Portrait of a Hero - Priscilla

  Interview with Priscilla...

1.       What is the handicap you’re dealing with?

L1,2 paraplegic

2.       How long have you had this?

It was 11 years the past Septemeber 12 (my injury was in 1999 just in case you don't want to do the math ;) )

3.      Where do you get your desire to Rise Above your limits?

It was that way from day one. I never sulked about what happened. It is what it is. I can't change it. The only thing I can do is move on with life and be happy. Why sit around and feel sorry for myself? That's boring.

4.       What are you doing now that you never thought you would be able to do? (What have you gained form raising your son)?

Absolutely nothing. I never doubted that I would do exactly what I wanted to. Why should I?

5.       Have there been certain people that have helped you along the way?  What was it you appreciated the most from them?

Well, my family of course and my husband. When I met him, he pushed me to start driving again. That is the one thing I'd  been putting off. I was nervous about driving with my hand instead of my feet.

Of course, there are the doctors that stabilized my spine during my super long surgery. I'm beyond grateful for their expertise. Their sewing skills could use work. My spinal scar is scary. :)

6.       How do you handle situations that are beyond your control, such as people and their ignorance to you and your situation? 

I don't usually encounter people with mush ignorance. I put myself out there right away so people see me and realize that I don't need help. I do get the occasional eager beaver and just insist that they need to just let me do what I'm doing. I would say, at least once a month, I have someone practically shove my chair in my face because they try to help me. That's really annoying. I just tell them to please stop.

If I do need help with something in a store people are more than willing to help.

7.Being a mother in a wheelchair also, I know what an interesting challenge it can be to do the daily household tasks. What do you do? Do your kids help out? How do you get the things done around the house that you are not able to do?

It's not a challenge. It just takes a little longer. Sometimes. Sometimes, I do it faster than other people. There isn't a chore I "can't" do. I couldn't even imagine what that might be? Why couldn't I?

There are chores I will NOT do. I don't take out the trash. My husband does that. I do not mop; again my husband does that. I take it back. I can't reach the back of the microwave. I can't clean that.

My kids don't really do chores. The youngest isn't even 3. MY oldest son does do a few things here and there when I ask him to but it's usually all done before he gets home.

8. (What have you gained form raising your son)?

I actually have 2 sons and another on the way.

What have I gained? More love and lots of exhaustion :).

Priscilla Hedlin,
www.wheelchairmommy.com