Is Normal really Normal?

I lived almost 30 years of life and I can’t really believe it.  I have done a lot of things in my life.  I was in the Navy for almost 4 years.  I have traveled the world and seen places that most have only dreamed of. I have held almost every title in the restaurant business.  I have met many wonderful people in my life that have made me what I am today.  Before my illness happened, I was working three jobs. I was very active in sports (playing basketball any chance I got).  However, when I turned 26 my life changed.

(If you want to look at my past blogs, it tells the detailed story about what happened.)

In Dec of 2008 my life as I knew it changed.

I lost the use of my feet…I had my right foot amputated at the ankle and I lost three toes on my left foot due to my illness.  I was in a wheelchair for almost a year. As of now, I am up walking, driving and I have a lot of my mobility back (which is a great thing).  Being that active and then having it all taken away was something that was very hard to live with.

I mentioned in my last post that Preach and my Brother are very important to me.  Without their help, I couldn’t have made it through this hard time.

Just think to yourself.  What would you do if you couldn’t use your feet?  It’s really, really, really depressing not being able to do the simple things that I used to do.  I live about a half a block from a gas station in town and with the weather starting to get better now, it would be awesome to walk to get a soda. It’s those little things that people have a hard time understanding.

I also live about an hour from St. Louis Mo and the Cardinals (baseball team) did rather well last season winning the World Series.  One of my buddies called me during the games…

Buddy: Hey, got an extra Cards ticket, do you want to go?

Me: Man, I would love too, but I would have to take my wheelchair. Is there room?

Buddy: No, man. I just have an extra seat. I don’t have room for your chair, man. Sorry.

Now I know he wasn’t being insensitive by any means. On the other hand, it is something that I have to consider in everything that I do from now on.  It really makes anything that I want to do a hassle.  The last three years have been very difficult to plan any trips or to go anywhere without knowing the conditions before I go.

Another thing I love to do is during Halloween.  Haunted Houses have been a really fun thing to do since I was a kid.  I have helped in a many of them around my community for several years.  This last year, Preach wanted to go to Talon Falls in Paducah KY. This haunted house is rated as one of the best in the country, but it’s not wheelchair accessible!!! So I couldn’t go on that trip either. 

I don’t want is this to become a pity party for me.  I have come to the realization that my life has changed. My point is to get information out to the readers that aren’t handicapped. To have a small glimpse of what I go through on a daily basis.

Also, my illness (Lumeirre’s Syndrome)  was featured on ”Oprah” and on the hit tv show ”House” because it’s so rare.  Here is a picture of what the title means to me.

 I agree, House, that NORMAL IS OVERRATED!!!!!

(DJ pick of the day)

Song of Day

Blackout Breathe Carolina

P.S. Red is my hero