Broken Glass

I was meeting with my mentor, Kevin from college at a local coffee shop. Starbucks was closed for renovation. The shop has a makeshift ramp. It wasn't enough to get me up the barrier, so Kevin and a kind stranger pushed me up. I was going as fast as I could to gain momentum. I made it up the step, but I couldn't stop the wheelchair. I remember pulling back on my joystick and knowing I could not stop it. the wheelchair hit the glass door and shattered it. I was showered in glass. I hear people talking about possibility calling the paramedics. I was bloody everywhere and very much in shock. I don't think I could process what happened for a few minutes because this was such a freak accident.

This is Kevin's observation of the aftermath:

Hannah was upset and embarrassed.  Tears were almost there, I think.  And for maybe three minutes as we figured out what to do next, and worked to clear away the glass, I kept trying to calm her- “Not your fault, it is okay.”  I don’t remember what I said at the three-minute mark, but I think it was something like, “Hannah, this is the most interesting thing that has happened to me in months.”  And she started to giggle.

We cleaned away more glass.  And we laughed a little more.  I think I called her “Crash,” or accused her of vandalism.  Laughter.  We noticed a few cuts on her arm and fingers.  The coffee shop staff brought out a first aid kit.  The guy who helped lift her chair with me stayed with us and helped with brushing glass away.  We laughed.  I had business cards in my pocket so I gave them to those who helped out and asked them, “Please send me a text or email- I’m sure Hannah will want to say thank you.  I’ll pass your contact info along to her.”

Thank God Kevin has dad instincts to make a joke because I would have bawled. I did contact everyone who was so kind and thank them. I didn't mention the ADA law only to their manager because I think crashing into the door was much louder than any verbal comment.

Kevin was extremely kind and vacuumed every inch of my wheelchair. I barely had any scrapes despite the initial outpouring of blood. That is miraculous! It's not something I want to repeat EVER.

Life is going to hand you crap. Deal with it by choosing to be kind.

Kevin did say, "that was the most interesting thing to happen to me in months". Glad I could entertain you, Kev.

Watch for Broken Glass,
Hannah!