For the first six or so years after my accident I wasn't able to catheterize myself. I had to rely on somebody morning, noon, and night to empty my bladder for me. If my bladder became full at odd hours of the day I had the hope that somebody was around or that somebody was available. At soccer practice I had to hold my bladder till I returned home. When we went on the road for away games I had to wear a leg bag and rely on one of the players to empty it which was always uncomfortable. I arranged for somebody to come to work and catheterize me at noontime but if I had to go before or after I had to wait.
I used to belong to a workout group which consisted of a handful of quadriplegics and paraplegics performing exercises with therapists and volunteers. At this group I ran into a quadriplegic who had similar function to me but was able to catheterize himself. I learned from him that it was possible to catheterize myself using the limited hand function that I possess while using a specific type of catheter. The rest is history.
The freedom that being able to catheterize myself gives me is amazing. Combined with my ability to drive I can go wherever I want by myself and not have to rely on other people. At home if I wake up in the middle of the night I can take care of my own business without having to wake anybody else up. It is amazing how learning what might seem like such a simple thing to some can change an entire life for the better!
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