February 8th, 2013

We went to Hughes Physical Therapy in Kennewick to do Joseph's wheelchair evaluation.  This is just one of the steps we'll have to take to have medicare pay for most of the chair he wants. Joseph found this certain chair and he really wants it, I don't blame him. The chair he has now is starting to fall apart, it's still together only with TLC and the mechanic know-how of my sweet husband.

At first he was really resistant to the idea of having a wheelchair, but I jumped at the chance when a free one was offered to us. Initially a wheelchair seems really limiting and restraining, but now he sees a wheelchair as a liberator, he goes miles and miles on his chair outside on his own, he was able to do a 5k again, albeit a little differently than before. And it allows us to do so many things together, especially when we travel, this wheelchair is a door opener rather than a closer.

So this is the chair, it's made by Ti Lite, it's base weight is 12 lbs! (much better than his current chair which is about 40 lbs)  This has been our project lately, finding someone to do the evaluation and measuring and how to get all the info for billing etc.

So his chair will be blue and have handles, so he can be pushed. And wheelie wheels in back so he doesn't tip. We're both pretty excited but there are a few things to do: wheelchair evaluation, a prescription written for a "ultra light weight" wheelchair, dated within 45 days of the evaluation, a letter accompanying the evaluation stating exactly why he needs an ultra light weight chair (10-18lbs) as opposed to a light weight chair (24-38 lbs)  we have to have it worded perfectly and such. And then once the order is in to Spinlife, the company we are choosing to order through the doctor has to sign a copy of the order before all of that is sent to Medicare. Yea, I think that's all but I don't have the list with me. It's in the works, hopefully everything works out so Joseph can have the chair that he wants/ needs.