Custom Power Chair!

We drove to Sacramento today so Jamey could be assessed for a new power chair, or so we hoped. I was sceptical because of all the hoops Kaiser makes us jump through on a regular basis. Also, I had called both Kaiser AND Medicare last year to ask if they would cover a new chair for him and they both issued an emphatic NO. So, we ended up buying our own chair out-of-pocket.

When the PT came to the house a few weeks ago, the first thing she said was, "That chair doesn't fit you right." She took info back to her supervisor and asked that they order him a custom chair. We knew that was going to get above the $10,000 dollar range, but I was willing if he could have a chair that would fit him properly.

Kaiser's PT needed to see the chair he was in and determine whether or not he should have a new one...and whether they would pay for it. I've been whining ever since I found out we had to go to Sacramento to get assessed, as I knew they wouldn't see it our way!

Long story short, my dinner will be crow tonight! They agreed he needed to be fit properly in a new chair and Kaiser and Medicare will take care of 80% of the cost! Woo Hoo!

They measured him (so many measurements!) and went through the entire chair specs to see what he wanted on the chair and how he wanted it installed.They will build his chair to his measurements from the bottom, up.

This chair is the Lexus of power chairs. Up till now all he's had have been Toyotas. This is what they call the highest rated chair, but it is a base model. The cool thing? As his disease changes they can add whatever is needed to the chair. Things like motorized reclining, raising and extending the footrest, joystick digital screen and easy move features. Instead of a single column holding his seat up (like his chair now), there are 4 columns; 1 on each corner. The chair also has a shock absorber system just like in cars. This is going to be one awesome chair! It also goes a lot faster than his current chair. No drifting, Jamey!

So, Kaiser has made a liar out of me, but I am happy to admit it. Jamey will finally be more comfortable. Since he's in the chair so much of the time now, this is a big deal for him. The negative part is that it will take 4 to 6 weeks to get here. 😞 But, knowing that it's coming is so exciting! Can't wait to send you a picture when it comes! right now you'll have to be satisfied with the one from the website. And by the way, don't go thinking you can get one, too. These take a prescription!

And oh, yes, the color? SF Giant's orange of course!!