ubsmart
Rapid City, SD
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Joined: 10/20/2006
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On our way to our new assignment our children 20 yrs old, were involved in a rollover accident (they were pulling their own TT behind their Land Rover) going 50 MPH-no one knows what happened but the vehicles came apart in separate directions and the Land Rover flipped 3 times leaving our daughter a quadraplegic (she is 2 weeks now into ICU) son is fine but traumatized.
We saw what happened as we were in our Tiffin right in front of them. We are new to this spinal cord injury (kinked like in two places) and a broken neck at the C5-7 area. She has always had feeling to her toes just cannot move her lower extremeties and has weakness in the upper.
Thank goodness they are alive.
We need to get some type of wheelchair that is good in campgrounds, holds up to 300 lbs-any advice there?
Also we would love to hear from any of you that have advice on how or what to get that would accomodate a family of 4 that are full-timers and a vehicle that she can get into.
Thank you as always for your help. I apologize as I don't get to a computer very often these days but I will look for your responses and thank you in advance.
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PapPappy
Wilmington, NC
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Joined: 12/23/2007
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So sorry for the tragedy your family has suffered. I wish I could help you with advice here, but can only put your family in our prayers and wishes. I'm sure that others here will have advice to help.
DH Bill / DW Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris
The Paps! Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie and Annie 
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April Fools Day, 2008 
The Pets
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Peg Leg
Anderson, IN
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Joined: 06/20/2004
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I would look into some of the powered chairs. I have a neighbor and another friend both of larger frames that use powered chairs. Some have wheels that will easily support extra weight on lawns.
KA9ATV
K2500 7.4 3.73
Michelin 245/70R19.5 XDS2 on Vision Type 81's
31' Dutchmen
Yamaha EF3000iSE
retired gadgetman
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emzee
california
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Joined: 10/22/2006
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I am so saddened by your post. God Bless all of you and give you strength to get through all this. I can't be of much help either. I bet the docs or nurses or staff there have some experience in this department. can she use her hands and arms if not a power chair wounldn't work. i bet someone in here has had similar questions, maybe do a search on wheel chairs or power chairs and see what comes up. also you can search her disability and something might come up. all the best to you, you will be in my prayers.
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Retired Wileys
Lake Jackson, Tx USA
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Joined: 04/08/2004
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Your daughter's rehab doctors and hospital social workers should be able to help you with selecting the best wheelchairs for her. Your family has a lot to adapt and learn but you can do it. Hopefully rehab resourses will improve her situation.
Herschal & Pam Wiley
2003 2500HD Crewcab Chevy
26H 2000 Prowler LS w/slide
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Finally
Arkansas
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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My husband and I were both Rehabilitation Counselors (both retired). I'll bet that your state has Rehabilation Services. In fact, here in our little state, we had spinal cord injury counselors. They have come a long way with automatic lifts too.
There are resources to help your family. I am going to say a prayer for your family tonight.
2005 Tiffin Phaeton 40QDH
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
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tonyandkaren
pennsylvania
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Joined: 05/15/2005
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Here are some sites to help you get started.
http://www.startracks.org/motorhomes_main.html
I like the Super Arm lift because it leaves the doorway opened for access for everyone else.
http://www.handicappedtravelclub.com/used_rv_ads.htm
I've also sent you a private message.
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happyfamily
Orange County, CA
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Joined: 08/13/2005
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We went down this road years ago with my niece. The 2 best resources were http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=3 and The Christopher and Dana Reves Foundation at 1-800-539-7309 or http://www.paralysis.org/site/c.erJMJUOxFmH/b.1169107/k.BE3A/Home.htm.
My nieces uses a manual chair I don't have anything to offer in regards to that but I will tell you it gets better. We just went camping at the beach and she came right along and had a great time!
God bless you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
~Caroline
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T_Bone
Arizona
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Joined: 09/20/2001
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Hi usbmart,
Prayers from our family to yours.
You can get wheel chairs in many different configurations for just about any type of use. I just ran into a website that sells balloon tires for sand use, simular to what ATV tires look like.
A word of caution, either Oct 17,2008 or Nov 17, medicare is going to severely cut funding for motorized wheel chair cost, inclunding "scooters" and other "mobility devices". SSA stated they spent $1.3b on such devices in 2006 because of misabuse. Also included in the cuts were funding to repair existing units.
She has to be disabled for more than 6mths before you can collect for SSA benefits and two years for medicare but do NOT wait to file the claim as it goes by the filing date, not when ones eligible for benefits, so file early and wait.
Also file immediately for any insurance or "disability retirement" funds as they also go by the date of filing and will not "back pay" the claim. You don't have to be complete in your first filing and "unkown at this time" on applications is an aceptable answer in court.
PLEASE, find a legal aid that specilizes in disability claims to help you fill out the paper work. The wording response of the claim is critical, in that it will save you time and trouble in the futhure of an allowed claim or disallowed claim. On disallowed claims, it takes a good attorney to win and is very costly to win, over $100k is common.
Every person she talks too in the medical field will be working for the insurance company's. DON'T ever forget this! She will be video and audio taped without her premission given. You give your premission when you APPLY to receive ANY benefits and it's legal!!!
Always get copyies of ALL medical chart notes, starting from day one. The "hidden" chart notes you will never get but they'll sink you like a rock if the person making the medical notes doesn't like the patient.
You will fight all insurance company's, including SSA (SSA is nothing more than a gov't insurance company), until the person is 55yo, so get used to it early on.
Most insurance company's will not bother you for the first 6mths of disability, but after 6mths then you get "new claims adjusters" for the "hard cases", meaning long term disability's and they will make your life pure heII.
I wish I had someone tell me the above 10yrs ago! My PM is always open
T_Bone
02 F350, 4x6, Crew, DRW, PSD, 6spd, 3:73, LWB
32ft RKSS Serria
Please do not trust everything you read on the internet. Use only valid engineering information from well established Companys.
Buy UNION Work UNION
It pays off in the long run
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brucestone
South Glens Falls, NY
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Joined: 07/11/2008
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I'm a C7 quad since 89 and my wife is a rehab nurse. If you have questions or if we can help in any way please IM me. Your in for a long haul and will need all the support you can get.
07 Forest River Work & Play LT18
04 E250 Conversion Van
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