Over the last 14 years my multiple sclerosis has changed course from relapsing/remitting to secondary progressive. This makes it hard to say how it has changed day to day, but I can look back over the last year and see how things have progressed. Last year I was able to walk the half a mile to the grocery store and home again with forty pounds of groceries on my back. Now I cannot imagine walking all the way down the block.
This does not bother me as much as some might think. I just see it as the way things are. I accepted long ago that this was my lot and that’s just how it is.
This leads me to why the scooter I recently received is such an unexpectedly awesome gift. While I had accepted that I was less moblie, I had no clue just how much it had negatively impacted my little family. It turns out that if Mama’s not walking, nobody’s walking. My children have missed out on those exciting walks to the store filled with adventure. We had stopped going ANYWHERE at all, in fact. When we did go out, I would put an end to all the fun about thirty minutes in because I needed to sit.
Since receiving this scooter, our lives have changed dramatically for the better. We now take nightly strolls as a family again. I can make it to the store and back with no problem and I even have a cute basket to put my groceries in. Eric and I used to love to go window shopping and this activity has been returned. I would wager that I have put at least 5 miles on this thing in the first week alone. The kids are so happy to be back to walking and getting to enjoy the dedicated alone time with Eric and I.
An unexpected side effect of having the scooter is that I have more energy at home than before. Would you believe that I cleaned out my closet AND my refrigerator in the SAME day? I feel as though I have been given a whole new way to function and there are no words I can find to express my undying gratitude.
Last Friday Sarah called and asked me if the kids and I would like to join her for play group at the park. She calls me almost every Friday and invites me and my knee jerk reaction almost every Friday is “No”. This time my answer was, “No… wait…would you mind if I took my scooter?” This particular play group boasts a few members who own their own photography business. One thing led to another and I can now offer, for your entertainment and especially that of my scooter gifter, some pictures of me enjoying the day.
All pictures are courtesy of Nicole at with Cutie Pie Photography.
The mink was a Christmas gift from my dear mother-in-law. I feel like the scooter neutralizes the mink and lessens the odds that I’ll be doused in paint by a Peta member. Who’s going to dump paint on a lady on a scooter? That’s just poor taste.
To whomever it was that listened to the Spirit telling them to send a scooter my way: Thank you from me, my family, and all my friends who enjoy my company. May God bless you richly as He has me.
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