Ron's POZ Blog

I wasn’t hurt physically very much. Just bumps, bruises and a small cut on my pinkie toe that I still chuckle about. The fall did more to me mentally by reminding me about my challenges. I am always very careful when I do things from my wheelchair, but sometimes, I am too confident!

Well, to set the visual. I was preparing to take my shower – a routine I do every morning since I could – maybe 4 years now.

I placed my motorized wheelchair (Jazzy) at an angle to the walk-in shower and began running the water to make sure the hot water comes through nicely. My shower has 2 very heavy-duty grab bars: one right on the outside next to the stall on the wall and the other inside just below the shower head. I use them to help me stand to undress/ dress and slowly bring myself into the shower and then sit down on my shower chair.

I always keep a towel on the seat of the Jazzy because it is vinyl -sturdy, but very hot after you sit for awhile. So a towel helps to keep it comfortable. The towel (folded in half for the seat) sometimes slips off or goes askew during the day.

OK, so I am ready for my shower and stood up to get into it and my towel on the seat began to slide. I forget many times my standing balance is not very good, but I tend to be brave especially when I have one hand gripping and decided to catch it before it slid off. I kept the one hand on a grip bar and I bowed and slightly twisted to catch the towel and when I was bent down for whatever reason, I could feel myself losing my center of balance, I tried to correct it. I think I over compensated and fell toward the opposite direction heading backward in a semi-sitting position as I tried to bend my knees to lessen the fall, but hanging on with my left hand for dear life, hoping the strength of my left arm would put me right again. Unfortunately, or fortunately, my left arm did lessen the severity of the fall. It could have been terrible and my physical damage even greater, so for that I am thankful.

I landed on my butt, but halfway on the stall and the other half of my butt landed on the front wheel of the Jazzy. I had managed to hit the middle of my shoulder blades on another grip bar that was located on the floor between the shower and toilet. Again, not a hard hit. For all practical purposes, I was on the floor, sitting up and staring at the female dog who had jumped up to see the commotion. I think I scared us both quite thoroughly and we just stared at one another. I burst into laughter at how she stared at me like as if she was wondering if I was trying a new trick. I was able to bring myself to the Jazzy easily and just sat for a minute to relax and then began to take stock of all my parts – very glad I seemed fine.

I lucked out with only a small cut on my pinkie toe – it has to be from an edge of the Jazzy and never really bled, a slight bruise on my right butt check and the middle of my upper back. Well, I blamed my unrelenting grip of my left arm for pulling the muscles because I was sure I hadn’t hit that hard.

Today, though the muscles in my upper back hurt a bit more than yesterday and I now have a black and blue spot on the right butt. I guess I landed harder than I thought! My pinkie toe has only the slightest cut and doesn’t even pain me. But, my back and butt today! I can feel it today.

But, again, even with the “could have been worse” comments by family and friends, I remained angry and embarrassed by my own stupidity. I guess this whole incident is a reminder for me to realize I can’t do everything anymore and some actions require me to “think” before trying something. I am more angry at myself for trying to find shortcuts every now and then – and they rarely benefit me. But, I keep trying like the spoiled, thinking I am still independent , man I am.

I should have known better and glad it wasn’t worse!