Barb Selleck, charles & Maril, Bill Werre ramps, sleeping and rapid decline.electric wheelchairs

June 25, 2002

Thanks so much for all the encouragement with using the hoyer lift, the

transferring to the wheelchair etc. We haven't used the hoyer lift, as he

has been doing well--very well--walks down the hall to breakfast, takes

himself to the bathroom==at least that is today. Wonderful. We had our

long- awaited wedding here in the area, and so there were plenty of people

in the house who helped him in every way. We took Sam to the wedding in a

wheelchair along with an aide, and he lasted the whole time and enjoyed

it. Everyone is so helpful, and I do appreciate it. We have more things

to master, or should i say, " sort-of " master, and maybe Sam will have

confidence in my transferring him.

He is still falling asleep at dinner for the most part, but last night for

the first time in a few weeks, he really ate well with his spoon. What an

odd disease. Surely he can't have an infection, when good times and bad

times come in such quick succession.

I am also inquiring about a ramp. Our place has an 8 " step up, and

according to standards, that would require an 8 foot ramp. However, we

have a side door opening into a large outdoor closet, which I use often, so

a permanent ramp would not do. The aide tipped the wheelchair off the

porch down the 8 " to the sidewalk, but she is 30 years younger than I

am. Perhaps one of these foldup ramps would work, and I am getting

information on those, but most of them are shorter, and an 8 foot ramp

would be very heavy.

Sam is supposed to get an electric wheel chair, and I have been reading

about them with the group . The invacare manual wheel chair (bought at an

estate sale) is quite difficult for me to push, and since we are on a slab,

there is no alternative there. Well, any ideas out there? Everyone seems

to have the same problems. Thanks so very much to all.

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