By Wanda Kember
IV Leader Columnist, Oct. 25, 2007
Here's A Thought
In recent weeks my face, no sorry, my face and my wheelchair have been in several newspaper articles and promotional flyers, all detailing the horrific accident I endured and the story of my survival.
Well, I would like to tell you about the life outside the confines of my wheelchair. It is true that I need a chair for mobility and I will never walk again, but that doesn’t mean I cannot experience life and have fun like everyone else.
As a 36-year-old woman with many roles in her life, being independent means everything. My seated position does limit me, but fear could do so much more. So I face it head on and have gotten back on the horse that threw me.It may seem odd and or maybe just a little crazy, but I spent two wonderful days in Wisconsin this summer riding the trails on my very own ATV.
Yes, an ATV, just like the one that took the use of my legs. With the help of my fiancé, I got back to doing something I love.
I require assistance to get on and off the machine, but that’s it. It allows me to can go places and see things that I cannot from my chair. The scenery was beautiful and the experience was amazing. We spent the weekend just being “normal”, doing something we love and it wasn’t the first time. When I came home from the hospital after becoming a T6 paraplegic I took the time to heal both physically and mentally, but one thing I knew I needed to do was face my fear and test my strength.
It took a few times and many baby steps but I did it. Riding allows me to go places I cannot go in the chair and we go as a family.
All of my children ride motorcycles, even the 6-year-old, and to be able to do it with them says I may be limited, but I can do almost anything if I put my mind to it.
So here’s a thought, if you are faced with a fear: no matter what it is, meet it head on push yourself to overcome it, and get on with the adventure that is your life. The expression that life is short is very true; in fact it is way too short to have regrets of missed opportunities because you were afraid. You will never know what you can accomplish until you try.