Colin’s first swim

Our renovations are completed. We had a minor change to the bathroom, the braai / entertainment area, and the pool hoist.

It was just too difficult to shower Colin in the commode as I am just not capable of washing him effectively while ensuring that he doesn’t slip out of the chair. I struggle to put him in the commode, and it always feels wobbly and unstable. The best change (for me, and for him) is that we have had our bath put back in with a gap at the bottom for the hoist to fit in so I can easily put him in the bath and wash him. It has been a huge success.
I don’t hurt him or myself, I can wash him frequently so he feels better.

To be honest, I have not bathed Colin enough because the thought of the whole shower / commode combination was just impossible to contemplate. But it gets better – I love to bath and have missed my bath. It is a win-win situation. 🙂

The other major thing was the pool hoist we have had installed. Long story short, it is incredibly expensive to buy a pool hoist and I would venture to say that not many individuals have one. We were lucky enough to have Colin’s Suzuki motorcycle which the contractor was more than willing to barter for the work for the pool hoist. Colin is almost certainly never going to be able to ride again, and the bike is too big for me.

Today Colin was able to get into the pool after 2 years and 15 days of not having his head under water. It was very exciting. We were all nervous and anxious, but it was ultimately fun. We only did a short swim to see how it would work, but it was a success.

Colin had a bath directly afterwards, and then went to bed. Too much excitement for one day. For us all.

Here is a video my Dad took of a few moments:

Colin floats more than we expected him to, which is good. He won’t sink and choke, but he was sort of able to put his feet on the ground and sort of lift himself with his arms onto his feet a little.

We discovered we can sit him on the lower step to start as he can sort of sit up with his feet down.

We will try in deeper water when I am more certain of what I am doing, and when I have made him a floating suit from pool noodles.

Thanks Jabu and Dad – it took all of us this first time, but I am sure that in time it will be smoother and useful for Colin.

This is going to be something we look back on as perhaps the best decision we have made so far with the changes we have made to the house. So so happy.