My Supports

There are so many aspects to the day that I take for granted. I stopped to think about this assignment and wrote down step by step what my day entails. There are so many things I depend on to get through my day. Starting with my husband who sets the alarm for me every night so I can get up in the morning and makes sure I do not keep hitting snooze. My programmable coffee maker so my coffee is ready when I get up. Because anyone who knows me knows not to talk to me until I have my coffee. Then all of the things I use to get myself ready for the day, shower, blow dryer, curling iron, lights, etc.

I then gather my things I need for the day at work and say good bye to my boys (my dogs). I have a special goodbye routine with the boys that I do every morning no matter what else is going on or how late I am. I get in my car and drive to work.

When asked to choose a challenge, I thought of my friend whose father lost his arm at the elbow in the war. So this past Friday I attempted to perform my morning routine with one hand. Oh my gosh!! Just about everything I did were a disaster and certainly a huge challenge. I had to ask my husband for help with many things and other things took me so much longer to accomplish than usual. Getting undressed and dressed, brushing my teeth-trying to hold the toothbrush and put the toothpaste on it- and doing my hair-blowing and curling it without being able to use the dryer and a brush at the same time was so difficult with one hand. My goodbye with my dogs was also difficult because I couldn't break the treats easily-I ended up biting them with my teeth. (I know it sounds nasty)

As I was driving, with only one hand, I paid attention to all of the things I do on my trip to work. I usually drink my coffee, smoke a cigarette, possibly answer my phone (I use a headset, but you still have to push the button to answer the call) and yes I am guilty of (on occasion) putting on make-up at stop lights. However, none of those things can be done and still hold on to the steering wheel.

It would be impossible to go about my "regular" day without some major changes to my routine and support system. I would have to rely on my husband and maybe even other family members to help me with my everyday routines. At work I would have to have people help me do many of the things I do; something as simple as holding up a book and turning the pages during group time.

As I sit here typing this I realized doing it with one hand would take forever.

I do realize there are prosthetics that can be obtained to help with mobility, but not everyone can afford things like that and I am sure it is still a struggle to accomplish some things.