Wednesday, March 20th was the first day of Spring, but you wouldn't know it from the temperatures. Not counting the wind chill it was in the low 30's high 20's. Add the wind which was gusting and it was freezing!
Didn't deter me or my Mom though as we headed out to Clayton and Newstead in St. Louis's Central West End for the ground breaking ceremony of the new Shriners Hospital. It will replace the one on Lindbergh that I practically lived at during my teen years. I became a patient with Shriners when I was about four and continued until about age twenty.
It has been 26 years since I've been to Shriners, but I was excited to see Dr. Schoenecker's name on the back of a chair in the front row. He was awesome and so supporting to me and my Mom during a lot of tough times. After my amputation he told my Mom they weren't sure I would walk again, something they never told me, but the physical therapists had me up on my new leg and off I went. Never did anyone tell me directly I couldn't do anything. Shriners always was and always will be a positive experience for me and other kids.
The ceremony took place in a tent and the wind still managed to whip under walls making us all grateful for the quilts and blankets that were provided. The Patient Ambassadors hijacked the podium and took over telling their stories and introducing all the dignitaries. This was followed by the ground breaking ceremony and pictures taken by an aerial photographer.
Finally the cold weather did me in so I headed back to the van, which my Mom had running and heating up for me.
The Patient Ambassadors is a new program that I will be joining. Anything I can do for Shriners Hospital I will do because I wouldn't have the quality of life if it wasn't for them.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Cabin Fever leads to the Mall!
Sunday March 17, 2013 Happy St. Patrick's Day! It was dreary today and made me think about my outing last Wednesday due to cabin fever after being in the house for over a week.
My First stop was Mid-River's Mall and I parked by my go-to location-JC Penney's. Why JCP? Well besides the fact I love their clothes and Sephora their doors are handicapped friendly. All I need to do is push the button and Viola! the doors open and me and my wheelchair enter. At Mid-Rivers it is the only big name store that does that, not Dillard's or Macys or even Sears. If I can't find a parking spot at JCP then I try to find one by a mall entrance. Oh and I always try to make time to eat at Max and Erma's there. Not only is the food amazing, but the staff is so nice and I don't even have to ask to have the chair moved.
My second stop was at Best Buy in the Mid-Rivers Mall complex located on the outer ring. Used my wheelchair in here also. I only needed to pick up toner so it was a quick in and out. While they do have stands with merchandise in the aisles I have never had any trouble getting around. Plus the new displays for the music and movies is convenient for me to reach.
The final stop was Wal-Mart and here I walked in and used one of their riding carts. They are easy to maneuver and only just a little wider than a regular cart. Aisle's are a good size space wise, but when you get in the clothes there can be problems. Also every once in awhile you may go down an aisle that has a post in the middle of it that a regular cart could fit around but the riding ones won't. Then I just back up or try to turn around.
Felt wonderful getting out and about. Have a few things planned for the future, but I'm going to let them be a surprise for now. Until next time keep your head up and moving forward to your world!
My First stop was Mid-River's Mall and I parked by my go-to location-JC Penney's. Why JCP? Well besides the fact I love their clothes and Sephora their doors are handicapped friendly. All I need to do is push the button and Viola! the doors open and me and my wheelchair enter. At Mid-Rivers it is the only big name store that does that, not Dillard's or Macys or even Sears. If I can't find a parking spot at JCP then I try to find one by a mall entrance. Oh and I always try to make time to eat at Max and Erma's there. Not only is the food amazing, but the staff is so nice and I don't even have to ask to have the chair moved.
My second stop was at Best Buy in the Mid-Rivers Mall complex located on the outer ring. Used my wheelchair in here also. I only needed to pick up toner so it was a quick in and out. While they do have stands with merchandise in the aisles I have never had any trouble getting around. Plus the new displays for the music and movies is convenient for me to reach.
The final stop was Wal-Mart and here I walked in and used one of their riding carts. They are easy to maneuver and only just a little wider than a regular cart. Aisle's are a good size space wise, but when you get in the clothes there can be problems. Also every once in awhile you may go down an aisle that has a post in the middle of it that a regular cart could fit around but the riding ones won't. Then I just back up or try to turn around.
Felt wonderful getting out and about. Have a few things planned for the future, but I'm going to let them be a surprise for now. Until next time keep your head up and moving forward to your world!
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