[tri-med] Re: please tell me about strollers

-----Original Message-----
From: 67.irene@xxxxxxxxx
To: tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 8:29 AM
Subject: [tri-med] please tell me about strollers

I know she isn't sitting correctly,
but when she is only going to be in it for a half hour or so, or less, I
don't mind.

Hi Irene :o)
When Devon was in a wheelchair...before he learned to walk and even for a
time after...OH how I wished for something less cumbersome then his
Zippy/Quickie! But I was convinced and scared to death that if he didn't
have proper positioning for even short periods, that he would be permanently
affected somehow :O(

My questions are:

Is Caroline too small for a stroller?  She is 3 and about 23 pounds, but she
is getting LONG!  My limited research seems to show many strollers are for
older children with less severe disabilities.  Caroline has great head
support and is sitting better every day.


We now have had a 13" wide seat Convaid cruiser now for about 4 years and we
only use it when either he is too tired...OR if we're too tired to keep hold
of him in public :o) Medicaid will buy a stroller every 5 years if
needed...problem is, Devon has pretty much outgrown his Convaid and Dana
(our med waiver support coordinator) has requested a new one. This one will
be a Kid Cart Mighty Lite. Apparently the Mighty Lite is much cheaper than
the Convaid and the equipment supplier can buy it and still make something
off it? Both strollers look like a large umbrella stroller...the only
differences I see is that the Mighty Lite DOES have a tilt feature that I
was surprised but happy to see and it only comes in Burgandy and Blue :o(
Stupid as it sounds, I will most miss the snazzy blue plaid of Devon's
Convaid :o( 

Does insurance sometimes pay for a stroller?  Even if you already have a
wheelchair?  They seem pricey.

I guess it would depend upon your insurance...some will...some won't...how's
that for muddying the waters??? When we had Devon on my insurance they would
have paid for a cheap inappropriate wheelchair OR a stroller...but not both
and not what we wanted and needed for him. Medicaid or Medwaiver is much
better about DME :o) I DID see a few new Mighty Lites on ebay for less than
1000$ each including shipping. Heck you could look on ebay and see if anyone
is selling a used one cheap. I know lots of people who either sell their
child's used but outgrown equipment or they give it away. As for us...we
have given away some of Devon's stuff that he's outgrown and we have sold
some of it...it just depends upon if there's something Devon needs that I'm
having trouble getting provided (like a Super Talker or Tech Talk that I've
been trying to get). Sounds cold...but it's the way it is for us :o(  


Any other cheaper options or suggestions?
Sadly...no :O( But I will say that his fold up special needs stroller has
been a real God send...it folds up and stores very easily and does not kill
my back :o) And Devon ADORES it!!!


Love,
Penny...loving & devoted wife to Joe, the best husband in the world...mom to
Nick (15 yrs old...lover of Fishing, Dragons, Turtles, Blue Collar Comedy
Tour, RollerCoasters, Chocolate Icecream w/ Ovaltine sprinkles, Devon (11
yrs...lover of Barney, Blue, Nappy ol' Bear w/dreadlocks, Pooh, Elmo, & food
in general. Full trisomy 13 w/balanced translocation 5 and 13) , and Trooper
the Wonder Dog...our 9 ? year old yellow lab adopted from FL Lab Rescue
12/13/02 :o) Please visit the webpage my wonderful friend Karen made for me
on our trisomy listserv at:
http://www.trisomyonline.org/victor.html      
AND...Devon's moment of glory in Exceptional Parent Magazine...
http://www.eparent.com/familiarfaces/ffaces_4_01.htm
AND...see our Trooper on FL Lab Rescue's website at:
http://www.labradorrescue.net/success/index.html (Look for the name Trooper)
AND :o) http://livingwithtrisomy13.org/album9.htm
AND http://web.coehs.siu.edu/Grants/TRIS/
"Normal people worry me"


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

Other related posts: