Our seating dilemma.

Since Ella was born we’ve had a seating dilemma. Because of her spasticity and increasing scoliosis’s curve Ella is unable to sit in a carseat, stroller, highchair, wheelchair or anything. Dave and I have been very creative as we feed her, bath her, take her in the car, take her for walks and anything else that most people take for granted.  The only solutions given to us by most Doctors, Physical Therapists or Seating Specialists is major spine surgery so Ella can sit in a wheelchair. Either put a rod in her back to “straighten” her spine or perform surgery every 6 months to prevent further curving, both are not guaranteed to fix the problem. These options are unacceptable for Dave and me and her pediatrician agrees with us. Since Ella’s scoliosis affects her lower spine her lungs are not affected which would be fatal, so for Ella, surgery is not necessary to save her life.  Why put Ella through major surgery, which I am not sure she would survive, to make her sit in “adaptive equipment”? Why not adapt equipment to fit Ella?

Check out the photos of our latest creation for walks, hikes, bike rides and cross-country skiing. We cut out the back of the carrier to make room for her feet, built a platform for her to lay on, fastened straps to the sides to keep her safe and in place and are working with a sailboat canvaser to make a windshield for the front to keep her warm this winter. I think Dave, Ella and I should go into the adaptive equipment business and call it THINK OUTSIDE OF BOX and of course all equipment will include free bedazzling!

BTY…You should see the smiles we get on our walks when people see Ella’s cute smiling face.

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