[Blind-rollers] I'm new

[Lauren Merryfield]

Hi,

My name is Lauren Merryfield. I am a long-time Federationist and the
secretary of the Davis Canes and Tails chapter in the Bay area in
California. 

 

I happened onto this list this morning and I am new. I have had difficulty
walking and even more difficulty standing for years. My feet are problematic
and, as a dr. put it, my tibias don't have a floor to stand on. And now my
legs and feet are swollen due to the effects of congestive heart failure.

 

I have had difficulty with some people who are only blind, or those with
much stamina, who do not understand why sometimes I have to back out on some
activities. Right now, I never know how far I can walk or if I'll get stuck
somewhere standing, so this year I used a wheelchair for the first time at
national convention. It was interesting because I am not very strong to
wheel it myself and I could not use both hands on the wheels and hold my
cane out and use it. A couple times, a blind person pushed me with someone
ahead of us giving directions. This was somewhat workable. However, most of
the time, I had hotel staff or UPS volunteers wheel me around. The problem
with that was availability or lack thereof and sometimes being late for
somewhere unless I purposefully went early, which is what I usually did. 

 

I am interested in how others function this way. My chair is manual. So far,
I haven't used it anywhere except national convention, but one never knows
when I might need it again. It is hard to get in someone's car and most of
the time, they don't have the room or the energy to put it in.

 

For years I've wondered if there might become a division in the NFB for
those who are multidisabled blind. But PURRhaps this list is it. (I spelled
PURRhaps that way on PURRpose because I am a cat PURRson.  Cats always know
when I am not doing well. They are very intuitive.

 

Sorry to ramble.

Thanks

Lauren, who was really surprised to find this group. I wonder if there's
anyone here that I would know. 

 

Blessings in Jesus' name

Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

My digital evangelism blog is at:

W w w . ask in Jesus name . o r g

My book, in audio format, is at:

W w w . audible . c o m 

Cats Are Terrifically Superb:

W w w . catlInes . c o m

(take the spaces out to go to the above links)