A winter blizzard had me cooped up at home for days
Dangerous snow and ice, along with my FSHD, made it impossible to go out
Written by |
Pittsburgh, where I now live, receives far less annual snowfall than Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where my wife, Wendy, and I lived for 41 years. Shanksville, in Somerset County, sits squarely in the state’s snow belt.
However, every so often, Pittsburgh experiences true winter weather, with bitter cold and significant snowfall. Just a couple of weeks ago, we faced our first major snowstorm since moving here, with temperatures dropping below zero and nearly a foot of snow. Pittsburgh hadn’t seen a storm like this since 2010.
The storm briefly turned me into a shut-in. The week before, Wendy drove me to the memory care facility where I provide music once a month. Unfortunately, a sign on the door announced a COVID-19 outbreak. Although I knew skipping my visit was the right choice, I felt sad returning home without entertaining my friends in the memory care unit.
As the storm approached, temperatures plunged into the single digits and below zero. Our Jan. 16 rehearsal for the Sunday church service was canceled, and the service itself two days later was also called off.
Most of the snow fell on Jan. 18. Thankfully, we never lost power, and our furnace kept the house warm. We had plenty of food, and my daughter Jill was able to work from home. That proved important, since our driveway wasn’t plowed out until Jan. 21.
Once the driveway was cleared, Wendy could run a few errands, and Jill was finally able to get to her office downtown.
Not as steady on my feet
Unfortunately, my facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy symptoms made it impossible for me to leave the house. Although our driveway was clear of deep snow, stubborn ice remained in the frigid temperatures. The streets were passable, but snow was piled in heaps everywhere. Many sidewalks were still covered, and wheelchair cutouts, like those in front of our church, were buried under snow.
Standing has become increasingly difficult for me. If I can plant my feet firmly, I can still transfer from my wheelchair to a vehicle, but that’s impossible on ice. I had to cancel the Jan. 23 music rehearsal at church and also missed our service on Jan. 25.
Gary, our church’s music minister, usually gives me a ride to rehearsals and services, and I’m grateful for his help. This time, though, I didn’t think I could safely transfer in or out of his vehicle. I also worried that Gary might slip on the ice and injure himself.
Sadly, Wendy lost a family member unexpectedly. The viewing was scheduled for Jan. 26. After discussing it, we decided it was too risky for me to accompany her with so much ice and snow still on the ground. My son Ryan was able to go for moral support, but I still felt as if I was letting Wendy and our family down.
Since this was our first major winter storm in Pittsburgh, it’s hard to say for sure, but I doubt I would have missed all these activities last year. I’m simply not as steady on my feet anymore. Now, whenever I’m up and moving, it feels like I’m operating on the edge of disaster; the smallest slip — a foot, the wheelchair sliding, or a hand slipping off a handhold — could cause a fall.
Pittsburgh struggled with equipment failures and limited resources during the storm, but we weren’t alone. The storm affected more than half of the United States. Many people lost power and lacked food or other necessities.
This storm was especially hard on our unhoused neighbors. Local communities set up warming stations to help. I consider myself fortunate, as I was never without any of life’s necessities.
Temperatures are finally moderating, and the snow heaps are slowly melting. Road crews are working hard to clear highways and neighborhood streets, while residents are out cleaning up and salting sidewalks.
After 16 days of confinement, I finally made it out for a visit with my primary care physician on Feb. 4. It felt wonderful to breathe the crisp, chilly air. I’m grateful to have had everything I needed throughout the storm, and more appreciative than ever of the people who help me stay active in the community. They truly are a blessing.
Note: Muscular Dystrophy News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.