I’m Going on Holiday… With My Wheelchair (and a Point to Prove)

Holiday prep isn’t just about packing clothes—it’s about proving to myself how far I’ve come.

Photo by Le Toan on Unsplash

I am going on holiday!

On a plane!

For a person who only recently made it to the supermarket alone in my wheelchair, this is a massive deal, but I have a point to prove to myself. Let me explain.

Back in 2023, before ‘Life with Long Covid’ existed and I was still keeping my illness a private matter, we went to a resort in Spain with some good friends. It was a fantastic week, but I also found it very difficult. Large hills to the apartments and constant exhaustion were hard to live with. The resort managed to find us alternative accommodation at the bottom of the hill, which helped, but it really helped me realise that my condition was not going away and that I needed help.

Fast-forward two years, and I have now embraced disabled life. I have mobility aids, a podcast and this wonderful community. We needed a family holiday together, and our friends are not only willing to come with us again, but as they said, ‘this time I have a point to prove’! We are returning to the same place, with the same hills, but this time I have my electric wheelchair and a stick to conquer the slopes, which will leave energy for fun.

It has taken a lot to get to this point. Booking my wheelchair onto the flight, arranging taxis and making sure that I have everything I need. The whole process is also riddled with anxiety. Questions like:

Will I traverse our holiday accommodation ok?

Will my beloved wheelchair get damaged?

Will I run out of battery mid-trip?!

And so on…

But I will have the support of family and friends.

In other news, the podcast side of ‘Life with Long Covid’ is returning in September. Since June, I have been mulling over the future of the podcast and weighing up whether I should continue writing articles only. More recently, I have realised that far from going away, Long Covid is talked about more than ever, and I think I have more to say on what it is like to live with the illness.

Look out for a post-holiday special!

In the meantime, I really do appreciate your support and the messages that I receive on a weekly basis. I started this so that people would feel less alone, and in turn, you have done the same for me.

Paul

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