The stars aligned and we actually made it outside this afternoon! We have some newer, much more street-worthy wheels thanks to a sweet neighbor. We’ve outfitted the new wheelchair with a much-needed “seatbelt” as well as smaller anklebelts to keep her feet on the footrests. She has a tendency to lean forward (and almost slide out) or to the side, and often will put her feet on the ground—which worked for Fred Flintstone’s vehicle, but isn’t safe for her ride! Some standard luggage straps work so well to keep her in and safe so she can enjoy the outdoors when it’s not too hot.
Her husband Gary was outside doing yard work and when I first got her outside she noticed him nearby. I’m not sure if it was the excitement of seeing Gary or the thrill of being outdoors, but she immediately teared up. I’m pretty sure it was a little of both…
The prep of just doing our short afternoon ride, and the constant checking to make sure her feet were going to be safe made me appreciate all the more the years we spent getting out and about without too much effort. (Even though some days seemed to take more effort than others.) It also gave me so much more empathy for those who have to get out of the house daily with someone who is in a wheelchair. It is certainly no easy task.
Mitzi has lived in this neighborhood for over 30 years. Being the avid walker she always was, many neighbors knew her and would chat when she walked. Having walked her neighborhood with her often over the years, I was ever-mindful of this as I pushed her tiny, 90-something pound frame in the chair. I’d smile and wave politely to the few neighbors we passed. Candidly, it’s hard to watch their faces or watch them struggle to strike up casual conversation in an effort to not look jarred at the toll Alzheimer’s has taken on her. I’m grateful she is no longer in a place where she can pick up on the jagged emotions of others in those moments. Alzheimer’s really doesn’t care how much it ravages the bodies of its hosts. And it could care less how many friends and family members it shocks and leaves heartbroken in its wake.
I absolutely loved getting Mitzi outside in the sunshine today.
But I hate Alzheimer’s.
