of potatoes!

and now I don;t know what to do! without a wheelchair I am totally stuffed.... and have no idea how on earth I am going to get it home... or me home for that matter....

So...........any suggestions? (for getting home) or suggestions for torture for them?

Thanks!!!!!

Rosie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx whoisnowwheelchairless

Hi Rosie,

What a predicament. Student boys? Why am I not surprised? Well. I think I'd tell *them* to find you either someone who can fix the chair in time, or someone who can transport you and your wheelchair back home - Essex, is it? - far but not too far. If one of them has a car, that would work - too bad he'd have to miss college, but something's got to be done.

I suppose you could try to borrow a chair (from student health clinic or somewhere like that) but it's obvious that your trip involves not just you physically, but the chair itself. Nah, get one of them to borrow, beg or steal a vehicle to take you home in.

Sorry you've been low again - I don't expect this helped - I'm sure a long trip ain't gonna help either! Still, it's got to be done...yes, rope those boys in on the problem....call it a lesson in logistics...it's the least they can do.

Take care, let us know what happens,
all the best

have them find a repair man?

umm are you sure they weren't playing with it??

they need to pay for and help get repairs taken care of!

and someone should drive you where you need to go!

If the guilty ones don't fess up and agree to help, talk with someone in charge of things like this - disputes or accidents
I'm sure things like this have a chain of command in place for problems of this sort.

Heya

in reality it's very funny.... I haven't giggled as much in ages... I know exactly who it is cos they confessed everything to me, in very sad little boy way..... the thing is they realise how serious the situation is for me - and they have all confessed - it's just a how to get it the odd 300 miles home (I WILL get organised and work out how far away home actually is.... )

I think the frustrating thing was that I had this huge sense of achievement - we had managed without equipment or carers, they had got me in and out of bed, no one had dropped me on the floor etc.... and THEN!!!

oh well, Thanks!! will let you know what happens - they are building a ramp for my car at the moment..... ) ! lol...

Rosie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Well, since they play Rugby, they are obviously in very good shape...so I say they all get together and carry you the 300 miles home!

What a site that would be!

And I have a feeling you'd be engaged by the time you got there, too. Wouldn't your momma be proud!

I'm glad you got it all worked out, and also tht you have such (ahem!) good friends there. Sounds like they take very (ahem!) good care of you when Bek isn't around. LOL!

these guys are obviously your friends. it sounds like they are trying to accomodate you in every way they can. is there a shop anywhere near that has the same kind of chair which will give you the support you need? maybe you can rent it, and from what you have said about your bud's they may even chip in to help pay the costs.
it sounds as if the damage was accidental.
i sure hope you get this sorted out and can make the trip home.

hugs and prayers

Rosie, My heart goes out to you. I am so thankful though, to read that they actually confessed. I would be so proud of them, even though they did break the chair, because most 18 year olds would have acted like they didn't know a thing, it was fine when we left it there, and that would be it. You are so fortunate to have such great friends.

I have to agree with the rest of them that these guys need to be the ones to help you find a way to get the chair and you home. I really think they should rent a van or something you would be confortable in on your journey home.

Please keep us updated, and I will keep my fingers crossed, and keep praying that your trip isn't too unbearable for you.

Please be careful..we want you back in one piece..

Check back in when you can.

Big hugs,
Janet

Urgh...boys gone mad at your expense! This is totally unacceptable behaviour. But as said, at least they fessed up.

I'm going to love to hear the rest of this story on how the young lads figure out a suitable way to make your way back home.

My Dad and Step-Mom had a flat in Essex for many years. They adored it there. I just wished I had visited them while they were there.

Good Luck and be safe!

With aloha, Dana

....Bits and Pieces. That will get the entire truth outta them. And than I would be passing that sporty little kerchief of yours around telling them to fill it up with mooola!!!! And not a penny less than what it will cost to repair it. And they better not bring it back to you until it is fixed ASAP so you can get on the road. And than they need to drive you. PERIOD!!!!


Thank You!! No applause please!!!

Heya all

Thought I'd start with a wheelchair update.

My carer dropped it on the floor and it started working again!!!!

Anyway - took it home, managed fine! no issues until we went in to wheelchair clinic... when it stopped working again!lol.. so the mechanic put his finger on the control box and electrocuted both of us (as in huge BANG, smoke and standing up hair.... pulled his finger back, looked at it, and did it again!)... and seeing as in 3 months I have managed to snap the headrest, mounting system, control box, control leads, actual controls, foot plates, need a new cushion and new wheels (it was BRAND NEW before I got it!) So it was CONFISCATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!as it was unsafe

so now in stupid manual chair - and althought they have put my new BRILL headrest it's not nearlly as comfortable or independent! (as it's a manual - yeuch).. waiting for electric to be put back together :P lol...

oh well - the boys are very sorry - they are total sweety pies.... I just can't believe they are now so cool with me being "different" they don't find it at all weird putting me to bed etc and Rodney took great care to make sure the covers lay flat and my head was at the correct angle on the pillow etc :P

So though it is really frustrating not having my power chair, it is also brilliant in I have seen how much the boys care about me....

(maybe you're right... pologamy is the right way - then I can marry them all!)

going to post the bad news in a seperate thing - keep this one amusing..Thanks for all the ideas

Rosie xxxxxxxxxxxxxx