# I Am Getting A Wheelchair **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 29, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110 "2012-03-29T01:45:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/1 "2012-03-29T01:45:46Z")
Well, it’s come to this. The Multiple Sclerosis has proceeded to the point of my needing a wheelchair. Thank God my insurance covers one. Now I have to figure out what to do for Halloween. Captain Christopher Pike? Steampunk? Dalek? The possibilities are endless. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/2 "2012-03-29T01:49:20Z")
Capt. Christopher Pike would be epic. I’m sorry to hear that you’ve come to this point, although I have to say you do seem fairly upbeat about it. Glad to hear your insurance is covering things! Is your home set up for wheelchair access? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/3 "2012-03-29T01:58:42Z")
There’s that James Bond villain. Or the guy in _Rocky Horror_. s above, I too am sorry it’s come to the point of a wheelchair but am also glad you’re staying upbeat. We just finished watching the first season of a British series called _Nighty Night_, and a main charcater is an MS victim in a wheelchair. A very, very dark comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/4 "2012-03-29T02:05:15Z")
A friend of mine (age 50) just went into a wheelchair last year with MS. Her attitude has been pretty good; she still comes out to most get-togethers. It’s not all doom and gloom, and Christopher Pike would be an awesome costume that would get a lot of laughs. ---
**Author:** ![SticksAndString](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SticksAndString](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SticksAndString)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/5 "2012-03-29T02:08:05Z")
Don’t let being in a chair get to you. 🙂 One of the greatest influences on my life, my uncle Boo, was in a chair most of his life (admittedly for something completely different–double amputation due to stepping on a mine in Vietnam when he was 19). He participated in over a thousand road races over the course of his life with a room full of trophies and ribbons to show for it. He was a member of a wheelchair basketball team for many years as well as a coach/mentor for a wheelchair basketball team for teens/young adults. He was also (and I have NO idea how he did this…sheer determination, I suppose)a real pool shark. He described it as really HARD to shoot pool when your head is nearly at the same level as the table, but it’s doable. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/6 "2012-03-29T02:37:51Z")
Pike would be cool, but if it was me I’d prefer EXTERMINATE! _ **EXTERMINATE!** _ EXTERMINATE! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/7 "2012-03-29T02:59:17Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > … > > Or the guy in _Rocky Horror_. > > … Been there, done that, _Ach!_ ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/8 "2012-03-29T03:06:40Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Been there, done that, _Ach!_ Great Scott! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/9 "2012-03-29T03:43:23Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Great Scott! Brad! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/10 "2012-03-29T04:42:37Z")
I had a good friend with MS. She would get worse and then get better a year later. At various times I’ve seen her in wheelchairs and then walking with crutches. MS is a tough disease. I know my friend never knows year to year what her condition will be. Best of luck BMalion. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/11 "2012-03-29T04:44:41Z")
I’m sorry its come to this for you. If you lived close to me, I’d come over to change your sheets once a week. I have a very dear friend who has been wheelchair bound for a very long time, and she says that’s the hardest chore that she has. (which is pretty impressive to me because this lady is active in animal rescue and will tackle icy ramps during the middle of a big snow storm so she can help out with adoptions.) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/12 "2012-03-29T11:43:57Z")
Dr. Strangelove! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/13 "2012-03-29T12:16:28Z")
I’m glad the chair is covered. Is it one of those motorized kinds? I hope this will be temporary for you, as some others have experienced. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/14 "2012-03-29T12:24:26Z")
It will be an FDX front-wheel drive. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/15 "2012-03-29T12:32:27Z")
Sorry to hear about this development. Glad you’re joking about Halloween costumes. May I suggest Bloom County’s _Cutter John_ (Saigon John in the Academia Waltz days). Bonus points if you carry a stuffed Opus the Penguin. Extra bonus points for using one of his customized chairs, especially the plush one with all the doodads. If you’re going to do Christopher Pike, get a green Slave Girl to escort you around. And carry a stack of Christopher Pike paperbacks to have her hand out > **[Christopher Pike (author)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Pike_(author))** > > Kevin Christopher McFadden (born November 12, 1955), known by his pen name Christopher Pike, is an American author. He is a bestselling author of young adult and children's fiction. Known for mystery-thrillers and supernatural horror aimed at young adults, he has also written adult fiction. > McFadden was born in New York City in 1955, but grew up in California. He attended college briefly before dropping out and working various jobs such as house painting and computer programming. He initially tr... ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/16 "2012-03-29T12:34:39Z")
Get a cop costume and go as Joe from Family Guy? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/17 "2012-03-29T12:52:03Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Get a cop costume and go as Joe from Family Guy? Never saw it, but thanks! I was also thinking about how to encase myself in a giant white balloon and go as “rover” from _The Prisoner_. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/18 "2012-03-29T13:06:13Z")
A lot of these are kid costumes, but a more adult version could easily be made: Tie Fighter: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/2186/2048308617_58f24366df_b.jpg "Darth Vader Tie Fighter Costume") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/tostie14/2048308617/) Batman! > **[Author Offers Advice on Halloween Costumes Challenges for Children with...](https://www.prlog.org/11702115-author-offers-advice-on-halloween-costumes-challenges-for-children-with-disabilities.html)** > > Author Offers Advice on Halloween Costumes Challenges for Children with Disabilities. Halloween costuming ideas for children with disabilities - PR11702115 Lots of ideas here: [http://blog.costumenation.com/general/wheelchair-halloween-costume-ideas/](http://blog.costumenation.com/general/wheelchair-halloween-costume-ideas/) Drummer: [http://www.susanfinch.com/.a/6a00e3981f19558833015391a8b45f970b-320wi](http://www.susanfinch.com/.a/6a00e3981f19558833015391a8b45f970b-320wi) ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/19 "2012-03-29T13:10:16Z")
Not a Dalek, but Davros himself! Then you’d get to say all sorts of evil things in a purring, seductive sort of way, as you work yourself up to a rant. I would imagine it’d be cathartic! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110/20 "2012-03-29T13:15:40Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Sorry to hear about this development. Glad you’re joking about Halloween costumes. > … I never joke about Halloween costumes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-getting-a-wheelchair/617110.md?page=2)