Dillon's new wheelchair

The first wheelchair took 2 years to get approved by insurance. This time we started the process in February and we picked up the new chair TODAY!

I was SO nervous about the new chair, just not knowing if it would work for Dillon. Would he be comfortable in it? Would it fit in the van with a child in a car seat behind him? Would he hate the new chair? etc etc etc

It is Awesome! He did GREAT! We had to put him in and out about 5 times as adjustments were made and his heart rate stayed below 120! Then for over an hour on the way home, he did GREAT!!!!!!!! His heart rate was below 125 the whole time. I KNOW it looks so tight and constrictive, but I think he is much more comfortable being supported instead of limp and moving when he is unable to hold himself or put himself in a better position.

Here is his new GRASSHOPPER GREEN wheelchair! (Don't you love the color I picked out for him - such a little boy color!)
Going into it for the first time...
I love that it even has his name on the back. The oxygen tank holder is pretty high on this chair and since he hasn't been needing oxygen I will probably ask for the smaller tanks so the don't stick up in the air so far.
You can see it tilts back on the "rocking chair" like prat so if he needs to go back. The downfall to it as you tilt him back your handle goes way down (you'll see what I mean in the lower pictures)
Looking good with his new headrest. It comes from the back and down the front of his chest to keep him from tilting his head back and resting it on his back. He puts himself in a very bad position that would cause some issues if he continued to do that all the time so this is much better. It will also help him breathe better.
The red block slides up the head rest to keep his chin up which helps with his breathing, plus will keep him from making the horrible noise he makes sometimes when breathing. It also helps him from pulling his head out of the head rest and getting it stuck down on the side of the chair (which he does all the time while driving and is why I cannot go places with him alone.) It will also keep him safe if we were in an accident because his head won't be thrown about as would have in his old chair. Again, I know it looks horribly uncomfortable, which is why I was so nervous, but he really seems to like it. It HAS to feel better knowing you are safe and secure than feeling like you are falling all over the place!

See? When the tilt is down it handle is so low Truett can push him! I don't know HOW Josiah is supposed to push if Truett can!



Praise the Lord! We were approved with out a fight by the insurance at all! It came quickly! AND HE LIKES IT!!!!!! I am floating on cloud nine right now!!!