The Transfer

 It’s fundamental to be able to transfer from your wheelchair to another surface. When I got out of the nursing home I had a hospital bed. I was in rough shape. I just got out of an awful place. I could transfer from my bed to my chair and vice versa. I didn’t need anybody and I’m so thankful for that.

But the only times I’ve fallen is when I’m transferring. One time my chair fell over to the side. I just kept going from the bed. It’s a transfer of weight. Accidents do happen. Sometimes the brakes don’t work as well on the carpet I have and the chair moves. It’s really scary when the chair moves. The wheelchair is your literal lifeline and I certainly need it for everything. Sometimes I forget to lock my brakes. It just slips my mind and I hook my foot in my wheelchair while I sit so it doesn’t roll away. One time I almost got stuck at the open freezer door.

Because it’s totally possible to forget to lock my brakes I’m hyper vigilant about locking them. I’ll lock them and then I’ll feel if my locks are down minutes later. Transferring is a big deal for me. I have to do it right. The biggest thing is good foot placement. The alternative to bad foot placement is to take a step. This step is disastrous for me because I have no balance. An able bodied person would just move his or her foot without it being a big deal but by that point I’m already committed. You just have to believe you can do it. That sounds corny but like I’ve said before, my mental game is strong.