A few years ago, we at YABLOKO (a Russian political party) received a letter from a woman whose daughter can only get around in a wheelchair. I remember being simply shocked. In plain, matter-of-fact terms, the woman described the everyday difficulties wheelchair users face. You never really think about this until it happens to you. Her daughter, too, had been cheerful and full of life until one day she fell and suffered a spinal fracture. Now her daughter will be a wheelchair user for the rest of her life. At 18 years old. And every day, the two of them have to perform a heroic feat just to get outside. What’s more, they both understand that in a few years the mother will become too old to keep doing this. Then the daughter will be permanently trapped in the apartment, like 99% of other wheelchair users. Lilu describes a similar experience. She became ill and will recover, but for now she uses a wheelchair. *It’s no wonder people on the street stare at someone in a wheelchair with such amazement. I honestly can’t remember whether I had ever even seen a wheelchair user before—other than a child or someone begging for alms. They all stay at home because they have no way to get outside. Even just getting out of the building entrance, where there are only stairs—and in our building there isn’t even an elevator—requires extra help. *Here. It’s very instructive reading. Anyone can imagine themselves in that situation and understand what life in hell is like. Sending Lilu wishes for a speedy recovery.