Nov 18, 2006
Another wet run this morning. After Gary's transfer back from shower bench to wheelchair, the transfer board sticking to him as if it were glued to his butt, we decided to have him try it again without the board. It was an uphill transfer, and he needed my help, but I think if we make it a point to practice this, he should get it down, and it’ll be simpler than with the board. Now that we’ve turned the shower bench perpendicular to how it was, the transfers are easier than they were.
In the afternoon we went to check out mini-vans. We went to the Toyota place first. I helped Gary transfer into the passenger seat of a Sienna, and then I went for a test-drive, the salesman in the back seat. The ride was very smooth, but I felt like I was driving a motor boat (not used to big cars). Then I had to take Gary home and help him change because at some point his condom catheter had disconnected and he didn’t notice it. Wonder if the Toyota guy will send us a bill.
Then we went to the Honda place and tried out an Odyssey. We should have asked for the cheapest model, because instead we got a plush one, and it didn’t seem a fair comparison to the Sienna no-frills model we tried. I thought I’d like the Odyssey driver seat better than the Sienna one – it was one of those power seats that adjusted eight ways and even had a bun warmer – but it set off my leg symptoms, for some reason. This did not make me happy – I already had a lousy night’s sleep last night because I sat too long at critique group during the day and set off the symptoms (I feel too self-conscious to stand up all through our meeting at Paneeras!). I despair of ever being able to sit again for any length of time.
Anyway, I couldn’t really make a decision about which car I like better – hopefully I won’t have to do much driving of whatever we get. We realized we didn’t really understand if the modified vehicle will use the seats that come with whatever chassis we choose or if the seats are special, so I don’t know if my complaints about the Honda seat factor in – plus, maybe a non-power seat would be fine. Gary said he is leaning toward the Sienna because he likes where the controls on the cockpit were and he likes the fact that Toyota has a “mobility program” – the salesman showed us a number of brochures of converted vehicles, including one with a modification we hadn’t considered – the passenger seat swings out of the car for a transfer. We don’t know how much easier a transfer that would be, though – nothing for Gary to hang on to when he makes the transfer, whereas with a regular seat transfer into the passenger seat, he can hang onto the door, though since the transfer is an uphill one I’m not sure he could ever do it by himself. Maybe with the swing-out seat he could. Anyway, something to consider.
We realized the two of us had understood differently about the cost of the modifications. I thought the basic car would be about $25,000 and the modifications another $25,000. Gary thought the modifications would be $50,000. He is hoping I am right.
Another wet run this morning. After Gary's transfer back from shower bench to wheelchair, the transfer board sticking to him as if it were glued to his butt, we decided to have him try it again without the board. It was an uphill transfer, and he needed my help, but I think if we make it a point to practice this, he should get it down, and it’ll be simpler than with the board. Now that we’ve turned the shower bench perpendicular to how it was, the transfers are easier than they were.
In the afternoon we went to check out mini-vans. We went to the Toyota place first. I helped Gary transfer into the passenger seat of a Sienna, and then I went for a test-drive, the salesman in the back seat. The ride was very smooth, but I felt like I was driving a motor boat (not used to big cars). Then I had to take Gary home and help him change because at some point his condom catheter had disconnected and he didn’t notice it. Wonder if the Toyota guy will send us a bill.
Then we went to the Honda place and tried out an Odyssey. We should have asked for the cheapest model, because instead we got a plush one, and it didn’t seem a fair comparison to the Sienna no-frills model we tried. I thought I’d like the Odyssey driver seat better than the Sienna one – it was one of those power seats that adjusted eight ways and even had a bun warmer – but it set off my leg symptoms, for some reason. This did not make me happy – I already had a lousy night’s sleep last night because I sat too long at critique group during the day and set off the symptoms (I feel too self-conscious to stand up all through our meeting at Paneeras!). I despair of ever being able to sit again for any length of time.
Anyway, I couldn’t really make a decision about which car I like better – hopefully I won’t have to do much driving of whatever we get. We realized we didn’t really understand if the modified vehicle will use the seats that come with whatever chassis we choose or if the seats are special, so I don’t know if my complaints about the Honda seat factor in – plus, maybe a non-power seat would be fine. Gary said he is leaning toward the Sienna because he likes where the controls on the cockpit were and he likes the fact that Toyota has a “mobility program” – the salesman showed us a number of brochures of converted vehicles, including one with a modification we hadn’t considered – the passenger seat swings out of the car for a transfer. We don’t know how much easier a transfer that would be, though – nothing for Gary to hang on to when he makes the transfer, whereas with a regular seat transfer into the passenger seat, he can hang onto the door, though since the transfer is an uphill one I’m not sure he could ever do it by himself. Maybe with the swing-out seat he could. Anyway, something to consider.
We realized the two of us had understood differently about the cost of the modifications. I thought the basic car would be about $25,000 and the modifications another $25,000. Gary thought the modifications would be $50,000. He is hoping I am right.
posted by Peg Daniels at 8:18 PM
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