I'm sorry, my reply was not meant to be cynical, it was meant to be helpful.
Yes, but not many, and I did not understand that to be your situation.
I was in a wheel chair for a year and on crutches for another two, why would you be embarrassed? Do you think people (not at the airport!) would think you were faking?
I don't know what your financial situation is, or where you live, but Thailand seems like a pretty good place to be in a wheelchair to me, particularly if you have wife to push you around.
Assuming you're not skint, don't buy a sh*t-grade wheelchair. Buy something lightweight and decent.