Re: Power Chair

August 23, 2002

Hello Rita,

and I are right now going thru much the same. What we found to work

best for him is to buy a used van that is already set up with handicapped

stuff. We are still going to have to add some things to it but in the long

run turned out to be cheaper then buy a new or used van and then putting

these things in it. So we are right in the middle of working all this out. We

ended up at a place called Freedom driving aids. they have a web site you

could visit if you would like. http://www.freedomdrivingaids.com. they are

located in Michigan but I do believe they have places in other states. I hope

this is of help to you Rita I know all this has been a bad dream for me also.

The van we are getting is a 1993 ford E 150 this van already has a lift,

transfer drivers seat, the backs seats are removed for the lift still has a

bench seat across the back. We will have to pay to have a chair tie down put

in and the hand controls from s car taken out and put in the van. The van

also comes with a magnet door opener and magnet lift let down. Which is

really cool if you have not seen one of those it allows you just to place a

magnet on the tail light to open the door and drop the lift down? Will the

bottom line is this van is going to run us about 16,500.00 which there also

is more then we can afford but was the cheapest way for us to go with this

deal? So I guess that means back to work for me. I hope this all was of some

help to you Rita or to anyone else out there looking to buy a van that is

made for the handicapped. Thanks Shirley (Michigan)

August 23, 2002

Hi Rita,

If you have to beg ha do it. My husband is still working I don't know

how. But because of that we get nothing. The van guy did tell us that if we

got a script from the doctor then we would not have to pay taxes on the van.

He also said that the loan company's do not take the handicapped equipment as

any value so cannot get a loan for that amount as the van will be of lesser

blue book price. Just a few more bits of information I thought of. Good Luck

to you hope all goes well. Shirley(Michigan)

August 23, 2002

HI RITA,

I HAVE ALL THE FAITH IN THE WORLD IN YOU AND JOHN. KEEP LOOKING, IT HAS

TAKEN ME QUITE A LONG TIME TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WE COULD SWING. WE NOW

HAVE THE VAN AND WHEN IT GETS ADAPTED WE WILL SEE WHAT MEDICARE WILL DO FOR

DON. HE COULD HAVE USED A POWER CHAIR A LONG TIME AGO BUT WITHOUT A VAN IT

MADE NO SENSE. JUST TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME. JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE

YOUR FIRST STEPS MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS SOMEONE ELSE. PLEASE KEEP US

INFORMED, AND GIVE JOHN OUR BEST.

LOVE

BONNIE & DON

Power Chair

> Hi Gang:

>

> Well we just got back from shopping for " the chair " , boy am I pooped.

> So here is the deal. They checked with Medicare and my secondary

> insurance carrier, and the chair will be paid for 100%, of course I have

> to stay within the Medicare guide lines, but that ok, we can deal with

> that

>

> I have a choice of two chairs a Jazzy or Ranger by Invacare. The

> Ranger was nice and easy to maneuver, but it had rear wheel drive, and

> the tn around area was not that great. The Jazzy was fine, but a lot of

> play in the joy stick. They also advised me that due to the progression

> of having PLS, I buy a chair, that down the road if I need certain

> modifications, they can add to it, without difficulty, rather then have

> to buy a new one, and that really made sense to us. However, this chair

> would not be portable. said he would not want to have to take a

> chair apart and then put it back together again over an over it's not

> good for the chair.

>

> So now I have to have a van to transport the chair, no van, no chair.

> So off we went to a dealer here, the biggest in NH. They have many new

> and used vans. The one we are most interested in is the Dodge Caravan.

> We can't afford a brand new one, so we are looking into finding a good

> used one within our price range (if there is such a van out there).

>

> You know I was very apprehensive about going th this, but when it was

> all over, I felt the weight of the world off my shoulders. In fact I am

> quite excited about it all. It will further my independence, and

> eliminate the fear of falling. I thought I would be depressed, but

> nope, you gotta do what you gotta do to keep going.

>

> Please say a prayer that it all works out, and there is a van out there

> for me.

>

> Thanks!

> Rita

>

> Luv & Hugs!

>

> *************************************

> Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

> of them.

>

> Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder And Your Hand Over My Mouth

> *************************************

>

August 23, 2002

THANKS BONNIE:

MAYBE IF I HIT THE LOTTERY, EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE WHATEVER THEY NEED,

THIS IS SO CRAZY, THAT IN A COUNTRY WHICH HAS SO MUCH, THAT THE AVEWRAGE

PERSON LIKE YOU AND I HAVE TO SCRATCH FOR EVERYTHING WE GET.

I DO HAVE AN ACE IN THE HOLE (I THINK) I AM WAS IN THE AIR FORCE BACK IN

1955, DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES ME ELIGIBLE FOR ANY BENEFITS. I WILL

PURSAUE THAT AS A LAST RESORT.

SHELL THAT LETTER YOU SENT ME WITH THAT FUND RAISING INFO, WOULD YOU

SEND IT TO ME AGAIN?

RITA

Luv & Hugs!

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

of them.

Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder And Your Hand Over My Mouth

*************************************

August 23, 2002

Rita, Run don't walk to the VA. They will give/cover all sorts of things

even for non service connected vets (I believe they will pay for the van

modification). They provide all sorts of dressing aids, safety equipment

(shower stools, bars, etc) as well as help in modifying homes with ramps,

accessible bathrooms, etc. I realize much of this last you get with your

living arrangement but others might benefit. Lavon

Incidentally, do you know sending a message in all caps is considered bad

netiquette and the equivalent of shouting?

