The last day of distribution brings out lots of creativity. For example, this chair was the right size for the patient. The main problem: no seat!
So, the mechanics, support people, and anyone around willing to help, got to work.
Bernie created a seat.
Kim, Susan, and I, with help from John, covered it with foam and vinyl.
Then we needed footrests that worked. Unfortunately, at this point the pickings were slim. Reid and John made some “universal” footrests work by removing one of the pins:
The end result was a happy man and family:
The mechanics were kept busy all day improvising. Many a chair was cannibalized to create a chair that fits the person being served.
Charlie tells the story of trying to adapt a chair. He had cut the seat for an amputee. He needed to add one footrest and couldn’t find the right kind for the chair. He had been trying several ways to fit a “universal” (universally doesn’t fit anything) footrest, but couldn’t get the two points of attachment to fit. After struggling for a while, he saw Reid and George working on a similar chair – the solution was too simple: only attach one! Voila! It fit.
This man was so excited that the chair, which was fitted with a lap tray, would allow him to get back to work as a street vendor. He sells chocolate on the street corner and can use the lap tray to display his wares.
wftwlima 