Falls are in the Past

For many years Elvira B. of Oxford, MI had a difficult time walking. Lupus and arthritis were affecting her joints, and it got to the point where she had to use a walker. That was okay for a couple years, but recently even using the walker became a struggle, and she was starting to fall. A few months ago she suffered a bad fall, and hurt her left leg very badly. After that her doctor decided the walker wasn't right for her anymore, and that a power wheelchair would be better for her. He recommended working with Open-Aire Mobility Division. In just a few days, Open-Aire Mobility case managers were working with her doctor and Medicare, setting up appointments, and handling the paperwork. Shortly after, Elvira had her new power wheelchair.

Elvira says, "I would recommend my power wheelchair and Open-Aire Mobility to anyone. In fact, I already have!" Elvira lives in an independent living facility, and has a good friend who is having difficulty walking due to Parkinson's Disease. "We've talked about my power wheelchair a lot and how much I like it. Now her doctor is going to help her get one too." Open-Aire is happy to hear how satisfied Elvira is, and looks forward to helping out her friend.

Taking Back Her Independence

Judy M of San Antonio, TX knew that she needed a power wheelchair, but did not have an easy time acquiring one. For almost a year Judy tried to get a power wheelchair from another company. She found them very difficult to work with. She had trouble getting them on the phone and they were always trying to get her to accept a refurbished power wheelchair. Her physical therapist thought it was ridiculous that a company could be so hard to work with, so he suggested she look elsewhere and recommended Open-Aire Mobility Division. 

Once Open-Aire Mobility Division was involved it was a completely different story.  “They had a conference call with me and my doctor to set up my mobility evaluation,” says Judy. “They were always calling me and communicating. They always kept me aware of what was going on.”

A short time later Judy finally got the power wheelchair she needed and life is so much better. “I absolutely love it. It’s given me back my independence. I needed that. I needed it mentally. Not being able to walk or drive was very difficult for me.”  Now Judy is able to get around the house again without becoming tired, relying less on others, and living more independently.

No More Falling In Fall River

Not long ago, Joe Vallon of Fall River, MA began suffering from orthostatic hypertension, a medical condition which results in a sudden increase in blood pressure when a person stands up. When Joe stands up, he must stand still until his blood pressure goes back to normal. Coupled with some difficulties walking, getting around had become very difficult for Joe. According to his wife Mary, “If Joe needed to move around, he would rise from his recliner, stand up to keep his balance, and then go over to his walker or a wheelchair.” It also resulted in him falling multiple times and injuring himself in the process.

Mary thought that a power wheelchair would give him more independence and reached out for help. Due to some of Joe’s other health issues, his experience wasn’t as quick and easy as it could have been, but Open-AireMobility Division helped him every step of the way. Mary says, “When we first started working with Open-Aire, they set up a meeting with his doctor, but Joe went into the hospital and we couldn’t proceed. His case manager helped reschedule his appointments and got him some time extensions that we needed until he was out and ready to move forward. We had an excellent experience with Open-Aire.”

Now Joe has his power wheelchair and has indeed become more independent. Getting around from one room to the other is just a simple matter of grabbing the joystick and pointing it to where he wants to go. Joe no longer worries about his rising blood pressure or about falling.

Grandma Moved Uptown

Gertrude Gray of Festus, MO had been in a manual wheelchair for 5 years. Chemotherapy had left her with damaged bones in her foot, and a bad fall broke one of her legs above and below the knee. All of the trauma had made it difficult to walk without the help of a walker and most of the time she had to use a wheelchair. So many years in the wheelchair came with new problems. "My arms just got worn out with that old wheelchair," says Gertrude. Her osteoarthritis, along with tendonitis in her elbow, had gotten so bad that her doctor wanted her to use her left arm as little as possible. Just getting around the house was getting harder and harder.

Fortunately last month when she discovered Open-Aire Mobility Division, a solution was offered in the form of a power wheelchair. Still she was nervous about getting her hopes up. "Medicare can be hard to work with, and I didn’t want to raise my hopes too high," she says. However her Open-Aire case manager was able to work with her doctor and Medicare and in just over a month she received her new power wheelchair.

Now Gertrude is able to get around the house without trouble, and without straining her arms as she did with her old manual wheelchair. Her family is also very impressed with her new power wheelchair. "All my grandkids think it’s cool. They see me in it and think grandma moved uptown!"

Don To The Rescue

Don Doty lives in a small town outside the big city of Seattle. Don enjoyed being active until a work injury caused him tremendous back problems and pain. Don has a passion for life, and a passion for his pets. Don’s inspiration is his dog Porkey and his cat Baby, who get along like brother and sister. Don found his 3 1/2 pound cat in a blackberry bush along with her litter. He earned her trust enough to take her home and care for her. And let’s not forget Don’s dog Porkey, the Dachshund or wiener dog that is Don’s good buddy.

