What I did over Xmas

[Bixxer Bob]

As some of you will know, I have twin grand daughters, both of whom have cerebral palsy.  One has learning issues but is more or less mobile and one has physical issues in that she can't walk and has only limited use of one  hand.  they are 4 yrs old.

Just before Xmas I bought a lightweight electric wheelchair at the auctions for £40, in good condition and would have been £1200 if new.  A new set of batteries was another £30.  I also researched car safety seats, looking for one suitable fro a 4 yr old that still had a harness and plenty of head support.  I found a Britax one in Mothercare in their sale that cost another £70.  I then set about stripping off the old wheelchair seat and fabricating a mount for the car seat.  While doing that I found a 24v actuator off a lift door on Ebay so decided to make it recline as well.  The seat is attached to the frame by one shortened ratchet strap so can be used in the car too as I haven't altered it in any way.

The photos show the finished chair which can be dismantled for transport and a video of the first time she used it.  I knew with practice she'd now be mobile but I wasn't prepared fro what happened next. She put on full right lock, started spinning round in the middle of the roomand said, "Look mum, I'm dancing".  All the time she was stuck in her static chair I never knew she wanted to dance.  It was too much for me and I wept like a baby.  Anyway, here it is:

[Bixxer Bob]

[motoOzarks]

One of my Mom's sisters had 3 kiddos.  Two have major hearing problems and are identical twin girls.  The third was a boy born with spinabifida.

My Uncle worked at the Ford Motor Co. in Kansas City for ever and is now retired.  He is quite the handy fellow making and working on all kinds of stuff.

He made a tricycle for David to pedal with his arms so he could ride with the other neighborhood kids.

He owns several antique tractors and old pickups and usually has some other motorized stuff around.  He added hand controls to most of his keepers so Dave could use them.  Lawn mower, D2 Cat dozer, skid steer,  JD model R, etc.

Work worth doing.

[nickjtc]

WOW!! Good job, sir!!

[iansoady]

What a super story!

[Sin_Tiger]

"Hurry Up Grandad" brilliant  ye're going to hear that again 

There was a movie about a disabled Irish lad called "Inside I'm Dancing" , excellent, it will have you in tears of laughter and will make you think again about what we see when we meet disabled people 

[Bixxer Bob]

Thanks guys.   Now, how to balance the electronics for a 4wd version for the garden........   

[Bixxer Bob]

Oh, and one of the first things she did was run over her sister's foot.  A bit more supervision I think.  One of the first things she learned to do was turn the speed controller up to max.....

[PeteH]

Great work there John :)

[Sin_Tiger]

One of the first things she learned to do was turn the speed controller up to max.....

In the genes 

[KuzzinKenny]

Hey BB !! I know its your grand daughter and you'd do anythin for her, but...........



above and beyond the call of duty 

well done that man 

KK

[BONANZA]

You sir are a star, and a genius. We don,t know how lucky we are.

[Mustang]

........................................................
She put on full right lock, started spinning round in the middle of the room and said, "Look mum, I'm dancing".  All the time she was stuck in her static chair I never knew she wanted to dance.  It was too much for me and I wept like a baby.  Anyway, here it is:

her smile in the video says it all.....................

[JoeDirt]

Wait... Grandpa Bixxer?!?!

[Bixxer Bob]

Thanks again guys, I'm wellin' up...

It must be age, or hormones (no, wait, that's the missus....)