The Chair and the Car

The wheelchair company calls it the “launching position” – an option that allows patients to distribute their body weight to prevent bedsores. For Eric, it was a chance to play astronaut. Choosing a wheelchair when he could still walk seemed unnecessary. Despite doctors’ predictions, it was hard to imagine the day when his strength and mobility would be mere shadows.

Still, he had to prepare – and who knew there were so many models? The decision grew more complicated when it became obvious that the more comfort and options offered, the bigger the wheelchair. That led to a standoff between Eric and his wife, Geodee.

The larger models wouldn’t fit in Geodee’s sedan, a car Eric knew his wife loved. As the wife of a sailor and the mother of two children, Geodee had never had money for luxuries. One of Eric’s favorite memories was the day he bought the car for her – the first new one she ever had. For Geodee, though, her husband’s comfort meant more than her car; she wanted to trade the sedan for a used minivan.

It took a while for them to pick a chair. In the end, Eric chose one that would allow Geodee to keep her car – and to keep that memory from happier times alive.