When practical medical solutions clash with home design and aesthetics.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease, that can damage any part of your body or the organs inside your body. Once diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease your life is ruled by the numbers - test results. Feeling like you have control over your life becomes a big part of your 'job'. Problem solving skills and stubborn determination are essential skills in your tool box. This little story is about living, not just surviving.
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When a family gathers for the first time in ages there are the usual range of expectations about the outcome. Here, in our part of Central Queensland, we recently celebrated with friends and family from across the country and Asia. It was great, getting the facts and figures about nieces and nephews, careers and business'.
I have many great memories but one really short conversation with a niece, an Occupational Therapist, just replayed in my mind. When it comes to medical stuff we come from different angles.
For example, she 'loves' those very secure safety rails in bathrooms; the ones that help those unsteady on their feet. And, I can understand why, and what a useful item they are. However, I see them as very shiny, very large and very ugly additions to a home - that recast personas. I'm not ready for them, even if they might make life a bit easier at times.
She just didn't get why I didn't want "any of those things in my bathroom". I didn't give her the facts; she's probably heard them all before anyway. But, just so you know what I mean, many a time I've been at home alone, standing in the bath and really struggling to work out how I'd get out safely.
My solution, and I should explain I live on a small farm and am creating a rustic like farm house. So there is logic to my madness.
My solution was to use an old wooden ladder, from the green house, as a shelf and 'hold me up'. It did take some negotiations, and a lot of maneuvering, but it now fits nicely into the bathroom.
One day, I may have no choice but for now I'll keep my ladder.
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