SAYING “YES” TO TRAVEL

 By Peter Purdy

     “Yes, you can”, became my traveling mantra 5 years ago after my oldest friend proposed a short trip to Mexico, the choice for our annual “guy’s get away”.  Sitting in a wheelchair as a new bilateral below-knee amputee, the suggestion seemed daunting, if not impossible.

     In the end, however, his encouraging enthusiasm prevailed, and we made the trip with few problems and a great deal of fun.

     Venturing beyond one’s home as an amputee initially takes courage because travel—whether it’s in the United States or overseas—inevitably brings surprises.  Nonetheless, with some advance planning, a flexible attitude, a good sense of humor, and reasonable good physical strength, much of the world remains available to those of us with limb loss.

     Bathing often constitutes the first concern in travel.  Hence, giving an advanced “heads up” to hotels and inns is always helpful.  Even reminding friends with whom you might be staying is wise.  While they may be aware of your disability, they often don’t think about your need for a bath bench or stool.  Almost always, hotels and friends come up with a way to accommodate you.

     However, be prepared to improvise.  In Oman, the concierge of a five star hotel told me that they had no bath benches.  I took him to the balcony of our room, looked down at the swimming pool, and suggested that he bring up a plastic deck chair.  At a small inn near Machu Picchu, Peru, the staff found a wooden block and covered it with a towel, creating a comfortable solid perch in the shower.  Still, there have been occasions when I simply climbed into a dry bath tub—prostheses and all—removed them, bathed, and put them back on in the tub after the water had drained.

     In traveling overseas, a set of collapsible hiking poles is a must, even for those who feel otherwise secure with their balance.  Poles not only provide stability on rocky, root-bound hiking trails in New England or the rain forests of Costa Rica, but equally on cobblestone streets in Mexico or Greece.  Poles can also keep one steady while meandering in crowded museums or standing for any length of time while listening to a guide.

     While you don’t have to flaunt your disability, it doesn’t hurt to tell someone you’re an amputee when the knowledge will make the journey smoother, such as in airport security lines, immigration/passport lines, or museum lines.  Tell a nearby official or employee that it is difficult to stand for extended periods (which it is) and they will usually put you ahead of the queue.  Moreover, in many countries, identifying yourself as an amputee with a disability will give you (and sometimes your traveling companion) free admission to museums and selected tourist areas.  Don’t be shy about asking.

     It’s also important know that if you drive and want to rent a car, vehicles with hand controls are available.  Most U. S. companies can provide them with the added benefit that they will often pick you up at the arrivals terminal with your rented car and will later drive you back to the departure terminal with your bags.

     Even those of us amputees who remain fiercely independent need to assess when to ask for help.  A tour guide and a couple of passengers on the inflatable boats used to visit the Galapagos Islands occasionally helped lift me over the shoreline water on a soft beach landing to protect my non-waterproof prostheses.  In Peru, companions in a small tour group assisted in pulling me up the gigantic temple steps of Machu Picchu, while in Turkey, fellow travelers kept me steady while hiking a short, treacherous slope of a hillside in Cappadocia.  If you express a general “can do” attitude while traveling, others inevitably want to help whenever needed.

     Finally, travel with a good sense of humor.  Your willing ness to explore and take calculated risks along the way acts as an inspiration to others.  And what’s wrong with that?  As a new amputee, I didn’t think that I would ever travel again.  Five years later, I have snorkeled with the seals in the Galapagos, zip lined in Costa Rica, ridden horseback in Mexico, and hiked into the ruins of Petra, Jordan.  I’ve also driven and explored the beauty of our own United States.  The truth of the matter is that, at the end of the day, I could.  And, “yes, you can too!”