DME (wheelchair, Etc.) | Single dad, disabled daughter

I hugged a goddess

On July 17, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.), Guardianship, Parenting, School

I’ve mentioned the pharmacist goddess, Roxanne, in past posts. She is one of the very few who read my blog, know me, and live near us. Turns out that this morning, as I was going to the supermarket, I was thinking to myself how there was no way I could write the post I want to. I often get the feeling that no one would believe me, or that I sound like a dork, a whiner, or something. Could all this stuff really be true? Really happen to one guy and his kid?

As I pulled into the supermarket, who do I see? The pharma-goddess and her hubby, Mr. Pharma-goddess. I park and get a hug! A hug from a wonderful woman with drugs! Go beat that.

She tells me she reads this blog often and can’t believe that I still function … she is having a very difficult time just finding and scheduling movers! (yes, I am losing my drug connection …) We laugh over all the stuff that happens around me and Pearlsky, and she compliments me on surviving with a smile.

Ain't no Schleprock here!

I know that sometimes I may cause or aggravate a situation, but that is by far not the norm. I know that I react strongly to somethings others would let go past. I have a very strong sense that what is done for / to / with Pearlsky must meet the level of that for any “normal” person, and that, at least with the school district, she is a pioneer and I want it to be right for those following us. Maybe there is some totally misplaced guilt and I want only the best for her. Whatever it is, a lot is just thrust upon (dumped on) us, and we deal.

Ninety percent of the time I like life. I have great friends, relatives, one and a half successful companies, respect of others, food on the table (Pediasure, hot dogs and coffee count, right?), and my health.

So, I will do this post, it is all true. Just a typical week in the life of Single Dad. Some good, some bad, some ugly.

click here to continue reading …

I don’t remember dying, but I woke up in hell ( UPDATED! )

On July 6, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.), School

Earlier this weekend, the love of my life did the one thing, the only thing, that I cannot tolerate, knowingly. Ouch.

Then life continued to get worse. See, you can go downhill from downhill; there is always a deeper hole.

click here to continue reading …

What you don’t know won’t hurt you … but it can kill your kid.

On May 11, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.)

So, you thought I was done with the wheelchair woes? Yes, we have a darn good wheelchair, after many attempts and fits and starts, the manufacturer came through. So, no, I am not complaining about Pearlsky’s chair. But I have another bug up my butt and many of our kids are in danger. Warning, reading this may really piss you off and may scare you …

click here to continue reading …

Wheelchair update, wrap up, and time for a five year break …

On April 11, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.)

Pearlsky’s wheelchair was hand delivered on Friday by the manufacturer, Sunrise Medical, and the DME, National Seating and Mobility. It took a couple of tries, but yes, Pearlsky has a wonderful new chair, just as her dad promised.

Is it perfect? Well, no. Is it close? Yes. Is it scratched? NO! Do the casters work? YES! Are dad and Pearlsky happy? YES.

What is the lesson here? Damned if I know. But when making an eight thousand dollar purchase, make sure it meets all your requirements, make sure it is in the proper delivered condition, make sure it does what it should, AND STAND UP FOR YOUR KID if not yourself!

Both companies understood the problems along the way and did try to do the right thing, and in the end, they did. In five years when we are due for a new chair, we intend to use the same vendors.

So, no more on the chair saga, it’s all here in the blog, and it has a happy ending. And the gentleman from Sunrise Medical was great, listened to lots of issues from a parental point of view, took some notes, said the right things, joined me and the RTS in a round of Turkish Coffee, and was great, … other than his misguided choice in baseball teams …

But, there are other wheelchair issues out there, not about our chair specifically, and you will hear me talking about them in due time.

Thank you Sunrise Medical and National Seating and Mobility.

“A plummeting stock price isn’t trouble. Trouble is when your kids take dope.” ~Ken Olson

On April 8, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.), Parenting

[Editor's note: That, my friends, is my favorite quote in the world. Ken Olson was a co-founder of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), one of the major forces at the start of the computer revolution. Now, granted, he also said in 1977 "There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home" but in the full context, he was more right than wrong. I spoke to his son about the quote, but that's a whole other story. Now back to the blog ...]

click here to continue reading …

Updates …

On April 4, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.), Random List

It turns out that Paul Brown is not God, the two minute warning was a fraud.
Mom wants her $95,000 back.

I paid for two engineering degrees and you can’t even get it right if the Large Hadron Collider, built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) with the intention of testing various predictions of high-energy physics, including the existence of the hypothesized Higgs boson and of the large family of new particles predicted by supersymmetry backfires and creates a black hole that ends all life as we know it in an instant! Sheesh. Now let me see Pearlsky on Skype.

