I went, I fell, I conquered...

I fell backwards in my wheelchair yesterday.  Although, I learned the tricks of falling and getting back up on all 4 wheels 4 years ago, I always feared falling backwards.  Not because of the embarrassment, merely because I am not too fond of breaking bones, getting bruises or head concussions.  

As we celebrated the 4th of July at a park, an event which I debated attending for a couple of days, I turned my head and saw that my daughter was playing behind me.. I backed my wheelchair while at the same time turning around to place myself where I could get a clear view of where she was at all times.  The whole in the grassy area behind me failed to tell me that I was going into it with my right rear wheel.  

As the wheel took the dip, I leaned forward and held on to my wheels to balance myself back as much as I could, which was probably 4-5 seconds, but felt like 10-15 minutes.  I remembered then, "Well it's grass, and no one will get to me fast enough to prevent my fall.  So I let go of the wheels, tucked my body forwards and flipped backwards.  

I almost yelled... "Oh My God! I can't feel my legs!"  However, before I could make light of the situation, I saw about 20 heads hovering over me trying to help me.  My claustrophobia kicked in right away and remembered that while I was turning around and backing up, maybe a mili-second before the fall, I saw my sister walking back to us from the playground and she was facing me.  As I felt the dozen hands pulling and tugging at me and my chair, I quickly glanced to my right and her slow paced walk turned into a Baywatch sprint towards me.  "NOBODY TOUCH ME! TATI IS COMING. SHE WILL HELP ME!" (The capital letters illustrate a bit the volume and irritability of my voice).  As she got to me, I scooted my butt back into the seat and instructed her and my brother on how to lift me back up.  I didn't even try to get back up on my own due to the uneven surface of the grass area where we were set up.  

So I fell backwards for the first time on the Fourth of July.. I have been set free from my fear of falling backwards.  Happy Independence Day to me too.  Sorry, USA, for stealing your thunder yesterday.  No broken bones, bruises or concussions, however I do have a sprained wrist and sore neck.  My daughter replayed the fall after we got home.  And, I realized that when I fell I completely forgot about her.  So much for worrying in the first place and not trusting the other moms who were also there helping me.  Lesson learned for me.  

In hindsight, I wish we had the whole thing on film.  At the same time, I'm sure it's an event that some of the people present won't forget so soon... Nor let me live it down.