Skip to main content

New Wheels!


A few weeks ago I wrote about  the AMBUCS proposal with the Pepsi Refresh Program. I was asking you to vote for their $50,000 grant to give therapeutic Amtrykes to 100 children with disabilities. In my excitement and enthusiasm, I thought Ben was on that list of 100. He was actually 340th on the list.

This information filtered down to Ben's Aunt Olivia, my sister. As a surprise, she and her family donated the tricycle for Ben. It came last week and the photos are from his first day riding on it. Clearly, he is enjoying himself.

In those first moments as Ben sat on his tryke, I kept imagining the 100 children who were about to receive theirs from the grant through Pepsi Refresh. For the past several months, Ben has been in a baby stroller or Convaid wheelchair for any type of travel or outings. I am sure other parents and families make do with what they can, and it truly is an exciting moment to see your child receive something that will make him more independent, more mobile and help him with gross motor skills at the same time.

This tricycle is truly a very special gift.

If you are interested in finding out more about AMBUCS and Amtryke, please contact them:

Mailing AddressP.O. Box 5127
High Point, NC 27262
Shipping / Physical Address4285 Regency Drive
Greensboro, NC 27410
Phone: 1-800-838-1845
Fax: (336) 852-6830 




Labels:

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 25, 2010 at 6:59 PM

    Looking good:)
    What a beautiful gift.
    Love,
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 26, 2010 at 4:48 PM

    Gosh, I'm so happy for Ben I'm almost to tears.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for reading my post. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. If you wish to contact me directly, please let me know and I will email you.

Popular posts from this blog

How I Make Being a Mom and Volunteer Work at this Group Home

  In September, Ben celebrated three years living in a group home in Charlotte, North Carolina, with five other men. Ben lives 20 minutes from our house, and we see him several times a week for doctor's appointments, to drop off supplies, for group home events and sometimes because I just miss him. Ben occassionally sleeps over, and he often spends a weekend day hanging out on his favorite couch, watching videos at our house. This Easterseals PORT Health home is Ben's second placement. The first placement through another agency didn't work out, and he left after six months . We were wary of trying a new place, but it's worked out well. My husband, Ryan, and I have developed a partnership with ESPH. Over time, we've built mutual respect and trust with the residents and staff.  Here's what's worked for us: 1. Get involved with the group home. Ben lives with five other men in a six-bedroom house in Charlotte. On move-in day, Steven, one of the residents, made ...
4 comments
Read more

Gadgets & Gizmos - Part 6: Landeez Chair

We spent last week at the beach near Atlantic Beach in North Carolina. At Fort Macon Park , they have a special chair for people like Ben who may need extra help moving in the sand and water. The chair is made by Landeez . We were amazed by this chair. It did travel over the sand and in small amounts of water with ease. We bought an inexpensive strap to go around Ben's waist so he would not fall out.  I thought that Ben could go farther in the water sitting in the chair, but it does eventually float...away if in too deep of water. Ben got tired of sitting in it and wiggled his way under the strap. For the most part, it is a great invention and it made it easier for us to keep Ben safe on the beach. If he had been interested in a long walk on the beach, this would have worked great for him.
1 comment
Read more

Parenting an Adult Child with Disabilities: From Group Home Placement to Discharge

  Last August, we moved Ben into an alternative family living (AFL) placement, about 90 minutes from our home in Charlotte. It was a three-bedroom house and Ben was given the largest bedroom with its own bathroom.  A typical AFL in North Carolina operates like this: a person with disabilities, the client, moves in with another family, couple or an individual. The client lives in the family’s home and the family receives payment in return for housing, feeding and caring for the client.  Ben’s AFL was unusual: A couple with extensive caregiving experience wanted to run a three-bed group home but needed to apply for the license through the state. They were willing to take Ben as the first resident in a house, separate from the one they lived in. The plan, according to the couple, was to get approval for the group home within a couple of months.  We ordered Ben a double bed, headboard, 54-inch television, new sheets, towels and blankets. Friends helped us move him in....
3 comments
Read more