Well, summer is finally here and school is out. Read how I use iLevel at school. I have big plans this summer before my first day in middle school. I planned to see and explore new things and new places in my iLevel® power wheelchair.
Swimming has been my favorite part of outdoor fun. I usually get “looks” when I enter any pool area. I know it’s because I’m in a wheelchair but that doesn’t really bother me as much as it would have if I was unable to access the swimming area at all. What better way to have all eyes on you, when you’re also in one of the coolest wheelchairs out there. I just let the spectators watch and learn. With my power wheelchair, I’m able to elevate the seat high enough so my caregivers can put my neck float on before I get in the pool. I recline back some to give myself a good stretch before I get in the water. Whether it’s my mom, brother, sister or my personal nurse helping me at the pool, I try to make it as easy as possible for them to handle me, and my iLevel power wheelchair is a big helping hand without actual hands.
Summer time at the park is also really relaxing for me. I drive my wheelchair while elevated (so my mom can keep track of me), and my mom, siblings and cousins ride their bikes on the bike path around the park. We take our time and stop to look at the different flowers and bugs. We point out and name as many bugs as we can. Since my mom is into trees and flowers, she points out and tells us the names of the flowers as we pass by. To be honest with you, I’m not really interested in flowers at all. The most exciting part is that my brother explained to me how the trees look for sunlight when they are bunched together. We made this into a game. We challenge each other to find as many trees as we can in 30 minutes that have curved around to find sunlight so it can continue to grow. The winner gets to decide which snack we will have once we leave the park.
Camping is another highlight for me during the summer. My power wheelchair can handle some of the toughest terrain, so I’m not left out of all the fun in the woods. My dad is the king of camping. He makes sure everything is set up perfectly for us. He even climbs trees to hang rope and cloth material from one end to the other to create separate spaces. We sit around the camp fire and roast hotdogs and smores. Before we go to bed in our tents, we tell only funny stories because some kids get really scared at night. When we wake up in the early morning, we go fishing for our lunch fish fry, although my dad always buys fish before we leave for the camping anyway because he knows we’re not going to catch enough fish for everyone to eat. I used to be scared to go camping years ago, and now I have learned to love the great experiences and the wonders of wildlife.
About Morgan Steward: Morgan Steward is an honorary police officer for the Covington Georgia Police Department. He lives with his mother, father and two siblings. He is an active member in his community and enjoys helping others. Click here to learn more about Morgan.