Powerchairs…

Norb,
I have had a Jazzy 1113 since July of 2002 & I just love it. For the first 2 1/2 years I had to use it all of the time & since the summer of 2004 when I began to walk again I use it mostly in the house & around the yard. Make sure to get the better suspension package for outdoors so that you can climb hills, small curbs, etc. It is about $800 more, but have your doctor write a rx stating that it is needed.

Now about transporting them, back in 2003 we were told that the only lift we could get would be for a minivan (for the necessary clearance.) We were so fortunate that a classmate of mine, who had just lost his father, talked his mother into donating her minivan with a lift to us. I haven’t had to use the lift but a few times in the past 3 years, but it is nice to know we have it just in case. If I know we are going out to a store that requires a lot of walking, I will limit my walking in the home until we leave. Then I can walk around Target or the grocery store.

Vanity? Perhaps. It never bothered me to be out in a powerchair when I knew I couldn’t walk at all, but now that I can, I refuse to go in the chair. We live in a small town of 7,000 & always run into so many people we know. I used to be a high school teacher here as well, & run into so many ex-students as well as friends of my 3 children. Many know all that I have been through (my youngest writes for the local newspaper) & I guess people are so happy to see me walking. Anyways, it is great in the house, especially in the morning when I am less sure about my balance. Good luck!