Wheelchair Questions

Every time someone sees my wheelchair for the first time, I get a lot of questions. “How much did it cost?” “Is it comfortable?” The most common one? “Do you need a license to drive that thing?”

So here are a few answers: It cost just over $50,000. No, it’s not about comfort—it’s a tool that gives me access to the world. And no, you don’t need a license to operate an electric wheelchair.

This 300-pound machine is my lifeline. I don’t love it, but I treat it with care—because I have to. It’s been five long years since I even became eligible to apply for a new one.

People often joke that it must be fun to cruise around all day. What they don’t see is the exhaustion that comes with being in the same position from the moment I wake up until I go to bed—especially on busy days. They smile when they see me recline in my chair, but they don’t realize I do it to prevent pressure sores. If I don’t, I could literally die from one.

Thanks to God’s grace, I’ve never had one—but I won’t lie, it’s my biggest fear. Even Christopher Reeve, with all his resources, passed away from a bedsore.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

There’s a whole world of challenges most people don’t notice: Going around the block just to find one curb cut. Never being able to see over a counter. Being invisible in a crowded room—until someone bumps into me and then apologizes like it’s their worst mistake.

Please, don’t feel sorry for me. That’s not why I’m writing this. This is about awareness. About understanding.

Take care of yourself. I hope you never need a wheelchair—but if you do, maybe now you’ll have a better idea of what it means to live in one.

The Podcast

Published Books