Monthly check up...

David had

his first 
Doctors appointment 
this week.

He did well 
in the wheelchair. 
We have a
‘push only’ 
wheelchair 
and not one 
that has wheels 
for the patient to be 
more self sufficient. 
He is for sure ready 
for something like that. 
I think he would do well. 

Options are good. 
When he overexerts, 
we can push. 
And when he’s 
tired of being pushed, 
he can grab the wheels 

and speed ahead of us...
(I can see that 
in my mind.)

Add to the list of needs;

A speed-racer wheelchair. (Giggle)

Walking just from the bedroom 

to the living room 

with or without oxygen 
is overexertion for him,
and when he 

sits down after exertion,
he is trying to 
catch his breath 
and 
looks like he 
ran a marathon.

It was really good 
seeing Doctor D.
Full of personality
and kindness.

He listened to 
David’s lungs, 
and did several tests called the PFTs (pulmonary function tests) 
and an X-ray.

He will also be 
filling out another 
RCF form.
(Residual Capacity Function)

He does fine 
sitting down,
It’s just the getting up
and walking
that cause 
great exertion.

Exertion comes super quick 

and then he has to sit down 

with oxygen to recover.

He did well 
sitting upright 
for so long 
in the wheelchair 
and the car.

We left the house 
at 10am 
and did not 
get back home till 4pm. 
I was 
more anxious 
about this 
before we actually went. 

But overall, 
it wasn’t too bad.

Except for the fact that 

I am a little reckless at 

pushing the wheelchair.
I should get a sticker
for my back
that says
‘student driver.’

And then there is this: 
the Doctor told us 
we were ready to go 
and I started walking out of the room 
without David, 
still in his hospital gown.

‘Helllloooowwww,’ says he.  

‘OMG! 

I’m so sorry! 

What am I thinking?’
........
About the boys in the waiting room

About making sure we ask the doc 

everything we wanted to ask

Breathing

Paying

Pushing

Getting copies to fax to Social Security

Printing out copies 
of things the Doc 
needs from me

Asking for an RX for a handicap placard

Lunch 

ETC...

And then I did not plan perfectly in advance...
Everyone’s hungry, 
thirsty and tired,
because I didn’t think
that far ahead. 

The PFT’s..
He did as well as 
could be expected 
at this point; 
his lungs are still 
severely damaged,
and it is yet to be known
how much more
they will improve.

Let’s just say,
without a single doubt,
he qualifies for
SSDI.
And the reality of that
felt like a gut punch. 

Bitter-sweet...

But... 
he is certainly
becoming more
self-sufficient. 

Still learning the ropes;
all of us. 

Today, 
I pondered
that dirty word,
DISABILITY. 
And decided I would change it to 
enabled ability, 
and would call it 
en-ability. 

This has enabled us to:

Live in the moment.

Appreciate 
every ounce 
of good.

Love more.

Chill more.

And it has given us
the ability;

To see what’s important. 

To love deeply. 

To live fully. 

To enjoy one another. 

Learning to 
lay down anxiety.
We have today.
We can’t ask for more.

Might as well
enjoy the ride. 

Learning curve....

Disability is like
A death sentence. 

Ability 
breathes life
into a 
hopeless 
situation.

And enables us
to rest in that.

XO
Shelli