Chris put in a request for a powered wheelchair a few weeks ago, and was told that the whole process would start with an assessment of her capability to drive it.
An appointment for said assessment arrived last week, so off we trooped for it.
Oh wow guys. You should have seen her face whilst in control of the test vehicle.
Independent mobility for the first time in over a year.The guy put her through a series of tests - simulated doorways, navigating around tables etc. The he showed Chris out of the room and into a long corridor and told her to drive to the top, turn around and drive back.
Her face was an absolute picture. Sheer joy. I tell you guys, those of you who have independent movement; treasure it. You will not know what it is like to lose it until you do.
So, Chris has passed her driving test and now awaits delivery of a shining new toy. How long it takes to arrive depends on circumstances - whether the providing company has a suitable one already in stock or whether it needs manufacturing. We could be talking a couple of weeks or a few months. Fact is, it is coming.
For now it is one of those chairs intended for domestic use only - she will not be overtaking lorries in the outside lane of the M1 any time soon. The option is open later on for a machine that will withstand a trip from the top to the bottom of Africa, should she feel that getting around the village on her own might be a pleasant thing to do.
Pretty good going for a girl who was discharged from hospital into a nursing home this time last year, because there was no further treatment the hospital could offer. A girl whose legs were drawn so tightly that her heels touched her rump and the only way to avoid catastrophic bed sores was to turn her every two hours day and night.
Happy times.
