Some of you have asked about my screen name "Gimptastic". Some have even voiced that they are offended by it. Why? I don't know. It is a label that I place on myself. Not anyone else. I would never call someone else a "gimp" or "cripple" unless I knew they were comfortable with such terms. For the record, I am. But it has to come from someone who knows me well enough to know that I am comfortable with such terms and who is close enough to me for me to know that they aren't being demeaning when they make such a comment to me.
For those who don't know, I was born with a birth defect calle Spina Bifida. In my case, called Myelomeningocele, it cases paralysis, among other physical issues. For me, it starts from the waist down. Technically that makes me what is know as a paraplegic. But I am also what is called a "high functioning" or "high mobility" paraplegic.
I have total muscle control and sensation of everything from the knees up.
But I have no muscle control or sensation from the knees down. I can't flex my calves or ankles. Can't wiggle my toes. I have no sensation of hot cold, pain or touch below the kneee either.
So that should give you as little insight as to why I chose the screen name, "Gimptastic".
