Birthday & Sleep

Dear Olivia,

Happy belated birthday! I love birthdays. On my birthday I like to eat cake and have a party with my friends and family. My birthday is in July and I love to swim, so I try to find a place to go swimming. I like to go to the movies or a restaurant. Sometimes I will go dancing. One year my husband brought me camping in the woods and we went swimming in the lake. Another year, we went skydiving! I don't think my disability has limited what I do for my birthday.

There isn't a special way in which I sleep, but I do use a special bed. I do not move my legs very often, so my muscles and joints become stiff and painful. My bed is made of a very soft material that is designed for people with disabilities to help cause less pressure on my joints. My bed also adjusts to sit up and bend at the knees, so I can choose to sleep in a different position. I will use a pillow under my knees to keep my legs bent. Laying completely flat for too long will cause more pain so my adjustable bed and pillows help to bend my legs so I can sleep comfortably.

Some people with disabilities have beds that also elevate from the floor. This feature helps them to transfer on their own so they can stand up from the bed without too much difficulty when it is raised up, or get into bed easier when it is not raised.