OK--so today we left the house at 6:30 A.M. and headed down to Cedar Sinai for our day at the ALS Clinic. For those of you who aren't familiar with this activity it goes as follows: You arrive at the clinic at 8:30 and check in. They call you back to an exam room and all the different specialties rotate in to see you. Physical Therapist, occupational therapist, social worker, speech, pulmonary. dietitian and finally Dr. Abi. We don't need the speech, pulmonary, social worker or dietitian but the PT, OT and Dr. Abi are very helpful. The long and short of it--we learned more PT to keep him mobile and safe and the OT suggested some equipment. Dr. Abi noted his further loss of strength in hands, arms and legs, etc. but was upbeat about everything.
So here's the fun part. We drove from Cedars to Pasadena to the ALS equipment loan pool and came away with some awesome new equipment/toys. A shower chair (I know, cool huh), a transporter chair--basically a wheel chair with 4 small wheels since he can't use his arms anyway. It's much lighter and easier to put in the car. An uplift seat--what's that you ask? It looks like a cushion only it has hydraulics and when you start to get up it gives your bum a boost and up you go. You should try it--it's good for a giggle. The gadgets for handicapped people are way cool. The most awesomest new thing is----are you ready----a power recliner. Yup, press a button and you can go up or down. Those puppies cost $2,000 and we're excited to use this one for free. Can you just see the Grandkids fighting over their turn in the chair? It's comin'.
We felt really good about the day and really appreciate the support the ALSA give to PALS. Oh yah--in case you didn't know--PALS stands for Person with ALS. Thus Parks Pals. Catchy name for our walk-a-thon team in October. More on that when I have time.
Again, happy birthday to Sherod. We love you very much.
So here's the fun part. We drove from Cedars to Pasadena to the ALS equipment loan pool and came away with some awesome new equipment/toys. A shower chair (I know, cool huh), a transporter chair--basically a wheel chair with 4 small wheels since he can't use his arms anyway. It's much lighter and easier to put in the car. An uplift seat--what's that you ask? It looks like a cushion only it has hydraulics and when you start to get up it gives your bum a boost and up you go. You should try it--it's good for a giggle. The gadgets for handicapped people are way cool. The most awesomest new thing is----are you ready----a power recliner. Yup, press a button and you can go up or down. Those puppies cost $2,000 and we're excited to use this one for free. Can you just see the Grandkids fighting over their turn in the chair? It's comin'.
We felt really good about the day and really appreciate the support the ALSA give to PALS. Oh yah--in case you didn't know--PALS stands for Person with ALS. Thus Parks Pals. Catchy name for our walk-a-thon team in October. More on that when I have time.
Again, happy birthday to Sherod. We love you very much.
5 comments:
Dad is rawkin that chair like it's hawt. You can tell him I said that.
My grandpa had one of those chairs and we were fighting over it at the ages of 21-30something. How much does one of those hydraulic cushions go for retail? THAT is something I could definitely get on board with.
Uncle Visor does look adorable in that recliner. You can tell him I said that too.
We'll be bringing the hydraulic cushion with us to the reunion so you can give it a looky-loo. They're about $130 but can you really put a price on that kind of fun? I think not. And you're both right--he's way hawt.
Thanks for the great b-day gifts! Love you blog by the way. It's WAY better than Tiffany's.
Great equipment--I'm glad you found things to make life a little easier! Let us know about the walk!
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