I’ve been having a hard time, but, the Whirlwind Rough Rider Wheelchair is AMAZING!! I want one!!

Hey guys,

Unfortunately, the inexpensive standard wheelchair that I got has not helped nearly as much as I’d hoped.  Since going out and walking around for any distance or being on my feet for any length of time can cause terrible pain, I don’t think I’ll be able to show you any segments on fashion, even Sitting Pretty Fashion, for awhile, at least not until I can get an adequate wheelchair that truly suits my needs.

I was really hoping that getting a wheelchair would allow me to go out with kids, participate in outings, (which have generally included a lot of walking before I got sick) and just be able to regain some mobility and independence.  It looks like I’ll need a higher end wheelchair to really be able to do this.  Cary, (my husband) my daughters Idelle and Amelia, and my son Doran went out yesterday to a local park (for those that know the area, it was Bidwell Park in Chico – where lots of people walk and cycle and it’s just beautiful.)  When we’ve done this before, we like to walk big loops in the park along the trails, and yesterday took the long loop.  I, of course, brought my wheelchair.  I hoped I’d be able to propel myself a lot and finally get some exercise – my upper body above my waist and my arms usually don’t have much trouble with activity, so I hoped that my arms would get a good workout and I’d get the blood flowing since I’ve been in bed so much.  Well, I was disappointed.  It DID still help to be able to sit and go along the trails, but it turned out that I had to be pushed most of the time, as wheeling those rock hard, uneven tires and flimsy front casters along bumpy concrete and dirt trails was SO HARD!  When I’d run into any little curb, (even tiny) the hard, narrow casters just slammed into it and I would stop with a terrible jolt (avoiding jolts and irritation of the pelvic area was my intent in getting a wheelchair!)  I just didn’t know enough, and didn’t have enough money to spend, when I ordered the one I have.  Now that I have some experience using a chair, I know I need something with wheels that offer some sort of shock absorption, (pneumatic tires - preferably mountain bike style) in the back, maybe in a larger size than the 24″ standard, and much better front casters.

I have only used this new standard wheelchair on two outings – one short one around town, (and boy, did it make me realize how truly BAD the roads are here in town) and one in Bidwell Park yesterday.  It WAS wonderful for my mental state to get out in the open and be able to go along, and sitting instead of walking DEFINITELY reduces the stress on my pelvic area and lower back (the last time I tried going on a little shopping trip to get my daughter shoes, I had to lay down in the shoe store after a short time on my feet,  and the whole week afterward I was completely laid up in terrible pain.)  I don’t want to risk that again, so I don’t go out where I’ll have to rely on walking..this means that the only way I can really do anything is by using a chair.  Unfortunately, after just two outings in my current new chair, on of my front casters is already falling apart, and I still had to deal with some pain due to jolts (I have a shock absorbing seat cushion that helps, though, and I’ll lift my bottom up in anticipation of a rough jolt if I see it coming.  I’d really hoped a wheelchair would be more functional, but with wheelchairs it seems that going with what you can afford at the time (unless you have a lot to spend) will just mean frustration, and having to save up to buy a better one very soon.  If I had just saved what I spent on my current one, maybe I could buy something better sooner.  But, since money is VERY tight, (I know it is for most) and since I spent that $185 I had on the faulty chair, plus the fact that I had to quit working last year to due inability, I have a lot of $ to save.

OK, on a more cheerful note, I want to show you a chair that I found yesterday after I got home and began searching the internet for a chair that could meet my needs.  I WANT to (at the very least) be able to keep up on the concrete trails, and I REALLY want to also be able to keep up on off road areas, at least somewhat.  I’ve always loved to be able to go off and explore, to enjoy new places by being out and about, and I loved relying on my own two feet to propel me; I used to feel like I could walk forever.  Now that I can’t walk anywhere near as far as I desire (getting around this tiny house is about all I can manage) like I used to, I want to be able to ride as far as I want, and to have more options opened back up to me – like going off road if I wish.   So, I started looking for “sports wheelchairs” and “off road wheelchairs.”  I came across this incredible site that showed me the wheelchair of my dreams!  It is called the Whirlwind Rough Rider, and it is already helping so many people who, for whatever reason, cannot use their legs (or use them as well as they’d like to.)  It’s helping people in developing countries where sometimes there’s very little to no concrete to roll on, and where the terrain is rough.  It has mountain bike tires and everything, and it’s stylish!  I just love it!  Watch this video, please.!  I had so much trouble yesterday with slopes, (the chair kept veering off to one side) bumpy areas, and even tiny curbs.  Look at what the Whirlwind RoughRider lets a person do while on wheels!  When I am more financially stable, I so want to donate to help people in need to be able to get these.

Isn’t that wonderful?  You might not fully understand if you’ve never tried to be active from a wheelchair, but after my experiences, I sure appreciate this incredible design.

So, since it may take some time before I feel motivated enough to do something with myself and go out again, (I need a functional chair to do that) it will probably be awhile before I can do a “Sitting Pretty” post, or any “fashion-y” post again. *sigh*  Boy, do I miss the fun I used to have with this!  I’m hoping that I’ll get a chair that I feel great in sooner, rather than later.  I go stir crazy in this house, and I get so depressed about being a disappointment to the children God has entrusted to me to raise here on this earth.

If you or someone you know ever needs a wheelchair for some reason, don’t blow money on one that ‘looks’ okay and has a low price.  Most likely, it’ll disappoint you, and I don’t want anyone else to waste their money like I did.  I have been scouring ebay looking for deals, but even though there are some decent ones, I can’t yet afford anything that looks promising yet.

I REALLY want a Whirlwind Rough Rider, and am talking to some people about possibly being involved in a U.S. trial, so if you pray, could you send up some prayers for me regarding that?  I’d sure appreciate it.  Getting into one of these would be incredible and would open up so many doors for me.  I don’t know if they’re only using people who are paralyzed and cannot walk at all, or if they’d consider someone like me, who’s trying to manage incessant pain and still get out there and experience things/make memories.  I’m hoping they’ll seriously consider me, SO much!

God bless,

Tracy