How about a new thread for those of us in wheelchairs?

[rebelcowboysnb]

Thanks, Rebel, for the quick response! We had no end of trouble just getting the gait trainer covered - the insurance company felt that they'd paid for her wheelchair so they'd covered her mobility needs and weren't covering the gait trainer. They denied us both on the first application and then on appeal. (Her first baby chair was a loaner from Children's). So I doubt very seriously if we could afford a second chair. And that still wouldn't solve the problem of her hands touching the wheels - they don't make pediatric wheelchairs with the outer push wheel because children's arms aren't long enough to extend out that far. So whether it's her present chair or a second chair that issue would still exist. With her small size she has to be fitted to her wheelchair and have it built for her. They explained to us that that's critical because of tethering in her back.

I could look into the Powerwheels jeep, though. Is that the one that is found in the toy stores or is it an actual pediatric medical mobility device? If it's like the one I'm thinking about, that is operated with her hands. I'm afraid I'm coming across as a little dense, but this is all new to us yet and we just learn as we go along.

For a second wheelchair I was thinking of a cheep/free adult hospital grade wheelchair that you could just leave outside an push her around in so you would not have to carry her.


Yep, powerwheels are toys you can get at walmart or on craigslist.

I would look for something like this. https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/tag/4533205599.html


Or this. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/tag/4534930523.html


These dont have sides so she may be able to learn to get in an out on her own from her chair. It also has a bed so you could put tools, buckets an feed in it for her to hall so she feels like she is actually helping. They also have seetbelts.

You can also mod these things. My brother studded the tires on the one he has by screwing self taping screws in them. Took 5 minutes an made it pretty aggressive in his rough yard.

Youtube is full of people modding these.
This guy is making one solar. He also shows that an adult can ride these.

This guy is upgrading tires.

Then there is extreme barbie jeep racing...

 

[enola]

I would love to be able to get a motorized type of transportation for Mike. He has COPD that has progressed to the point that even walking 'with' oxygen is hardly an option any more. We are not in a 'higher income bracket' so pretty much depend on his Disabilty insurance to help us out. But, since he can still walk, nothing but a walker is approved.....

My DD & SIL are actively searching for a piece of property that they can do some homesteading on. She wants Mike & I to join them in their endeavor. SIL says he going to buy a riding mower and make Mike Chief Lawn Mower. Mike is SO excited!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I would love to be able to get a motorized type of transportation for Mike. He has COPD that has progressed to the point that even walking 'with' oxygen is hardly an option any more. We are not in a 'higher income bracket' so pretty much depend on his Disabilty insurance to help us out. But, since he can still walk, nothing but a walker is approved.....

My DD & SIL are actively searching for a piece of property that they can do some homesteading on. She wants Mike & I to join them in their endeavor. SIL says he going to buy a riding mower and make Mike Chief Lawn Mower. Mike is SO excited!

http://charleston.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=power wheelchair&sort=rel

Power chair for $200 http://charleston.craigslist.org/for/4527911650.html

 

[chickisoup]

Hi again everyone!!!
Glad to see all the new folks and. to see this thread is active again

Love all the new input and idea sharing!!! Sorry I was absent for a bit. Took a bit of a fall (I'm doing great now) mostly bumps and bruises but really did in my left arm (of course, I'm left handed

) torn ligaments, jammed wrist, a whole rainbow of pretty colors and typing was extremely hard for a while. Got better but it really set me back on the "to do" list and spring didn't get around to arriving up here till the end of May so I have been doing my best to get caught up. not easy with a gimpy arm, a sprained ankle and knee, right side, and damaged left foot. Looked really cute hobbling around for a bit. Hubby would barely let me out the door for weeks!!! (I slipped on wet grass on the downgrade going out early to tend the chickens, of course). So, anyway, now that I'm better, it's been a busy time trying to get caught up. My hubby has been so wonderful taking on a big part of my spring list and building the new brooder cage for me so I could get my new aussie chicks out of the front bedroom and into the coop. Speaking of which, I had better get out and tend my little flock now before the storms move in again.
Be back later, promise!!!

