Wheelchairs And Ladders

  In addition to having brittle bones I am also a dwarf. At the age of eight I stood only 2ft small and very proud of it. I never felt bad about my height, because I was fortunate enough to have a brother who taught me how to climb and would help me retrieve things I couldn't reach. Eventually I discovered that parking my wheelchair in front of the kitchen counter and setting the brakes was easier than dragging one of the heavy chairs all the way from the dinning room.

  A wheelchair is useful for transportation, for toting laundry from your bedroom and even for sitting and watching TV -- But if you use it as a step stool always remember to make sure the brakes are securely set.

  One sunny Saturday morning, I woke up while everyone was still asleep. My morning ritual was a usual for most 90's kids -- Watch Saturday morning cartoons and eat a bowl of cereal. Since everyone was still in bed, I decided to make my own breakfast so that I would have the TV all to myself.

  I opened the fridge. My mom kept a small container of milk in the door just for me (I couldn't lift even a half gallon with my fragile arms). After setting the milk on the table, I parked my wheelchair in front of the cabinet, set the brakes and climbed up on the countertop. Now here is where I should make a confession. The brakes on my wheelchair were not easy for me to set. Out of haste I would push down until I felt the tire stop moving, but I never locked them in place. What followed could have been terribly worse, but instead...

  Perched on the countertop with my cereal bowl in hand, I watched in horror as my wheelchair rolled away toward the end of the counter and hit the corner cabinets with a soft thud.

Darn it

  I considered calling for my parents to come and help me, but I really wanted the TV to myself so that I could watch my favorite cartoons. There was nothing for it, I'd have to crawl across the counter, through the sink and under the top cupboards in order to reach my chair.

  I put my cereal bowl down on the counter. I started to get on my hands and knees, but my long nightgown got tangled around my legs. I would never be able to crawl in it. Praying that no one would wake up, I removed the gown, tossed it on the floor and began the slow, careful crawl across the counter in my disney princess underwear. I got to the sink. Thankfully my mother was never one to leave a dirty dish and I climbed into and out of the ceramic basin holding onto the spout so I wouldn't slip. I felt a little shaky, and sat down on the edge of the sink. Again, I considered calling for help. I was really scared of falling, even more now my adrenaline had me trembling. But I was halfway there and I never liked to quit.

  The second part of this adventure was the most difficult. The cabinets made an 'L' shape and my wheelchair was perfectly nestled in the corner, but the cupboards above it hung too low for me to crawl on my hands and knees. I would have to scoot on my stomach to the corner, turn facing the wall and slide myself over the edge, into my chair. I got to the edge of the counter and turned to face the wall. As I attempted to lower myself into the chair I had a 'high ledge' moment. Have you ever been on something that wasn't very high, but you were unable to see, so it felt like a huge drop? I imagined myself dangling from the ledge of a giant cliff. One mistake could have me plummeting to my doom. I kept trying to lower myself, but I couldn't find the wheelchair with my foot. I began to really tremble and tears welled in my eyes. I didn't want to be seen in such an embarrassing situation, but I wanted off the stupid counter.

  Just as I was about to give up and cry for help, my toes touched the handlebar of the wheelchair. After moving my feet around a little, I found the seat and let myself drop into the chair. I hurried over to the other end of the counter, collected my nightgown and slipped it on just in time for my mom to enter the kitchen, escorting my little sister. So much for having the TV to myself.