Don knew he needed some power mobility assistance and researched the web to find out how he can get one. After some thorough research, he contacted Open-Aire Mobility and just days later he had was delivered a chair. But don’t expect be surprised if it is not just Don in his power chair, we hear that Porkey can often be found sitting in it! Don spends time out with his friends in downtime Seattle or sometimes on the Internet. We found his review on the Team Mobility Facebook page and we look forward to more photo’s with Porkey and Baby!

Keep Scootin'

Myrtle Uselton had no idea what to expect when she heard the BOOM that rocked her house in the middle of her sleep. Waking everyone, Myrtle and her family were able to escape the burning house unharmed, before it was charred to the floor boards. A gas line break turned out to be the culprit to this awful Tennessee home mishap. Luckily no one was harmed, most importantly Puppy - Myrtle’s very pampered, Chihuahua mix pup. Myrtle was still in a wheel chair at the time so it made getting out all the more difficult with Puppy in her lap. Somehow, Myrtle pushed through to safety. Now Myrtle is in an apartment with her family awaiting her old home to be rebuilt. In the process of waiting, Myrtle came across our commercial for power chairs on TV and knew that’s just what she needed to move forward in this time of crisis. She called immediately and had one delivered to her apartment, right away. The process was extremely easy for Myrtle. It arrived at her temporary apartment, and she got trained right away on how to operate it. Myrtle and Puppy were set!

They now have the ability to roam the apartment freely without hitting walls or tight corners. Puppy gets even more pet massages, since Myrtle can do it while she’s on the go! Myrtle isn’t necessarily ecstatic about living in the smaller apartment, while her house is being rebuilt. The Open-Aire power chair has helped Myrtle get over her depression, and has been a crucial part of her healing process. Myrtle passes this waiting period as best and enjoyable as she can. Playing hide & go seek with her 3 year old great-grandson, and giving him rides on her power chair (when he’s not trying to ride it himself!) takes up a major portion of her day. She gets to roam her daughters home when she visits, scooting around the house and yard freely on her power chair with her trusty companion Puppy in her lap. When Puppy isn’t in her lap he proudly strides along side of Myrtle’s power chair as they scoot and trot down the avenue together. Myrtle also has the flexibility to get back to her cooking now that she has the power chair. She never has a meal in mind - she just gets in there, scoots around and throws together a nightly masterpiece enjoyed by the whole house! Myrtle definitely feels a great loss in losing her house but she knows that she can make it through, and even enjoy the ride. She does look forward to the day that she can scoot down the halls of her new home - with Puppy in her lap of course, but in the mean time she’s getting a lot of practice on her power chair and hopes to be a pro by then! Keep on Scootin’ Myrtle!

The Fast And Not So Furious

While Ann Marie Shea and her husband Paul await Handicap Housing, a hotel room in Boston, Massachusetts has become their 'home' during this transitional period. Paul has always been there for Ann Marie, being married for 13 years and having a son has created a special bond that can’t be broken, especially by mobility issues. From their first date, Paul knew Ann was going to be his wife and has cherished her ever since. Twelve years ago, Ann Marie was diagnosed with a muscle disease which left her weak, with progressive numbness in her legs. Ann often found herself falling and having emergency hospital visits due to serious injury. She began using a cane for support, but over time, the walking cane didn’t provide her with enough support. Paul and Ann decided to give a walker a try. It helped for a temporary amount of time, but Ann couldn’t get up stairs, and made walking in the home extremely difficult. Paul and Anne Marie kept searching to find the perfect means of mobility to fit their lifestyle. A wheelchair was their next effort. When the Sheas’ got approved for handicapped housing, it was a huge relief. Maneuvering her wheelchair around in a standard apartment was getting tight. Ann Marie began cooking less, and doing less chores and activities around the house. Paul helped out as much as he can during that time, preparing his 'mean meatloaf' turned into quite a delicious family happening.

One day while watching TV, Ann noticed a power chair commercial that included testimonials. Ann checked to see if a power chair was covered by her insurance, Medicare. It was! They immediately called to get more information, and order that power chair! The delivery of Ann's new power chair made this transitional period in a hotel easier to handle. Now Ann can go do laundry, move about her hotel room, cook in the kitchen, go to the store with Paul, and get back to her previous involvements. She feels more independent and free since she doesn’t have to rely on Paul so much anymore. What are Paul and Ann Marie doing this weekend? They are always up to something. . .this weekend they are going to see their favorite movie, The Fast Five! Check back with Team Mobility to see how the Sheas are doing in their new power chair, and their new house!

