Life is Like a Bicycle

Isabel has a new motto. A short quote in "Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul" is inspiring Mum as the days shorten and winter sets in.

LIFE IS LIKE A BICYCLE. YOU DON’T FALL OFF UNTIL YOU STOP PEDALLING.

In addition to her Physio-and Occupational Therapists and their assistants, Isabel has a new Exercise Therapist who sees her for leg strengthening and hip flexion exercises and general conditioning. This work is done through bicycling ~ or we might say "horscycling".

So how does a horscycle work?

Isabel's power wheelchair is named Rufus 11 after a horse that she had in the 1940s. Isabel "rides" or drives Rufus 11 down the Wascana halls to the Physiotherapy Department and backs him up against a wall. He is a well-trained horse who neck-reins well! Then the Exercise Therapist pushes the front wheel of a bicycle in front of Isabel. Mum stretches out to reach the pedals and away she goes. Last week she pedalled 2.4 kms with relative ease while sitting her in her power-chair.

Mum wrote in her Christmas Letter this year: "LIFE IS LIKE A BICYCLE. YOU DON’T FALL OFF UNTIL YOU STOP PEDALLING. I am still pedalling!!!!!"

Lance Armstrong, look out!