Love this article. I was sooo hesitant to getting a wheelchair to travel, but that hesitancy prevented me from sitting on a porch with my sister in California, or touching my the sand with my toes. The emotional things that came up for me were the hardest. I still struggle with seeing myself as sick or disabled, and I sure as shit didn’t want people going to Croatia or Puerto to judge me, because let’s be honest, I was judging myself. I thought it would be hard to figure out. But like you said, it was 27 seconds, a couple looks, but mostly a breeze through an otherwise annoying airport experience and the opportunity to hug my mom and sister. Sooo worth it. And oh…I used my points to get me a first class seat at the front of the plane with no one next to me. It opened up my world and I’m grateful.
The judging yourself part is so real. And the hesitancy is seriously the hardest part of all the emotional hurdles. Harder even than the first actual time, for me.
The self-consciousness wasn't a one and done for me either...every trip, more fell away until now, I'm basically just not.
SO glad you were able to get "home" and love the strategery on first class! First class is a disabled hack (as is no seatmate) and you can't change my mind.
I have ME/CFS and hesitated a lot about wheelchairs. I can’t travel much right now, but I rented a wheelchair a couple of years ago so that I could go to a fair with my husband. I decided to keep it for a couple of weeks, which turned into months and then I eventually just bought it! I eased myself into it for sure. I’m so glad I did! It’s one of the best things in my life! I get to go to the park with my husband and enjoy nature as we walk around doing as many loops around the lake as he wants. I can go to Christmas markets with my sister in law…so many things it opens up for me :) I do need someone to push me so I only use it with able bodied people who I’m close to. But I really recommend trying it out. If you’re someone who is really wondering if you might need it, you probably do. And yes, people will stare, be weird, and make weird comments. But that reveals more about them than you :) 🦽
1000%. Love that you tried that and it brought more life into your life!
I waited way too long on mobility aids (as we all do, honestly). They've only made my life easier since I started trying them.
People ARE weird. A complete stanger came up to me while I was sitting on my rollator, put her hand on my shoulder, looked deeply into my (confused) eyes, and said "bless you, you sweet thing." I just said thank you and then laughed later.
I once showed up at the airport to pick up a friend holding a one of those "VIP pickup" signs that read "Rich Men with Fast Cars." I also once burst into SONG after carefully following my friend to baggage claim (I had told them to meet me outside.)
I bring this up because, well, asking for help only requires the same amount of bravery as that. Really, that's all. If you can hold a welcome home sign for a friend or show up in a tacky t-shirt that will have them laughing when they see it, you are brave enough to do this for yourself. Society doesn't really reward people for being brave for themselves. It's the taboo I think that takes getting over.
Love this -- I've been thinking about requesting a wheelchair for my next trip. I currently bring my rollator, which lets me sit in the TSA line and waiting to board, but its still a lot of walking to get to the gate.
My main hesitation is that I get a lot of joint pain from sitting too long. I can't stand or walk for very long, but I like to do short bursts of it throughout the day to keep my pain down. Sitting on an airplane for a couple hours is already painful, and I'm afraid using a wheelchair before and after the flight will make that worse. I guess I could tell the wheelchair pusher that I'd like to stand and walk for part of the time, but I'm not sure how they'll react.
The wheelchair pusher will take you to the bathroom door and into shops to buy snacks, so if you wanted to get up and walk then it might help! You could maybe push your own chair a bit once you got to the gate, but it is heavy. You might elect for assistance to the gate but not down the jetway to get a little movement in, too? I also get up a bunch on the plane because same.
Love this article. I was sooo hesitant to getting a wheelchair to travel, but that hesitancy prevented me from sitting on a porch with my sister in California, or touching my the sand with my toes. The emotional things that came up for me were the hardest. I still struggle with seeing myself as sick or disabled, and I sure as shit didn’t want people going to Croatia or Puerto to judge me, because let’s be honest, I was judging myself. I thought it would be hard to figure out. But like you said, it was 27 seconds, a couple looks, but mostly a breeze through an otherwise annoying airport experience and the opportunity to hug my mom and sister. Sooo worth it. And oh…I used my points to get me a first class seat at the front of the plane with no one next to me. It opened up my world and I’m grateful.
The judging yourself part is so real. And the hesitancy is seriously the hardest part of all the emotional hurdles. Harder even than the first actual time, for me.
The self-consciousness wasn't a one and done for me either...every trip, more fell away until now, I'm basically just not.
SO glad you were able to get "home" and love the strategery on first class! First class is a disabled hack (as is no seatmate) and you can't change my mind.
In first class, on American and United, there a row with just one seat and no seat mate. That’s why I do it!
I’m deaf and if I tell the airline that they always meet me with a wheelchair. So I say, request away!
Oh dear. What would actually be helpful to you?
I have ME/CFS and hesitated a lot about wheelchairs. I can’t travel much right now, but I rented a wheelchair a couple of years ago so that I could go to a fair with my husband. I decided to keep it for a couple of weeks, which turned into months and then I eventually just bought it! I eased myself into it for sure. I’m so glad I did! It’s one of the best things in my life! I get to go to the park with my husband and enjoy nature as we walk around doing as many loops around the lake as he wants. I can go to Christmas markets with my sister in law…so many things it opens up for me :) I do need someone to push me so I only use it with able bodied people who I’m close to. But I really recommend trying it out. If you’re someone who is really wondering if you might need it, you probably do. And yes, people will stare, be weird, and make weird comments. But that reveals more about them than you :) 🦽
1000%. Love that you tried that and it brought more life into your life!
I waited way too long on mobility aids (as we all do, honestly). They've only made my life easier since I started trying them.
People ARE weird. A complete stanger came up to me while I was sitting on my rollator, put her hand on my shoulder, looked deeply into my (confused) eyes, and said "bless you, you sweet thing." I just said thank you and then laughed later.
Oh my 😂😂 I have so many stories like this one too. All you can do is laugh
I once showed up at the airport to pick up a friend holding a one of those "VIP pickup" signs that read "Rich Men with Fast Cars." I also once burst into SONG after carefully following my friend to baggage claim (I had told them to meet me outside.)
I bring this up because, well, asking for help only requires the same amount of bravery as that. Really, that's all. If you can hold a welcome home sign for a friend or show up in a tacky t-shirt that will have them laughing when they see it, you are brave enough to do this for yourself. Society doesn't really reward people for being brave for themselves. It's the taboo I think that takes getting over.
YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH.
Well, I love this.
Love this -- I've been thinking about requesting a wheelchair for my next trip. I currently bring my rollator, which lets me sit in the TSA line and waiting to board, but its still a lot of walking to get to the gate.
My main hesitation is that I get a lot of joint pain from sitting too long. I can't stand or walk for very long, but I like to do short bursts of it throughout the day to keep my pain down. Sitting on an airplane for a couple hours is already painful, and I'm afraid using a wheelchair before and after the flight will make that worse. I guess I could tell the wheelchair pusher that I'd like to stand and walk for part of the time, but I'm not sure how they'll react.
The wheelchair pusher will take you to the bathroom door and into shops to buy snacks, so if you wanted to get up and walk then it might help! You could maybe push your own chair a bit once you got to the gate, but it is heavy. You might elect for assistance to the gate but not down the jetway to get a little movement in, too? I also get up a bunch on the plane because same.
Thanks, that's good to know! I didn't realize that it was an option for them to leave me with the chair once I get to the gate.
Yes! They always leave me for a bit!