TRAVEL WITH THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:)): VHA Rehab Solutions

Friday, September 10, 2010

UNCLE HARRY GETS A NEW SET OF WHEELS:))

SPOTTED A GROUP OF WHITE EGRETS THIS MORNING (Officially called 'Great Egrets)

Picture perfect morning with blue sky's & big puffy white clouds. Thoroughly enjoying these cooler temps & 60F first thing this morning made for a great start to the day.

HULLET MARSH WITH A BIRD VIEWING STATION IN THE BACKGROUND

VIEW FROM THE BIRD LOOK-OUT

The Ritz Villa where my Uncle Harry lives phoned a few days ago saying his old 1950's style lamp plug was not up to code & the lamp should be replaced so that was my mission for this morning. Rounded up a newer lamp we had here at home & headed for Mitchell.

THE HULLET MARSH IS MADE UP OF MANY CONNECTING PONDS & CREEKS

Because of the picturesque morning I took some extra back roads & made a few stops along the way at a large tract of land that had been set aside years ago as a wildlife nature area. The HULLET MARSH covers hundreds of acres & before we moved to this area we would often drive here on a Sunday & hike all areas of this large Marsh.

I COULD SEE SOME WHITE OBJECTS ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MARSH & WITH MY 300MM LENS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE FOLLOWING EGRET PHOTOS

(click on photos to enlarge)

Harry's room was a bee hive of activity when I arrived about 11:30 this morning. Awhile back Harry had been measured up & fitted for a custom wheelchair & this morning it arrived about the same time I did. Lynette, the Occupational Therapist lady from VHA REHAB SOLUTIONS who had done the original measuring was back along with two fellows from the company that built Harry's wheelchair. CUSTOM MOBILITY is a fairly new company based in Southwestern Ontario specializing in custom built wheelchairs designed for the maximum comfort of it's occupants. Instead of people having to wait months for a measuring & then have to drive long distances to Parkwood Hospital in London for fittings, Custom Mobility comes right to a Seniors place of residence & does everything in the comfort of one's own surroundings.

LYNETTE CHECKS A MEASUREMENT

I was extremely impressed how Fred Geiger, the company's director of operations & his assistant Kevin, along with therapist Lynette took the time, care, consideration & concern to help Harry adjust to his new chair. Kevin is the fellow who actually built the chair. Their warmth & friendliness was obvious as they had Harry take the chair for a test drive in the hall. A few adjustments here & there & soon Harry was all smiles with his spiffy new set of wheels. And, in his day, Harry always took great pride in is big, shiny & spiffy Detroit wheels:))

LYNETTE & FRED LOOK ON WHILE KEVIN MAKES SOME ADJUSTMENTS

In my line of part time work I see & handle a fair few wheelchairs & I can honestly say Harry's chair was the best built chair I have ever seen. He will get a lot of pleasurable miles out it & I'll bet there isn't another chair within 40 miles that could outrun his sporty new set of wheels in the quarter mile:))

HARRY CHECKS OUT SOME TOOLS THE BOYS BROUGHT

IT WAS PLAIN TO SEE THE WARMTH & CARE THESE GOOD PEOPLE HAD FOR UNCLE HARRY

The LONDON TRAILER HITCH CENTER phoned today confirming they can indeed get the parts shipped in to turn our little Jeep into a towable Jeep toad:)) We'll set a date for that shortly then take the Santa Fe & Jeep to London & have them switch some of the towing gear from the Santa Fe to the Jeep. Things are coming together:))