Seating clinic update

a.k.a. Power chair driving test

Aug. 29, 2009

Well, this past Thursday was our seating clinic. We’ve had the date circled on our calendars for several months now. At this appointment we would see what the Physical therapist (not our PT, but the one assigned to seating clinic,) the Physical medicine doctor and her team thinks of Nathan handling himself in the powered wheelchair and determine if it is right for him. The insurance company only approves equipment like a wheelchair every 5 years, so we entered on pins and needles hoping Nathan would show some of the amazing things he’s done and not just want to sit there and do nothing.

Over the last couple of weeks, he’s been less motivated to drive the chair when we’ve practiced outside. He’s always been one who does more when you’re not looking than standing and coaching him along. He’d move on his time, in his way, and at his speed. We didn’t know if the novelty had worn off, or if the fact summer’s heat finally came upon us, losing desire to be in the sun. We had been encouraged by his desire to walk more (with Mom or Dad supporting him,) but there is no way to be there every time he wants to move.

Of course, the night before Nathan didn’t sleep very well, and with OT that morning and the appointment being at 2:30 he didn’t get a nap. The PT (who was very nice, as was the doctor) stretched him out, tested his range of motion, asked a lot of the typical question we get from any appointment. About 30 minutes in, it time for Nathan to get in the chair and show his moves. This was the first time in a month he had been inside with the chair, and the halls he was asked to navigate were probably only around 4 feet wide.

As for his ‘driving,’ trying to climb one of the walls, then not stopping and then running over the doc’s foot did not help the cause. If we got him aligned he would normally go straight until he saw an open exam room (around every 5 feet). Then he’d look in and start veering in that direction. The doc said for a 3-year-old he did pretty well (I don’t know if that was just being kind knowing now was not the right time to approve a powerchair or if there really are others with less ability than what he showed.)

Mom and I had talked the night before about ‘Plan B’ and thought that maybe God's telling us to keep working on walking. Still the whole 5-year plan only getting a medical stroller, or getting a manual chair he couldn’t operate on his own, didn’t seem like the best option either.

What we learned (and this was the huge discovery of the day) was we could still go from a medical stroller to a wheelchair (powered or manual) within the 5 years via a ‘change in function.’ Had we chosen a wheelchair for him, we couldn’t just trade-in/upgrade it for 5 years, but if/when skills develop, we still have options. So for now, we’re looking at medical strollers and other similar options to get him around, but Nathan don’t get too comfortable, as soon it will be your turn to be in charge of getting yourself around. And we truly believe it won't take 5 years to do it.

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