At 10:09 PM 08/23/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>THANKS BONNIE:

>

>MAYBE IF I HIT THE LOTTERY, EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE WHATEVER THEY NEED,

>THIS IS SO CRAZY, THAT IN A COUNTRY WHICH HAS SO MUCH, THAT THE AVEWRAGE

>PERSON LIKE YOU AND I HAVE TO SCRATCH FOR EVERYTHING WE GET.

>

>I DO HAVE AN ACE IN THE HOLE (I THINK) I AM WAS IN THE AIR FORCE BACK IN

>1955, DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES ME ELIGIBLE FOR ANY BENEFITS. I WILL

>PURSAUE THAT AS A LAST RESORT.

>

>SHELL THAT LETTER YOU SENT ME WITH THAT FUND RAISING INFO, WOULD YOU

>SEND IT TO ME AGAIN?

>

>RITA

>

>Luv & Hugs!

>

>*************************************

>Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

>of them.

>

>Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder And Your Hand Over My Mouth

>*************************************

>

August 24, 2002

Dear Rita,

I am working with my dealer to put together the

perfect power-chair for me these days (amongst other

things on my agenda of course ) I understand the

frustration and the joys of when something works

right. Although I have moved to being quadriplegic

quickly and the power-chair itself was a huge step,

one of the biggest right now is having to have a

headrest on the chair. I have fairly good head

control, but because I need to have a tilt/reclining

chair, having a headrest isn't an option. We're

working on making it removable do I only need to use

it some of the time.

I have been using a Quickie S-626 (brand new type of

design for a power chair) for the past month as a

demo-chair. I have also tried the Jazzy and Rascal,

Storm, ExTerra, Neutron (which folds in 3 minutes

flat) and Arrow, amongst others I am doubtlessly

forgetting, and have spent at least a week in each.

The S-626 is so fancy though, it even has ROCK SHOX,

and it looks cool. If you have a chance to check it

out, you'll probably have to be taken away from it

with a pry-bar.

Take gentle care, and courage to you.

Cheers,

--- ritadfromhollis@... wrote:

<HR>

<tt>

Hi Gang:

Well we just got back from shopping for & quot;the

chair & quot;, boy am I pooped.

So here is the deal. & nbsp; They checked with Medicare

and my secondary

insurance carrier, and the chair will be paid for

100%, of course I have

to stay within the Medicare guide lines, but that ok,

we can deal with

that

I have & nbsp; a choice of two chairs a Jazzy or Ranger

by Invacare. & nbsp; The

Ranger was nice and easy to maneuver, but it had rear

wheel drive, and

the tn around area was not that great. & nbsp; The Jazzy

was fine, but a lot of

play in the joy stick. & nbsp; They also advised me that

due to the progression

of having PLS, I buy a chair, that down the road if I

need certain

modifications, they can add to it, without difficulty,

rather then have

to buy a new one, and that really made sense to

us. & nbsp; However, this chair

would not be portable. & nbsp; said he would not

want to have to take a

chair apart and then put it back together again over

an over it's not

good for the chair.

So now I have to have a van to transport the

chair, & nbsp; no van, no chair.

So off we went to a dealer here, the biggest in

NH. & nbsp; They have many new

and used vans. & nbsp; The one we are most interested in

is the Dodge Caravan.

We can't afford a brand new one, so we are looking

into finding a good

used one within our price range (if there is such a

van out there).

You know I was very apprehensive about going th this,

but when it was

all over, I felt the weight of the world off my

shoulders. & nbsp; In fact I am

quite excited about it all. & nbsp; It will further my

independence, and

eliminate the fear of falling. & nbsp; I thought I would

be depressed, but

nope, you gotta do what you gotta do to keep

going. & nbsp;

Please say a prayer that it all works out, and there

is a van out there

for me.

Thanks!

Rita

Luv & amp; Hugs!

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. & nbsp;

Others succeed because

of them.

Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder And Your Hand

Over My Mouth

*************************************

</tt>

<td align=center><font size= " -1 "

color=#003399>

August 24, 2002

Rita,

Have you spoken with anyone from the Veterans Administration (VA)? As an AF

veteran, they may provide assistance of many types, especially regarding the

purchase of a power chair. Also, although I don't know all of your particulars,

you may have reason to speak with the VA about your PLS or some related symptoms

as " service-connected " . This may open many options for you re: healthcare,

medication or assistive devices, all at a rate of purchase much less than what

you're presently spending or anticipating. Call your local VA or Veteran of

Foreign War (VFW) rep. Either one should be able to point you in the right

direction. It's worth the time to ask the questions.

(DE)

Re: Power Chair

THANKS BONNIE:

MAYBE IF I HIT THE LOTTERY, EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE WHATEVER THEY NEED,

THIS IS SO CRAZY, THAT IN A COUNTRY WHICH HAS SO MUCH, THAT THE AVEWRAGE

PERSON LIKE YOU AND I HAVE TO SCRATCH FOR EVERYTHING WE GET.

I DO HAVE AN ACE IN THE HOLE (I THINK) I AM WAS IN THE AIR FORCE BACK IN

1955, DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES ME ELIGIBLE FOR ANY BENEFITS. I WILL

PURSAUE THAT AS A LAST RESORT.

SHELL THAT LETTER YOU SENT ME WITH THAT FUND RAISING INFO, WOULD YOU

SEND IT TO ME AGAIN?

RITA

Luv & Hugs!

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

of them.

Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder And Your Hand Over My Mouth

*************************************

August 24, 2002