People That Have our Backs

It's been an interesting start to my year. Not necessarily bad but just really interesting. I'll start off with Mom dropping me off for J-term.

It didn't bother me that I was back at Elmhurst. I was actually quite nervous about starting class. See, I knew from the title-Virtual Travel in Germany that it would involve being on the computer. I have my laptop perfectly set up in my dorm and I didn't want to move it every day. So, I had the idea of partnering up with someone in class but I didn't know if the professor would let me which made me nervous. Also, I e-mail professors beforehand and explaining my disability and I find that it opens up dialogue so the professor can ask "uncomfortable" questions about my situation. The e-mails didn't sound promising which made me even more nervous. I mean, I was not looking forward to the next day which is unusual for me.

I am walking to class and I see an older gentleman heading into the classroom. He's the professor. Now, I am not ageist however, I find that older people cannot understand me as well. But he did know how to use e-mail and Black Board which is an online classroom. It comes in handy with me needing most papers scanned into my computer. Have an open mind, Hannah, I thought to myself. After that I roll into the classroom and I immediately scan for people I know...nobody...nobody...Coley! Coley is my sorority sister and someone I want to get to know. She makes room for me next to her. A little relief calms my body. I knew Coley understood my situation entirely. She completely stepped up and has been my lab partner ever since.

The class hasn't been easy. There is a four page assignment given out everyday which takes me approximately three hours and then a travel journal that takes one hour to complete. It's definitely been the most challenging class yet but I am getting A's on my quizzes which are everyday. As for the professor, I see him trying to understand and he does give me all the accommodations I need and for that I am grateful. Still, I am bothered by the fact that I can't really make him understand why I need things done a certain way. Needless to say, I was so grateful for Phi Mu and especially Coley. She has just been a life saver. This is what I wanted out of a sorority and being in the Greek community. Somebody always has your back. I know almost all of my note takers have been Greek and they don't necessarily have my letters but were there for each other. Speaking of having your back...

I have to confess that my wheelchair has been behaving badly. Real bad.

My physical therapist and I were walking back from the gym and the wheelchair goes completely dead. In the middle of the street. I mean the exact middle of the street. Are you kidding me? Really? I start laughing. You got to be kidding me! My therapist asks if this is ever happened before. No. No, Celine, it hasn't. My wheelchair has NEVER gone completely dead before. And I remind you, it's about oh, 20 degrees out so we're both freezing. Celine puts the chair in manual and starts pushing me towards my dorm. Celine successfully gets me almost to my dorm when we get to a little hill. Celine knew it was close to impossible to get a 450 pound chair up that stupid hill that I had thoughtlessly went up and down many times previously. Just as I was starting to get uncomfortably cold and by now, I am really scared. My independence was the chair. I knew which angle it had to be on to get through doorways, underneath my desk and so much more. So, I am panicking and finally a guy who recognizes me offers to help push me to my dorm. I thank him for his kindness. As soon as we got back, we started calling my parents, the technical support at the therapy clinic and of course, my wheelchair guy, Dave. After an hour of calling people, Dave said that he could drop by. You have to understand, Celine had already missed a client but she couldn't leave me stranded. Celine leaves but she did tell the Residence Life Coordinator about my predicament and to please let Dave in.

"Hannah, it's Christina, Dave is here." Thank God! My hero! Guess what? It took him oh, thirty seconds to fix my beloved wheelchair. I had hit a bump like I do every day but for some reason; it flipped the switch that turns off my wheelchair completely! It wasn't fun...at all. My mom, Celine and Dave all completely had my back.

Four days after that, as my assistant, Kim was putting me in my chair, my joystick was leaning against a bar and somehow it turned on and next thing I know I am across the room and my controller is tilted forward and my joystick is...mangled. I could still drive, thank God! I was barely conscious because I literally had just gotten out of bed. I am not in a good mood. And I decide that Kim was at fault. Because Kim would really do that on purpose. As the day progressed, I realize I was wrong to blame Kim and I did apologize. I felt really bad but Kim understood my frustration. Dave took a quick look at it Monday morning and he did help a lot but he is coming out this week.

So, maybe January hasn't been the smoothest month but people have been there for me which is what really matters. I mean, really, where would you be without the people who have your back?

Get ready for a Valentine's Day post that I think you will enjoy!

XOXO,

Hannah!