Early in the afternoon, she got fitted for her very own wheelchair! And she got to pick the color. Hers will be sparkly blue (it looks just like fairy dust!) The team of brother and sister were phenomenal! She has adopted 2 ids and also has adopted children with special needs! The Physical Therapist that works with them was so nice and I got to as her some more questions about the rhizotomy. Have I said before I love Mayo?
So here is what Nina's wheelchair will look like.
The wonderful PT went to get a wheelchair for Nina, so that she could sit on one and see what it was like. Nina was excited to get on, and once she was sitting there, she started moving those wheels and making it go. She turned herself around, wheeled herself out of the room, and began going up and down the halls with the PT helping her figure out how to use it. The joy on her face made me fight tears. Here I had been fighting the idea of a wheelchair, thinking that a wheelchair would keep her from walking, yet what I saw was complete freedom as a little girl moved around on her own! I saw independence and a desire to be able to do even more!
So the PT said to us, "You know, there is no reason why you cannot borrow this chair until you get your own. Why don't you do that, so that by the time Nina gets her own, she will be very comfortable moving around with it."
Nina is enjoying the wheelchair, still learning how to use it, but loving the time she gets to spend figuring out.
Isn't it funny how life works? The things we see as negative often end up being positives - like Nina's wheelchair. God is in the details! And Nina's big smile made ME smile too! I will definitely be keeping Nina and your family in my prayers with her surgery!
ReplyDeleteWe found the same chair, With U.S. flags all over it, on craigslist for Axel. It will come in handy when we're navigating airports with the halo on! I'm so glad Nina loves her chair.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to see such a smile on Nina's face! I guess she'll love the independence the wheelchair will give her. Funny how life is sometimes :-)
ReplyDeleteYour revelation made me think of the book that I have been reading by Kathy Snow, called "Disability is Natural". She points out that we spend way too much time trying to correct our children's disabilities. If we would just accommodate their needs, like with a fast, fun wheelchair or an I Pad with voice messages, they will be so much happier and more accepted by their peers. :) I have to remind myself of her words often as I work to help my Annie succeed in 1st grade.
ReplyDeletelooking good nina :)
ReplyDeletehopeing the surgery goes well