It will be so weird when my dad passes. I will suddenly be all alone to figure things out or not, it will be up to me and my ability to adapt and figure things out. Some things can be overcome, some will require hired help. The older I get, the harder it will be to make the changes needed . I remember in 99 my mom told me she was divorcing my father and leaving. At that point I was about a year post injury. I called my dad and told him "mom left and shes not coming back". Everybody thought I wouldn't be able to take care of myself because my dad works nights and I would be alone. I was 21 then and wasn't scared a bit, I looked at that like an opportunity to show people what can be done. I learned to wear a seatbelt, don't do foolish things you cant get out of. I was driving my old 84 Ford van everywhere and figuring out one problem at a time. At 37 yrs old things aren't as easy as they were then. I don't have tons of friends anymore, a bunch of physical ailments have popped up since then, but I have more knowledge at least. We will see what the future brings. You can only prepare for it so much.
Ron ________________________________ From: Don Smith <scamper2...@att.net> To: RONALD L PRACHT <r.pra...@sbcglobal.net> Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 2:00 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] whats up with Dawn? Do you qualify for ihss hours, if so maybe now would be a good time to find someone to come in on a part tme bases to help you with things you need help with. It well give your dad some relief and backup for you if and when needed. ________________________________ From: RONALD L PRACHT <r.pra...@sbcglobal.net> To: "quad-list@eskimo.com" <quad-list@eskimo.com> Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 12:23 AM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] whats up with Dawn? That's terrible. I would have never guessed she would be having so many issues. The good part is she is thankful to Pete, she is going to need more help now than ever. Her abdominal pain/ function loss in the right hand sounds like it could be a fluid filled cyst in the center of the spine at the initial injury site called a spinal syrinx. A simple mri of her back would reveal this. Im concerned right now, my father who is 66 yrs old with a history of heart problems is having hot flashes, dizziness and feeling faint. He already has had 5 shunts put in his arteries to keep them open. He is a machine repairman and is trying to keep going to work. Im not sure what I will do when/if my dad gets put out of commission. I can get myself in/out of the bed and take a shower once in awhile on my own ( although the transfer to my shower chair is risky due to the design of the shower chair), but I do have a roll in shower. My bowell routines which are every other day will be the issue. I need help with that. I can get dressed on my own and make basic survival meals using the microwave or sandwiches. Im 16 yrs into my injury and things could get scary really quickly. The house Im living in is paid off and so is my van. Ronny ________________________________ From: Gmail <bobbiehumphre...@gmail.com> To: RONALD L PRACHT <r.pra...@sbcglobal.net> Cc: "quad-list@eskimo.com" <quad-list@eskimo.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 9:31 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] whats up with Dawn? Ron, Something has happened to change her was within the past 6 months. For the very first time she gave Pete a Birthday day gift (his birthday is Dec. 15th) she brought him a gift card to his favorite eatery and right before that we had a snow storm, after Pete cleaned her van off, she called him to say " Thank-you" She did this without my asking her to. This past summer she told me that the money from her law suit, from her accident back in 1991, is all but gone. She will not have enough money to buy a news van and her family can't help her. The mini van she has now, a 2002 Chrysler ramp-van, has about 135,000K on it. She doesn't work so I have know idea where she drives. But all of a sudden she is not going out much at all. She also has quite a bit of some heavy duty properties right now like gallstones, severe abdominal pains that she's been struggling with for about one year. She is a C-7,8 and use to have movement of her fingers on her right hand but she's lost that function and doesn't know why ... I think it's carpal tunnel syndrome. She wears a size 12 shoe, as a women that size is extremely rare. So her has NEVER worn shoes ever since her accident (she wears slippers) resulting in the toes on both her feet to curl under severely. Enough that her podiatrists wants to amputat ALL HER TOES!! She also has an open sore on her heal. She live alone and NOBODY EVER comes to visit her ... not even family. She can get herself in bed at night, which she dose around 4:09-5:00am everyday. She dose not cook and nerve, ever has her aids cook for her, so her nutrition is hideous. Pete and I TRY to help her out whenever we can but she doesn't like anybody to help. I really do feel bad for her because of all she's going through ALONE! Bobbie Smile Everyday On Jan 22, 2014, at 8:10 PM, RONALD L PRACHT <r.pra...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: do you have any new stories about dawn and her selfish activities > > >ronny > > >________________________________ > From: Gmail <bobbiehumphre...@gmail.com> >To: RONALD L PRACHT <r.pra...@sbcglobal.net> >Cc: "quad-list@eskimo.com" <quad-list@eskimo.com> >Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 2:32 PM >Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Handcycle Dan hearn > > > >Ron, > Good for you! I love to hear clods working out in any way shape or form. >It is so much fun to physically do something ... again, isn't it? >Bobbie > >Smile Everyday > >On Jan 22, 2014, at 5:42 AM, RONALD L PRACHT <r.pra...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: > > >I was going to buy a handcycle back in 09. I did a lot of research and figured >out I needed one that had a transfer level about the same height as my >wheelchair. I was going to buy a quickie mach 2 in toxic green. Then I ran >across a company called Rio Mobilty out of California. They had this >attachable handbike called a rio dragonfly. Once you attach four brackets to >your manual chair and do some adjusting, you can take the bike on and off in >about 5 minutes unassisted. It has seven gears, a brake and c5 quad grips to >propel the trike. Whats great about it that you are still in your chair with >your cushion and everything so no worries about skin breakdown or falling out >of the bike. I purchased it for around 1000.00 dollars and have been using it >ever since. in fact, ive already worn a tire off of it. I use it 30-40 times a >year because its so simple to take on and off the chair. Those paras you see >at creve couer park are led by the same man that runs the disabled swim organization I was involved with. we should meet over there one afternoon Dan this year. >> >> >>Ron >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>________________________________ >> rom: Danny Hearn <ddh...@sbcglobal.net> >>To: RONALD L PRACHT <r.pra...@sbcglobal.net>; "quad-list@eskimo.com" >><quad-list@eskimo.com> >>Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 3:31 PM >>Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] stationary hand bike >> >> >> >>Yeah, Ron- I got cabin fever from the winter also, Can't wait until spring >>gets here ! My pain is usually worse in the winter also....Hey do you have >>one of those 3 wheeled hand bikes? A few years back I met some para's and >>quads all riding those at Creve Couer Lake, they told me to buy one and ride >>the trails around the Lake--said they meet on like 2 days a week..One was >>thursday but can't remember the other day. I watched them ride and chatted >>with them, it did seem cool, I never got around to buying the trike, but at >>times I go there and ride around in my power chair....Now I will soon be able >>to ride the trail they have built down the street by aquaport and dogport.. I >>heard that it is another extension to the Katie Trail. Later, Dan H*** >> >> >> >>________________________________ >> From: RONALD L PRACHT <r.pra...@sbcglobal.net> >>To: "quad-list@eskimo.com" <quad-list@eskimo.com> >>Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 2:24 PM >>Subject: [QUAD-L] stationary hand bike >> >> >> >>Hey guys. im going crazy with this cold winter. Does anybody have a >>stationary handbike/armbike that they are willing to sell? Something decent >>quality, not the 39.99 job. I was looking on ebay and like the sci/fit bikes, >>but would consider anything. Ive got a prefect easystand 5000 with the >>mobility option Im willing to sell or trade. >> >> >> >> >>Ron >> >> >> >> > >
