"The beauty of disability is the beauty of being human" (157). So writes Gary Presley, whose book, 7 Wheelchairs: A Life Beyond Polio, recounts his life as a paraplegic. But don't let a single quote mislead you; Presley does not try to glorify his situation in his memoir. He spends chapters going into extensive detail about his bowel movements (or lack thereof), the urinal he carries with him everywhere, and his pride in still being able to have an erection.
Presley contracts polio from a vaccine when he is 17, and spends most of the first two decades of his paralysis raging against his fate. He harbors resentment toward everyone -- himself included -- and everything for what is difficult in his life. Then, gradually, through several dynamic points, Presley learns to appreciate what he does have and stop dwelling in the negative.
This is what he wants us to do, as well. Presley includes the graphic details of having to sit in his own feces because there is no one around to move him to his bedpan because he wants us to read 7 Wheelchairs and think, "Wow, this guy has it really hard. Compared to him, I am so fortunate."
And we are, but -- as Presley reminds us several times throughout his memoir -- so is he.
Presley, Gary. 7 Wheelchairs: A Life Beyond Polio. Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press, 2008. Print.
Thanks for the review. I suppose the thesis of the book could be summed up best by applying Abraham Lincoln's words: "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you can find links to some of my favorite published essays on my blog/website.
Happy Christmas!