Upstairs, Downstairs
...
Stairs. When Robb was in the rehab hospital, we spent a lot of time preparing for the challenge of climbing the stairs to our apartment. He visualized every step and landing. When he first got home, he wasn't permitted to climb stairs without a "spotter" who would catch him if he started to fall. (This task, frankly, terrified me. All I could imagine was my failure in keeping Robb from tumbling down the stairs.)
Because the fronts of Robb's feet aren't the useful part, he still has to use great care while negotiating stairs. Our back staircase has very narrow treads, so if here were to climb it "normally" the "good" part of his foot (his heel) is hanging out in unsupported space. Rather than letting this stop him, Robb climbs these stairs by side-stepping. He stands at a right angle to the stairs, so that his entire foot can rest on the tread.
As you can imagine, this technique makes carrying anything up the stairs particularly challenging. Because I have been working such long hours, Robb has been doing much of the grocery shopping. He carries the perishable items upstairs, and leaves everything else in the garage for me. Robb takes a step, picks up his packages, lifts them up one step, and sets them down. Then he takes a step, picks up his packages, lifts them up, and sets them down on the next step. He said that the last time he climbed the back steps, it took him fifteen minutes.
We live on the third floor, in case you are wondering.
Stairs. When Robb was in the rehab hospital, we spent a lot of time preparing for the challenge of climbing the stairs to our apartment. He visualized every step and landing. When he first got home, he wasn't permitted to climb stairs without a "spotter" who would catch him if he started to fall. (This task, frankly, terrified me. All I could imagine was my failure in keeping Robb from tumbling down the stairs.)
Because the fronts of Robb's feet aren't the useful part, he still has to use great care while negotiating stairs. Our back staircase has very narrow treads, so if here were to climb it "normally" the "good" part of his foot (his heel) is hanging out in unsupported space. Rather than letting this stop him, Robb climbs these stairs by side-stepping. He stands at a right angle to the stairs, so that his entire foot can rest on the tread.
As you can imagine, this technique makes carrying anything up the stairs particularly challenging. Because I have been working such long hours, Robb has been doing much of the grocery shopping. He carries the perishable items upstairs, and leaves everything else in the garage for me. Robb takes a step, picks up his packages, lifts them up one step, and sets them down. Then he takes a step, picks up his packages, lifts them up, and sets them down on the next step. He said that the last time he climbed the back steps, it took him fifteen minutes.
We live on the third floor, in case you are wondering.
Comments
Bandaid
Shiloh
heck, i might just install a zipline here anyway to get down to the pub from my house. Hooray for towns terraced into mountains!
Annalisa
Grrrr, why wasn't it me, instead? Perhaps not bothering to fill out a form has something to do with it!
Annalisa
Marmalade
See:
http://howsrobb.blogspot.com/2007/02/dreamy.html
for the story.
Emily