The check’s in the mail, mom.
A friend sent me two non-working laptops and was hoping I could get them going. I spent about $100 in parts, five hours in time, and it was based on several engineering degrees which cost over $100,000. What do I charge her? She won’t even gift me her next child … but, alas, she makes a mean tuna casserole.
Wheelchair update! Remember, we have had three wheelchairs in about three months. This Friday we are getting wheelchair number four. And not just delivered by the Rehabilitation Technology Supplier (RTS) who works for the Durable Medical Equipment company (the middle man), oh no, this chair will be delivered personally, by a senior management type from the actual wheelchair manufacturer, Sunrise Medical!

This is what I need you to do. Think about what you would ask the senior management of one of the largest wheelchair manufacturers if he was in your living room. Do not put it in the comments, please send me a private email.

(See the new Poll of the Day on the right, and feel free to suggest others.)

Lazy Sunday … not!

On March 28, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.), Random List

Whatever wheelchair we end up with (and I think it will be number 4, not sure), I needed to make the door to Pearlsky’s room a bit wider. Every time I make the turn from the hallway into her room I end up taking out a small piece of the wall or the doorway … so, this morning I installed offset hinges on her door. What, pray tell, are offset hinges?

No, her room is not painted ugly purple, by the way.

And speaking of wheelchairs, we are still using her old one. Remember, numbers one and two were returned, we still have number three, but she pushes her butt forward and it does not work at zero tilt. It has been gathering dust. I spent an hour or so on changing the configuration today. I moved where the seatbelt was mounted, I moved the mounting of the safety chest harness, I moved the placement of the footrest plate, I removed the wheel handrail things, and I moved the laterals. I also found more scratches and probably produced a few of my own. The key is to see if she is more comfortable in this configuration and if she stays sitting properly (or at least “properly” in my mind).

And now I need to cook for guests, entertain Pearlsky for a while (although, watching me cook is very entertaining), install this new pull up bar thing which will give me upper body strength like I used to have so that I will be under the mistaken impression that I won’t hurt my back again and figure out what color to paint Pearlsky’s room.

Simply a lazy Sunday.

Quick wheelchair update!

On March 16, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.)

From the Vice President of Customer Service at Sunrise Medical:

I know that you received a response from National Seating and Mobility’s COO on 3/11, referencing their communications and collaboration with Sunrise Medical to address the issues you appropriately referenced with Pearlsky’s wheelchair. While we (Sunrise Medical) did not respond directly, I can assure you that there is high-level attention and commitment to support the right resolution. As we have discussed previously, Sunrise Medical is committed to working through authorized providers who are located locally, have historical relationships and knowledge of your needs, and will be the team working directly with you (and us) to provide product and service support going forward.

I wanted to personally respond, and assure you of this commitment. We will be working together this week as there were key representatives who needed to be involved that were unavailable until now.

I will keep you updated. Hope springs eternal … but I think we’re close! Go NSM and SunMed!

It’s me or the chair … [updated AGAIN!]

On March 7, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.)

We just received our third new wheelchair in three months! If you want the simple punchline … we are keeping it. You can stop reading now.

If you want more than the simple punchline, well, keep reading. There’s more. There’s lots more …

click here to continue reading …

Back, Jack, and do it again …

On March 4, 2010, In DME (wheelchair, etc.)

It’s official, the new (new, new? or is it the new, new, new?) wheelchair is being delivered tomorrow! How can we forget the first pass at it, seen here, with the scratches and non-wheeling wheels? Even more so, how can we forget this incredible must see video I found on the web that sums it up beautifully?

So, my two new best friends discussed in this post, Mala and Sandi from National Seating and Mobility have come through with what they believe to be the right chair for Pearlsky! But somehow I think they know that I am a bit “off my game” due to my disc injury, and I seem to sense a bit of “please make sure you take your full dose of narcotic pain killers tomorrow” in this snippet from an email I received this morning …

… it is important that you also know that there were a few minor scratches on the backposts, once again, and the VP of Quickie has been called about this. In light of your recent duct tape repairs, and perceived need for the chair, I had them complete assy anyway, and of course, if you’d like to have new backposts, we could have them changed out at your home, after delivery.

I am not sure what is meant by “perceived need” for the chair, but it does not matter. We get a new chair tomorrow!

So I told Pearlsky that she is finally getting her new chair, but it too is pre-scratched. And you know what happened? Pearlsky spoke her first words … yes, the first time she has ever communicated.

Scratched? WTF daddy?

More tomorrow, I’m sure.

I hugged a goddess

I don’t remember dying, but I woke up in hell ( UPDATED! )

What you don’t know won’t hurt you … but it can kill your kid.

Wheelchair update, wrap up, and time for a five year break …

“A plummeting stock price isn’t trouble. Trouble is when your kids take dope.” ~Ken Olson

Updates …

Lazy Sunday … not!

Quick wheelchair update!

It’s me or the chair … [updated AGAIN!]

Back, Jack, and do it again …

Poll of the day …

Blogroll

New Posts via Email

Recent Comments

Map of readers … click to enlarge!