 

[perchie.girl]

I would love to be able to get a motorized type of transportation for Mike. He has COPD that has progressed to the point that even walking 'with' oxygen is hardly an option any more. We are not in a 'higher income bracket' so pretty much depend on his Disabilty insurance to help us out. But, since he can still walk, nothing but a walker is approved.....

My DD & SIL are actively searching for a piece of property that they can do some homesteading on. She wants Mike & I to join them in their endeavor. SIL says he going to buy a riding mower and make Mike Chief Lawn Mower. Mike is SO excited!

Look on Craigs list golf carts AND riding lawn mowers are pretty good prices these days. I am looking for a golf cart that has been converted to a gas engine. I wont go the electric rout because replacing the batteries is $$$. Even though I live in Solar heaven I cant afford Solar power at all. But I have seen gasoline powered Golf carts for as low as 800 bucks. They usually look a little rough but its a motorcycle engine.

Oh and I need reverse too. What ever I get. I have eighteen acres and some of it is somewhat rough and slippery with sand So it has to be able to transport me and a passenger and still be able to carry tools either in a wagon or in a little bed in back. Its a thousand feet to the pump house down a sandy easement for me.

But just a plain old electric Golf cart would have a spot in the back for an Oxygen tank. ANd you could rig an over head arm for the cart to be able to swing out for your husband's oxygen tubing. Give him a little range from the cart without having to unload the tank. My Moms last boyfriend had his whole house rigged with tubing for him.... He had mesotheleoma.

deb

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

About 1/3 of the golf carts on the market are factory gas powered.

 

[Blooie]

For a second wheelchair I was thinking of a cheep/free adult hospital grade wheelchair that you could just leave outside an push her around in so you would not have to carry her.


Yep, powerwheels are toys you can get at walmart or on craigslist.

I would look for something like this. https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/tag/4533205599.html


Or this. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/tag/4534930523.html


These dont have sides so she may be able to learn to get in an out on her own from her chair. It also has a bed so you could put tools, buckets an feed in it for her to hall so she feels like she is actually helping. They also have seetbelts.

You can also mod these things. My brother studded the tires on the one he has by screwing self taping screws in them. Took 5 minutes an made it pretty aggressive in his rough yard.

Youtube is full of people modding these.
This guy is making one solar. He also shows that an adult can ride these.

This guy is upgrading tires.

Then there is extreme barbie jeep racing...

Those are way cool! I never thought about using them for Kendra...I'm excited!

 

[drumstick diva]

Blooie that a darling little girl - I hope some of these idea work out for you - so many, smart, creative, resourceful people on this site- they should be the ones running this country.


Perchie - Hi to you too. Have been missing you around the site. I mainly stick to greeting new members, people seem to have too many chores to respond to the regular threads - it gets lonely.

 

[perchie.girl]

Blooie that a darling little girl - I hope some of these idea work out for you - so many, smart, creative, resourceful people on this site- they should be the ones running this country.


Perchie - Hi to you too. Have been missing you around the site. I mainly stick to greeting new members, people seem to have too many chores to respond to the regular threads - it gets lonely.

I missed your twisted humor when you disappeared from what ever thread we were both on.... LOL.. Either Get the Flock out of here or the San Diego Chicken chat.... Doesnt matter. I have been on a bunch in the past 4 years...

deb

 

[Blooie]

I missed your twisted humor when you disappeared from what ever thread we were both on.... LOL.. Either Get the Flock out of here or the San Diego Chicken chat.... Doesnt matter. I have been on a bunch in the past 4 years...

deb

And I, for one, am grateful!

Edited to add: I was just looking at the powered little kid's vehicles and I'm afraid I'm a little disappointed. They all use pedals on the floor. Kendra can't feel the floor - she has no nerves to her feet. That's our biggest obstacle in physical therapy because she has no sense of where her feet are in relation to her body, so she can't feel that she has to flex her ankles and toes to maintain contact. Doggone it! Well, Ken's an electrician. I'll ask him about it later tonight. Maybe he can figure out a way to rewire one for hand controls. Does that sound do-able?