Let's just get it out there: dieting sucks. Right ladies? I mean, what is better than a hot donut first thing in the morning, a big, juicy hamburger with a buttery bun and a soda for lunch, or fresh pecan pie with ice cream after dinner (maybe with a glass of port or sherry)? I'm drooling just thinking about it! Why is it that all the good foods make us gain weight?! Because I rely on everyone else to move me around, it's important that I watch my weight (as annoying as it is) for the sake of their backs and knees. Also,[...]
Tag
wheelchair
My blog this week was supposed to tell you guys about the amazing art teachers I've had throughout my career, but the experiences I had with my wheelchair over the weekend flying to Maine and back inspired me to switch it up a bit. Don't worry, art teachers are soon to come. A couple of months ago, Mom and I were given a unique opportunity to plan a trip to anywhere in the United States we'd like to visit at little cost to us. We chose to head to Maine, a trip we've wanted to take for several years, to visit a some close f[...]
It's summertime, and you know what that means-everyone seems to be sick with that miserable upper respiratory cold that goes around without fail at this time every year. You know, the one you have tried desperately not to catch? The one where you tell yourself it's just a sore throat, and then before you know it, you're pretty sure you're dying from drowning in snot from the inside out? Yeah. That one. Having Osteogenesis Imperfecta makes catching a simple cold a major problem for me. Because my rib cage didn't develo[...]
Parents of children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta are often charged with child abuse, simply because their kids always turn up with broken bones. My muscles can break my bones when they contract, making it seem like my bones break at random. You can see where, especially if a child has a lower severity of OI, parents are blamed when the child shows up hurt at school and can’t say how they hurt themselves. Well, my parents have also been charged with child abuse, though for a slightly different reason… My parents ar[...]
Having Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or Brittle Bone Disease, certainly poses some unique problems for those of us with short limbs and limited mobility. Here are ten gadgets/adaptive technological advances that help actual people with OI as well as other disabilities. 1. Wheelchairs: This one is pretty obvious, but most of us with the more severe forms of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Types 3/4) use electric wheelchairs for mobility. Most of us use one of Permobil's models because they are technologically the most advanced and e[...]
Because I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or Brittle Bone Disease, it's extremely important that I use a wheelchair that is not only stable but supports my crooked body in all the right places so that I don't break a bone if I hit a bump. My body is not standard. I have bends in all the wrong places, so my seating system has to be completely custom to be comfortable and effective. I have to be physically able to reach the controls and push all the buttons. It's important that every detail of my chair is tailored to my need[...]
Anyone who knows me knows that my idea of the perfect night involves being in the front row of a concert. I don't have a lot of hobbies besides painting (which usually feels more like work these days), but I absolutely LOVE listening to live music and attending my favorite artists' shows. Thanks to one of my aides and my aunt, I was introduced to country music at a very young age (much to my mother's dismay), and absolutely fell in love with it. That's not to say I don't like other types of music too, but I am definitely a c[...]
What is the first place you think of when you think of taking a summer vacation? I bet more than half of you instantly thought, THE BEACH of course! There's something about that beautiful blue water, the ocean waves, white sand, and sun that just lures people in. Kids love to run in the surf, build sandcastles and maybe throw a ball around while their parents love the relaxing sound of the ocean, a shady canopy, and maybe an adult beverage or two. Even the dog loves to play in the sand and the surf. There is something for ev[...]
First and foremost, don't assume someone in a wheelchair has a mental disability. Like me, there are many, MANY people in wheelchairs who are completely aware of what is going on around them and chances are they understand exactly what you are saying about them even if they are physically unable to respond. Most people in wheelchairs are not deaf. I don't know why, but a lot of strangers have this innate need to speak loudly and slowly to me when they first meet me. It's true that I do have a little hearing loss, bu[...]
Here's your laugh for the day. About a year ago, I caught a really nasty cold. When I get sick, I tend to break ribs and collarbones from coughing hard or sneezing repeatedly. Right as I was getting sick, my friend and I went to a Florida Georgia Line concert here in New Orleans. Now, yes, maybe I shouldn't have gone since I was already starting to not feel well, but if you've ever been to one of their shows, you understand why it was worth it! Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and Frankie Ballard put on one heck of a show[...]