To see Makayla’s smiling face, you’d never know she’s lost mobility in most of her body. She now lives as a quadriplegic and heavily depends on her sister and mother for her daily care.
Makayla’s morning begins with her sister and mother preparing her to leave her hospital-style bed. They remove the braces she sleeps with each night. She wears them on her hands, feet, and neck. Every two to four hours, her mother and sister adjust Makayla to lie on her other side, so she doesn’t get bed sores.
After the braces and pads have been removed, Makayla’s mother and sister take twenty minutes to put on her incredibly tight compression socks since people with spinal injuries have trouble regulating their blood pressure.
Once the tights are on, they buckle Makayla into a mechanical lift that helps her get out of bed and into her power wheelchair. Her sister completes Makayla’s facial regimen. Then she helps Makayla strap the toothbrush to her hand so Makayla can practice this morning task.
The family has plans to go grocery shopping later since Makayla is trying to go out to get used to being in public again. While waiting in their home, Makayla practices, with what little hand mobility she retains, petting her cat Kevin. She also demonstrates how she can use her phone with her pinky knuckle.
Makayla’s family now has a large minivan that has a mobilized ramp so that Makayla can wheel herself into the vehicle. She wears her full neck and chest brace while in the car out of precaution. Her mother and brother strap her wheelchair into the van.
While in the store, Makayla attempts to grab items from the shelves. She hopes to one day be much more independent than she currently is. Makayla admits to getting a little anxious while in the store as it was busy. She is visibly disappointed with her progress, but she and her sister are determined to try again. She carries the groceries into the van by holding them in her lap. Her jokes and positive attitude inspire hope in her fans.
If you liked this, share it with a friend.
