Giving Thanks for Progress

Once again, we have reached late November and will soon celebrate the official day to give thanks. Personally, I find the easiest thing to do in prayer is give God thanks for all He has provided. Without Him, we would have nothing, not even the air we breathe, heart beat, or life.

This year, I was thankful to be able to take a trip east to see friends at CHAMP Camp and visit the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter again. The mold in the hotel air conditioner wasn't fun, but it was a reminder to give thanks for times of good health and easy breathing.

A big item of progress happened Friday. I ordered my new wheelchair in May and first sat in it in late October. The chair company completed all the adjustments and brought it to my home. The first order of business was to do a pressure map of the new seat cushion.

Map from 2019 showing issues

Pressure mapping involves sitting on a thin pad full of sensors. It is then displayed on a computer or tablet and shows pressure areas. Light to medium blue is ideal with yellows and reds indicating problem areas, somewhat similar to a weather radar. It normally takes doctor's orders, scheduling an appointment, and traveling somewhere to get it done. This time, it was part of the chair setup and done right in my bedroom. If I had thought about it, I should have tested my bed mattress, but I didn't until well after the technician left. I was thankful it could be done and the new seat tested very well without any changes required.

Some button changes had been made since I last saw the chair, but they were soon adjusted and I had my first opportunity to drive. As I expected, the tiny joystick is much more sensitive than I'm used to and has very little range of movement. Therefore, the slightest change translates into a larger or jerkier movement than desired. As I navigated through my room and down the halls, I kept it in a low speed setting and managed not to hit anything, or anyone. Learning the different seat functions will also take time, but I'm thankful for the technology God has given us to accommodate fallen bodies in this world.

Friday was also fully covered by caregivers and allowed my parents to get away for a full day. Shortly after getting home, dad discovered my new chair is three inches longer than the one I've been using. This could make for a tight, if not impossible, fit for the tie downs in my van. Thankfully, alternate restraining systems do exist, but it would have to be researched and installed. As of this writing, I have yet to test getting in the van.

While more challenges come, the areas of thankfulness can outweigh them. I'm thankful for all the years I have been given and experience God's blessings. May you have a Happy Thanksgiving and see what God has done.