Last fall, we took the kids to their first Auburn football game.
I stressed about navigating Game Day in the days leading up to it, and parts of it were, without a doubt, a challenge. It was bittersweet and strange, but I was glad that we took them – so glad that we decided to go to another game this past weekend.
Our seats weren’t great – high in the upper deck, above the student section. The location was odd, because we couldn’t see and could barely hear the band that was directly below us. It was like we were watching the game in pseudo-isolation. But it was Auburn, and it was Game Day, and we were all there together, so that made it great.
Unlike last year, I didn’t fret about how we’d navigate the stadium. We had the loaner wheelchair, which weighs almost nothing and is easy for Sarah Kate to propel. We knew where to park, we knew where to get our elevator passes, and we knew where to stash the wheelchair while we were watching the game.
It was a piece of cake.
As much as I hate to admit it, I kind of love having that wheelchair. Sarah Kate has never had anything but a transport chair before; it’s a glorified stroller so she always had to have someone free to push her when she used it. It was no biggie when she was six, but at eleven it’s not much fun for her or for the pusher. More importantly, a transport chair screams dependence – the new chair provides freedom.
I tried teaching Sarah Kate a little more about football – I was already well versed in first downs, quarterbacks, and field goals when I was her age – and it sorta/kinda worked. She got a new watch earlier in the week and took a great deal of pleasure in setting it to match the pre-game countdown timer. Once the game started, she tried to keep up with the game clock, as well, and sorta/kinda succeeded for a quarter or so.
But quite possibly the highlight of the day was Nathan’s sudden decision to let us know whenever he had to go potty, and to keep his pull-up dry all the way up and back (four hours each way) in the car, as well as nearly the whole time we were in Auburn. He also learned what I was assured by Mr. Andi will one day soon be a valuable skill – the ability to pee between two car doors when in a public place without a bathroom nearby.
War Eagle, Y’all!
Sounds like a fun game! What brand/model of chair did
Sarah Kate get?
The one she is using right now is a Quickie Ti. Somebody turned it in to the therapy office so they gave it to her to use until her new one comes in. It’s a little too big for her, so I had to cut a pool noodle to put on the foot plate so her feet would have somewhere to rest, but I wrapped it in cute pink/orange/green/white chevron duct tape. 🙂 The one she was recently fitted for is a Ki Tsunami.
As a mom of boys, trust me when I say Nathan learned a valuable skill!!!!
War Eagle and glad it was a fun game!
Awesome idea with the pool noodle and fun duct tape!
Let me know how Sarah Kate likes the Ki. I have heard good things about Ki. I currently have a Ti-Lite manual chair, but is over 8 years old and long over due for new wheels, so im looking at options. Are ya’ll going to use Frog Legs wheels?
Will do! I’m sure I’ll do a whole post on the wheelchair once we have it. I have no idea what kind of wheels it will have – she isn’t going to be a heavy wheelchair user, so we went with what was recommended (probably will wish some things were different once we have it, but for now we don’t know enough to know what to choose).
Awesome! I look forward to the post about the Ki! Here is the link to the Frog Legs wheels, I’ve tried them out at some Abilities Expos – they replace the front caster wheels and make it pretty easy to push on a variety of surfaces 🙂 http://www.froglegsinc.com. I’m sure the Ki is going to rock!!! 🙂
I presently still own my Quickie Ti which I got in 2002. Still in superb condition and reliable. Newer chair is my just one year old TiLite Aero Z. I use chairs when long distances are involved, tone is absurd high, or I am so crouchy my hip doesn’t stay in socket.
Thanks for the info! The chair we’ve ordered for Sarah Kate is for the same purpose. Her doctor was initially a little hesitant to write the script, because she intends for Sarah Kate to be an independent walker, but I reminded her it just won’t be possible 100% of the time. I didn’t want to get an inexpensive chair that wasn’t suited to her body – especially not a transport one that would leave her at someone else’s mercy – knowing she would need it off and on for years to come. I’m glad to hear that your Quickie has lasted you so long – hope her Ki does, as well!
I found your blog from Facebook. I just wanted to stop by and say “War Eagle” to this beautiful Auburn family.
War Eagle!