I would have to say the biggest challenge I had was losing my total independence and coming to the grips that I could never be totally independent. Also changing from brawn to brain was difficult getting the confidence that I could do better and achieve most anything I set out to do.
In the beginning my whole life change I could no longer just go for a walk when I wanted to. Being confined to a small house in rural northern Idaho is very difficult. Now that I have confidence in the things I do things haven’t changed that much. Yes I still need help every morning and night getting in and out of bed and shower. Yes I need someone to help me with my bow management. I’ve learned through the years to do my own bladder management and I can dress my upper body, I shaved and brush my teeth just like everybody else. I’ve learned how to use tools so I can garden like I used to. Yes there are things I still miss and will always miss. But after 33 years in chair I just don’t worry about the little things.
Always consider yourself physically challenged not handicapped. With today’s technology there is nothing that you cannot achieve if you put your heart and mind into it. Always challenge yourself because if you don’t know one will.
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-Doug White