Today we met Kate down near Tacoma at a pharmacy that had just about everything for disabled people. They had a large section of the store dedicated to wheelchairs and assorted push chairs. The kids and I got there before Kate so I was able to look around. All the strollers/push chairs looked “medical” (lack of a better term). Once Kate arrived she immediately pulled a few out and was showing me how they worked. At first I was in denial that Erin needed one (that’s the small part of me that still wants to believe that one day I’ll wake up from this horrible dream). Then Kate showed me the Tiger Serval model made by SnugSeat. It was the one stroller that had a “High/Low” base. The “High/Low” base raises and lowers. So Erin could use it at the dinner table or be able to climb into the stroller on her own. Right now she sits on Alan’s lap during meals which won’t last much longer. At lunch time she used to sit on her knees on a chair but now cries until I let her sit on my lap. I am not a mean mom…I just have to feed six kids at a time so don’t always get to sit down to eat with them. She also will keep her plate at the corner of the table and eat standing up, but now reaching the table top has become a challenge.
Back to the stroller…it also was the only one which seat will recline at a substantial angle. I couldn’t believe that the insurance companies catagorize a reclining stroller seat as a “luxury.” Kate says we may have a harder time getting insurance to cover that feature, but she promptly said that we’ll need to educate them on Erin’s status. She doesn’t sit in chairs b/c she cannot sit at a 90 degree angle. She has to lean to either side when on the couch or a comfy seat. She can’t even sit on the stairs to let me put on her shoes anymore. She faces backwards and I have to be Houdini to get on her shoes without her throwing a fit.
I was sold. Once I saw the features, I was a believer and surprisingly it looks appealling to me now. Kate is going to request the pharmacy to send a rep to the house with the SnugSeat and another stroller brand. We’re going to test run both at the house to see what works best. Erin was getting tired so she was in no mood to sit in any of the strollers. She just wanted to push wheelchairs around the store.