Her Name Says It All

"I have the BEST job on EARTH!" This statement is a common one in the customer service department. Carrie Truesdale is one of the hand selected members of the Open-Aire Mobility Division customer service team, who prides herself in representing the heart and soul of the company, their customers! Each day is more fulfilling than the next for Carrie as her personal slogan is 'Never Doubt, Carrie Cares'. Her daily goals are simple: Reduce drama and trauma while increasing the fun factor in receiving a mobility product. This warm outlook on her work has allowed Carrie to make friends all over the country, both recipients of power chairs and Delivery Techs. Carries’ love for her work is contagious and expressed daily.

A few weeks ago, Carrie was trying to contact a new customer to get specifics on where to ship her new power chair. Carrie had spoken with her just a week prior, so when she learned the phone was no longer in service, Carrie got worried, decided to follow her gut and do some research. She found a way to reach her. Carrie learned that the patient’s house had burnt down that week. She had lost everything; her home, her belongings and was staying in a hotel, with just the clothes on her back. Carrie’s main concern was the mental and physical well being of her customer. Carrie knew she had lost everything and was staying in a hotel without any belongings, and importantly, no power chair. Carrie and her customer spent a worthwhile time on the phone, discussing how she was feeling and what the next steps were for her. Carrie listened while her customer shared her feelings on her recent tragedy, and ensured her that it will get better. Carrie followed up a few days later and heard some good news. She got an apartment and was excited to get out of the hotel and begin building her life back. Carrie happily and excitedly shipped the patients new power chair to the new address.

About a week later, the patient called Carrie with a smile on her face and hope in her voice. She was gushing with excitement and gratitude about the arrival of her new chair! She was so thankful to have her power chair, as it made her life much more pleasurable and easier. She told Carrie she didn’t have anything in her apartment, except her power chair and mentioned at this point, that was all she needed. When you ask Carrie what it takes to be a good Customer Service Representative, her answer comes straight from the heart. "All it takes is a listening ear and a caring heart... a good sense of humor doesn’t hurt, either." Her name says it all, Carrie really does care.

Candy Apple Red

"I need my freedom!" declared Judith Survis, a spunky redhead from Vancouver Washington. A blood disorder caused her to feel fatigued, and due to her low energy walking from the bedroom to the kitchen was far too much cardio for her body to take. One day while she was resting, she saw on TV an advertisement for a power chair and immediately picked up the phone to ask a few questions. Anyone who knows Judith personally, knows she can’t resist a new conversation, and for all intents and purposes, really only ask a few questions. After about 45 minutes on the phone with representative Carrie, Judith was so excited she immediately ordered her chair. Of course before hanging up the phone, Judith asked Carrie one last question, 'does it come in candy apple red?' Judith was in luck! When her new power chair from arrived, Judith immediately fell in love with the candy apple red paint, as she always dreamt of having a car in this color. The technician who delivered the chair was knowledgeable and knew all the answers to Judith's many questions.

She said her life has completely transformed from prisoner to get er' done. Judith comfortably sits in her chair for hours at a time either watching TV, cleaning, chasing her cute husband Thomas around the house, or cooking one of her signature dishes ranging from pot roast to crock pot delicacies. Whenever her Chihuahua Buddy hears her get in her chair, he jumps into her lap, ready to get paraded around the house in her candy apple power chair. These days you can read Judith blogging about her experience on many different mobility sites, blogging about the day to days of mobility, introducing new products, and sharing relevant articles. Judith even created a community which uplifts others by giving hope and strength through sharing her personal experiences and stories. I am sure we will hear more from the vivacious redhead in the Candy Apple power chair!

Push The Button And GO!

Getting from one end of the house to the other are challenges of the past, and so are most mobility issues for Phoenix native, Diane DeMay.  Being a young woman with Peripheral Neuropathy, doing what used to be the simple things such as laundry, cooking and moving around the house became difficult in a manual wheelchair.  When Diane’s power wheel chair from Open-Aire arrived, she was trained on the spot by the friendly technicians on how to use it, and according to Diana seemed simple enough.   She was off! Diane’s days went from ‘inconvenient’ to ‘bring it on!’  Laundry, cooking, cleaning and other household chores are now daily, and non-stop. 

This month Diane’s occupied with her spring cleaning.  She finds it easy to reach hangers, put clothes away on the top shelf and rearrange the closet right from her chair.  She will be the first to admit, she cant sit still!  Entertaining is also a monthly occurrence at the DeMay household.  Lunch and dinner gatherings are frequent, and fun!  Diane can move from one end of the house to the other, with easy maneuverability.  Moving from carpet to tile is no longer part of her daily list of chores, with her new power chair from Open-Aire there is nothing she can’t do.  “Just push the button and GO!”