Topic: Santa is possibly providing a lfit and hitch for power chair
kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I have an appointment on Wednesday. A lady is coming from the valley to see about putting a lift and hitch on my car to transport my power chair.
I had applied with an orgnazation awhile back. But, was told they ran out of money and did not expect more until April of next year.
So, this was a big surprise.
I also was told that the lady the company they have contracted with may or may not approve a lift.
So, it is still a yeah or nay.
[ 12-15-2011, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: kam ]
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Kam, that's awesome! Fingers crossed for you!
Posts: 251 | From Florida | Registered: Aug 2011
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Tutu...car just needed oil.
I have needed a way to transport a power chair for 10 years now.
Friend donated her 93 Nissan Pathfinder to me in 2006 or 2007.
Had to sale my car in 2001 when I was no longer able to work and make payments on it.
So, went without a car from 2001 to 2006 or 2007.
Nissan has 217,000 miles on it. But, it has been good to me the past 4 or 5 yrs.
Praying it continues.
If I had a way to transport power chair, getting to the grocery store would be so much more do able.
Might even be able to go to church/Bible Study. I only know one church that has a Bible study or service at 8 am I think.
I need to be home by 9 am or 10 am as my body and brain shut down by then most days.
I have been so isolated since moving here in 2005. It would be so good to be able to attend a church/Bible Study.
Even if I am only able to be there for 15 or 20 min. It is a start.
I seem to be OK if the room is quiet and only one person is speaking.
They had a big potluck here last night. Last time there were over 50 people that attended.
My health can't handle something like that. I also am too weak to even eat and have been since this hit in 2001.
Wondering if I could handle a restaurant now with the lift to help me get there.
I also would need my ear plugs and ear muffs. Guessing no. Guessing just getting there would do me in and I would be too weak to eat and the brain wouldnt' talk to the arms.
Speaking of arms. Wondering if there is something they also can do to help me with the steering wheel.
Thinking about those old knobs they use to put on steering wheels that were banned in CA.
My arms are weak so I usually put my arms in my lap and hold onto the bottom of the steering wheel to drive if I am in the car longer than 10 min or so.
as I am typing this, wondering if just a pillow in my lap to support my arms would help.
Picking up meds would be more do able.
I might even be able to go camping. If I had help setting up the tent, etc.
Then, I could cruise the campground in my power chair. There is a handicap camping spot about a mile from me in the Ponderosa Pines.
I can lay around with the best of them. I just need somethign to electronic to take my mind off of lyme and company while I am there.
Something I can watch a movie on or play games or be on the web.
Mostly looking forward to being able to get out of the car at those places I take Rosie to exercise in Nature.
I currently drive while she runs.
I know I would only last about 20 min but 20 min would make a big difference.
I really like getting out of the house and being in Nature. Good medicine.
I am not sure how it will work with going to the new primary care doc.
She is 2 hours away. my first visit medicaid took me down the hill while I reclined in my power chair in the van.
Not sure if I will still have the option to do this if I have the lift on my car.
I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
When I got tires on the car, the mechanic said that the tires were not good for going down the hill but just around town.
he put the less expensive tires on. GAs mileage wise ....it would cost a lot to go down the hill too.
I currently put $50 of gas in at the beginning of the month and usually run out the middle of the month and I don't drive much.
I have to wait until the first of the month before putting more gas in the car.
It will all work out.
Before coming down sick, I purchased new Toyota's or Nissan's so driving a car that is this old is a new experience for me.
I do have AAA Towing.
The spare tire rack on the back of the car will need to be removed in order for the lift.
But, I have never used the spare.
I also will not be able to get into the back of the car but that is OK too. I was too weak to open the back of the car and use it most of the time.
So put what I needed in the back seat.
I do need to fix the defroster on the back of the car before I can't open that window.
Hoping my health co operates. I am also hoping just using electric tape will help hold the connection of the wires that came loose.
Maybe, I will ask the mechanic to fix it when I take the car in for an oil change next week.
Just thinking via the keyboard as you all know...thinking in my head is too foggy in there.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
good for you.
Dont know HOW but you need to watch the oil level more closely in that age of car,
Reason: that lift and hitch wont do MUCH without a motor running in the car,,,and a new or old motor would be cost prohibitive
Hope Santa brings the hitch and lift and puts it under your tree.
put the spare tire in back or back seat if you have to.
Have someone check excess gas usage and or external leaks. Might be a pin hole leak in a hose. hoses get old
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
If they are able to figure out why the hood is so difficult to open now and fix it...I can check the oil myself.
But, I did learn I needed to let the car sit for a bit.
when they first checked the oil, it was fine.
But, after they let it sit it was low and I had just driven across the street.
Who would have thunk it??
If they can't get the hood fixed then I will stop in now and then as Tutu suggested to have the oil level checked.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I also wonder how this all works. Does the Nissan have to go down the hill to get the hitch and lift installed??
or do they have someone locally who works with them??
