Growing Up, I Didn’T Find It Odd My Grandma Was In A Wheelchair.

In my last year’s placement I had the privilege of Interning at the Veteran’s Affairs in the Spinal Cord Injury clinic. In the SCI clinic I worked closely with Veterans who had experienced spinal cord injury, which resulted in permanent paralyses such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. Ms. Cynthia Jackson was one of my clients that had an enormous impact on me. Ms. Jackson is 55 year old African American. Ms. Jackson served in the United Air force in the late 1970’s post-Vietnam War and was based in Germany. While serving in Air force, Ms. Jackson severely injured her back in tanker truck accident which resulted in paralysis in her lower exterminates. Ms. Jackson is wheelchair bond due to her paraplegia, client was referred to the SCI clinic for case management and counseling services.

I really enjoyed reading about your grandma. I too understand the love and respect that you cherish for her. I hope my grandpa and grandma live to 94 years or more. I too believe that it’s unfair for younger generations to forget about our elderly people. I sometimes repeat and emphasis on this so much because I have seen some assisted living homes where the elderly people are so sad that you can see in their face the desperation to talk or be love by someone. Defending the rights that elderly people have is sometimes misunderstood and completely taken advantage. It’s sad to see how many children do this to their family members. I couldn’t forget about my grandpa and grandma they play a big role in the women that I am today.

She mentioned that one of the best things that happened to her life as an elderly is to be around and spend more time with family, especially her daughters and

“Drew, you know grandma loved you so, so much,” my mom tells me in the most heartbroken tone, one which I had heard only once before when my grandpa had died.

Many people often look back at their childhood memories and recall doing fun activities with their grandparents. These people will probably remember their grandma teaching them how to bake cookies, ride a bike, or even finger paint. However, that is not my story. My story begins with a troubled phone call that rushed me to an emergency room of the local hospital. I remember thinking that it hurt, looking at her, hurt. I stood there with a blank look on my face, peering through the narrow room that soon would house my grandma for next few days. My fragile grandma had a stroke which disabled the entire right side of her body. I knew now, in these moments, that my grandma was not going to teach me how to bake cookies, ride a bike, or finger paint, she was going to teach me a career of a lifetime, Occupational Therapy.

I have been on crutches for the past ten weeks and won’t be able to walk normally for several more weeks; I never thought that I could yearn so much for something as simple as walking. Not being able to walk has shown me the hardships of disabled millions throughout the world that I had never seen or even thought of before. It shows me how much we take for granted the simple things in life. For example, I never thought that holding something as I walked was such a tremendous privilege, but crutches have proven it to me. I now have to ask someone, usually my mom, to carry something to me. Although she is glad to do it and it is her way of showing love and affection, it feels as if my worth as a human has withered. Moreover, in the relatively short time that I have been disabled, it has seemed to define who I am as a person. Crutches have proven to me that someone is truly judged based upon their appearance before any words are spoken or even before the slightest acknowledgment. Nevertheless, crutches have exposed a whole new world that shows how delicate and fragile life is.

Ever since I can remember, my mother has always been different. She has multiple sclerosis, and because of it she is unable to walk without assistance. Her disability has altered the course of my life drastically, including the person I am today. MS has made my mother a stronger person, and that strength inspires everyone she interacts with. Her unrelenting positivity is a daily reminder of finding good in everything. Multiple Sclerosis’ impact on my mother and family is drastic, and I could feel its effects from the day I was born. In grade school, my parents sent both my younger sister and I to a private Christian school, which was not cheap. My mother couldn’t work, so dad was supporting a family of four on one salary. This included whatever

My grandma, whom we call Lola, had always been an exceptional woman. As an immigrant from the Phillipines, she sought new, exciting things; which was present in New York City. Lola loved being in the moment and helping others. In the city, she worked as an entertainment manager for a nursing home. Her pleasure in bringing joy to a gloomy place was incredible. A loving grandma, she always found a way to commute to New Jersey to see my family and I. She always made my day with her witty jokes. Lola’s smile would illuminate the whole room the moment she walked in.

Personally, I don't know firsthand how it's like to be in a wheelchair, but I do know what it's like firsthand about caring for someone who is. Trying to promote independence on our behalf is easy. However, if we were in their shoes we would be biting our tongue. I know I am. I'm sitting at home wondering how my fiancée overcame this or all the residents I’ve cared for. How they settled on the positive side rather than giving up. In this activity, I was able to use my two arms only, while others are only able to use one side of their body. Living in a wheelchair is not impossible, but it is challenging and overwhelming.

In a faded pink garage, we called our home, laid my thirty-year-old mother groaning in pain unable to stand up. While my father worked trying to keep up with the medical bills, at the age of six I became the only person my mother could rely on during the day for food, water, and comfort. At a young age, I found myself caring for my mother who was diagnosed with a spinal disc herniation. With time, medication, and therapy my mother regained her ability to walk. From there on, an innate desire grew inside of me to want to help those around me, not just my loved ones.

After helping my mom set up for Veterans Day at her elementary school, it was my job to take care of my grandma, Chris McKenzie. My grandma along with being in a wheelchair suffers in the beginning stages of Dementia.

Gweyn, my father’s second degree cousin, can take anyone else so gullibly anywhere and keep one on any topic under the sun and does the internet surfing just like anyone else of this generation. Her mind is not limited to wander, but physically, she has limits on where she could go. She is dependent on the wheel chair to move about. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been baffled by her situation. Growing up with her in my circle of clan members, I get so interested with why and how she has come into being wheel –chair bound. Everything about her is so normal except that she can’t stand and walk on her own feet. Her case is unique. I know of so many others with the same physical constraints as hers. However, I find her pretty, smart, hard – working and cheerful despite her psycho – social and physical struggles. She was born normal and was very active as a toddler

My parents had planned an fantastic trip to Alaska, but then I broke my leg. My first experience with being in a wheelchair was not what I expected. In the past I had been narrow-minded and thought that being in a wheelchair had its perks. For instance they got to go the front of the line of a roller coaster, they get to sit all day, and lastly they get accommodated first. However, it wasn't until I lived that lifestyle, did I realize that being in a wheelchair is hard, and uncomftorable. As we approached the airplane gate, I was wheeled to the entrance where I noticed how narrow and tiny the entrance to the airplane really was. The doorway, not to mention the aisle was so narrow that the wheelchair could not be boarded upon the plane. Luckily

The Grandmother in If I Ever Lose My Mind fears of going crazing, and for a strong, fearless woman the ability to admit she was scared spoke volumes. As a result, she equipped herself with the solution. She would have her grandchild, “put a pillow over her head” (Vollmer). She knows that by having a say in her life and of how she dies, she can accept the end. She did not fear death. In fact, she believed that “dying was, simply, sleep,” but “the time before death” was the scariest, she feared losing her mind (Vollmer). She would have no control over it. She equated losing her mind to that of a nightmare. Her and her grandchild would joke about it whenever she misplaced or forgot something, but never really discussed the matter.

The majority of grandkids consider their grandma a loving figure. Grandma always has the cookies ready for holiday homecomings, she gives kisses and hugs when the grandkids hop out of the car onto the doorstep, and she provides relaxation for the parents. On the other hand, a few Grandmas work their magic a little differently. My grandma, Emma Brunswig, grew up in tough times. Emma’s mother passed away just after Emma’s ninth birthday, causing her to stand as the mother figure for her five younger brothers and sisters. Emma has not had a very easy life, but she has chosen to overcome every rock in her path. Grandma Emma stands as a true inspiration to me, not with her bitter, demanding side; but with a caring, loving side.