Help with preparing for DD in a wheelchair

[Anonymous]

My 8 year-old DD will be undergoing an operation next year that will require her to be in a wheelchair for a couple of months. We are working with her school to ensure that there is an aid to help her use the restroom, etc... But I'm trying to prepare for other, unforeseen, obstacles. Right now I'm just worrying about getting in and out of the car and up stairs, but I know there are a lot of other things that I'm just not even thinking about. Does anyone have recommendations or website I could check out to become better informed and prepared?

I'm also interested in activities to keep her occupied at home as well! Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

No direct experience, but can you "war game" a day or so? That is, go through at least one day where at every moment you ask yourself how you'd get things done with the w/c.

[Anonymous]

Just know that you can never count on working elevators.

Also, is a school bus picking her up?

[Anonymous]

Will she be able to walk at all?

[Anonymous]

How easy is she to carry right now?

[Anonymous]

Can you get a ramp for the entry into house? Is there a guest floor room she could use as a bedroom? To have to be carried up and down to her bedroom would be so frustrating I'd imagine. So do you have a family room you could make into a bedroom and then move the family room into the livingroom for that time?

Carrying will get old for both you and her.

[Anonymous]

My son briefly used a wheelchair after surgery, then a walker. Sorry you are dealing with this!

For bathing he could support his weight long enough to step in the shower then sit in a shower chair. He washed using an extra long shower sprayer.

We got the handicap tag from the DMV.

I kept him out of school for the wheelchair part and sent him half days when he was using the walker. The classroom set up was terrible. I could understand there not being enough room between the desks for his walker the first day, but after that the teacher just kept moving them back in the way. Annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8 year-old DD will be undergoing an operation next year that will require her to be in a wheelchair for a couple of months. We are working with her school to ensure that there is an aid to help her use the restroom, etc... But I'm trying to prepare for other, unforeseen, obstacles. Right now I'm just worrying about getting in and out of the car and up stairs, but I know there are a lot of other things that I'm just not even thinking about. Does anyone have recommendations or website I could check out to become better informed and prepared?

I'm also interested in activities to keep her occupied at home as well! Thanks in advance!

Will she be able to swim during the time in the wheel chair? Or some other type of exercise? My son was in 2 full legs casts for over 6 weeks. He was not wheel chair bound as he was only 2 so we could carry him, put him in a stroller etc.

A thing we did not realize was the OT that needed to be done afterwards as there was a lot of muscle atrophy.

[Anonymous]

rent a wheelchair van?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son briefly used a wheelchair after surgery, then a walker. Sorry you are dealing with this!

For bathing he could support his weight long enough to step in the shower then sit in a shower chair. He washed using an extra long shower sprayer.

We got the handicap tag from the DMV.

I kept him out of school for the wheelchair part and sent him half days when he was using the walker. The classroom set up was terrible. I could understand there not being enough room between the desks for his walker the first day, but after that the teacher just kept moving them back in the way. Annoying.

Did you consider that the desk set up you liked was not safe for other kids?

[Anonymous]

I would plan lots of play dates at your house..

[Anonymous]

OP, be coached, by a medical professional, on the proper use of a wheelchair (ie the importance/when to put on the brakes, etc) and make sure everyone know this.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all of the responses. She will be in casts, so will not be able to walk. There is a possibility that she could be able to bear some weight towards the end but there's no guarantee.

A ramp for the house is a good idea as I think she'll be a little heavy for me. Likely DH will do most of the lifting.

Her school is new and has an elevator and we have enough time to plan and prepare with teachers and staff. We will plan to drop off/pick up so no bus.

[Anonymous]

Is this hip surgery?

There are great support groups on Facebook with all kinds of tips about car seats, seating in the home, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son briefly used a wheelchair after surgery, then a walker. Sorry you are dealing with this!

For bathing he could support his weight long enough to step in the shower then sit in a shower chair. He washed using an extra long shower sprayer.

We got the handicap tag from the DMV.

I kept him out of school for the wheelchair part and sent him half days when he was using the walker. The classroom set up was terrible. I could understand there not being enough room between the desks for his walker the first day, but after that the teacher just kept moving them back in the way. Annoying.

Did you consider that the desk set up you liked was not safe for other kids?

Actually it was more safe because it created more space in between the desks so there would be more room to evacuate in an emergency.