As far as I have heard and seen, there isn't anyone up here who deals with power chairs or lifts, etc....
To be continued..
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Did a search on the web to look at pics of possible lifts.
This is what I found instead for the business that is coming on Wed:
We want people who drive to be as safe as possible. To that end,
We provide the following services:
-A comprehensive physical, visual, visual perceptual and cognitive evaluation.
-A Behind the Wheel Evaluation
-A Thorough, timely report to your physician & funding source
and
if further training is indicated:
-Immediate scheduling
-Safe training
-Follow-up services
-Prescriptions for equipment
-Answering basic Motor Vehicle Question
....So this is the paper work part. UGH.
When I drive, I take the back roads and don't have anyone with me as I get distracted to easily.
So, this is going to be tricky.
When I am able to drive, it is usually first thing in the morning.
My body and brain shut down around 9 am.
She will not be here until 9 am.
Not only that but the person from the organization that will be providing the funding will be here too.
I have learned it pretty much takes everything out of me just to be around one person for 5 or 10 min.
two is not good.
I do plan on laying in bed to answer their questions.
Not sure about the driving part...I am sure she will not get in the car with me until after I answer the questions.
But, answering the questions will do me in so getting in the car afterwards is not a good idea.
I also am hoping it is OK if I drive the back roads and I don't need to drive down the 4 lane highway in town.
I can do it..but I only do that when my health is doing well enough to do so.
This is going to be tricky.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Found more info...
It takes about 2-4 hours.
We must also visually inspect your vehicle once it is adapted.
I also read that I will need to drive the person car and not my own??
OK That makes sense. Most likely is like a driver's ed car.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Can you write out something explaining about your difficulty listening to people talking to you?
You express yourself very well online. If you had something that this person could read when she comes to see you, it might help.
Be sure that you eat breakfast, as low blood sugar can make you feel worse.
One Excedrin lasts for three hours, so take more before it wears off. I can always feel it when the analgesia wears off.
And eat something when you take it, as the aspirin in it can cause stomach upset.
If I take Excedrin on an empty stomach, I get gastritis...symptoms are reflux and belching.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Carol,
My phone skills were working this evening and I called to leave a msg but got the owner instead.
She said she would send me some questions but seemed to really have a problem trying to figure out how to go about it.
After I got off of the phone, I thought I should have just suggested they scan the question sheet on to the computer and email it to me.
I felt like I was yelling at her and not making my self clear so good to be able to communicate via the keyboard.
Thanks for the reminder about excedrin. I had planned on taking it an hour before she was supposed to get here.
So writing on my white board re: when to take some again will help.
I try and down it with almond butter and goat's milk to help the stomach.
I also keep going if I keep drinking starbucks fraps that you can buy in a bottle at the stores so need to get some of that.
She said the car does need to go down the hill to get the lift attached and asked me if I had someone to drive it down.
I said yes..but thought a better answer would have been no but I will find someone.
She questioned my ability to drive due to my inability to have conversations and my brain and body shutting down or going off line.
I did not explain that one too well.
I did tell her that I function better in the morning and then again after 3 or 4 pm.
I am thinking via the keyboard as it helps.
She also asked if I would be able to bend over and tie the chair down.
She mentioned something called locks and I said that would work much better.
I heard on a power chair web site about them. You just drive the power chair on the plat form and it automatically locks the wheels in.
I am having trouble staying calm about this. I am pretty excited and hopeful.
She kept asking me if I was going to be on line at this time or that time.
I told her it doesn't matter. It is emails. We don't need to be on line at the same time.
It has been an eye opening for me as to how many people need to communicate verbally and hear themselves talk to process things.
I told her my symptoms were like MS< AL's, parkinsons etc.
She did not know anything about "lymes"
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
REceived the questionnaire...that went much smoother.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Eval went smoothly too. Next step is for one business to get the reports together and hand them into the state.
The person who works for the state will then put her paper work together and hand them into the powers to be for approval.
The lady who came today said she used ILADS as her resource to learn more about lyme disease.
I wish I asked her how she knew to use them. Wow.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
the only obstacle she could see was the mileage on the car.
it has 217,000 miles but it is a Nissan PF and the reports I read said 300,000 miles is do able.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
If I hadn't taken the excedrin and the expresso and cream, I know I would not have been able to handle today's eval.
It was from 9 until 11:30.
Most of it was her taking info from the power chairs and the car and taking pics and measurements.
I laid on the couch the last hour est.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Keeping my fingers crossed for you Kam...
Posts: 251 | From Florida | Registered: Aug 2011
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
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- Kam,
I love your title. It sounds like you might actually go flying with Rudolf . . . that's what I got from "Santa" "provide a lift" - I'd love to go for a ride if your ride comes through. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
It was a lift in spirits just to have this opportunity.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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