Keeping Kiveyn moving
Advertorial
Five-year-old Kiveyn has found freedom of movement with his customised walker and halo system.
As our children grow and develop, it’s important to be able to support their independence – particularly when it comes to mobility. Combine a Hoggi FLUX Walker with a custom halo-gravity system and six-year-old Kiveyn Peiris has taken to walking like a duck to water, thanks to the innovative ideas of the Dejay team.
Kiveyn was born with a rare form of scoliosis, or severe curvature of the spine. When he was two, he was the youngest child in Australia to be fitted with a halo- gravity traction device, which helps to carefully straighten his spine while giving him the freedom to move. And as he grew stronger and more mobile, it was clear Kiveyn would benefit from using a light, stable walker to support the development of natural walking movements as well as efficiently utilise and promote his residual functions. With the need for an integrated halo-gravity system, a personalised solution was called for – which is where Dejay came in.
Lena from Dejay says, “I met with Kiveyn, his mum Shiranga, and his therapist Michael Chalouhi to update Kiveyn’s mobility aid. After getting to know Kiveyn and working through his needs and goals, my team at Dejay customised a Hoggi FLUX Walker to mount Kiveyn’s halo system, including 7.5kg in weights.
“This has given Kiveyn increased mobility while ensuring his safety, and Dejay is now looking at customising his next wheelchair with a similar solution.”
Kiveyn’s mum, Shiranga, says that her son’s Hoggi FLUX and halo have been an integral part of his ongoing growth and development.
“Kiveyn’s scoliosis curvature was over 100 degrees, and since wearing his halo in conjunction with the FLUX, it decreased by 30 degrees,” she explains. “His medical history is complex, but he is slowly getting better and maturing.”
The choice to fit out a Hoggi FLUX Walker for Kiveyn was a straightforward one, as the Dejay team is highly experienced in matching clients with personalised mobility solutions – they’ve been manufacturing wheelchairs and customising components for over 35 years. And their capacity to make each solution unique to each child is elevated by 3D printing technology, which allows the Dejay team to craft custom, lightweight components very quickly if needed.
Gone are the utilitarian greys of “standard” mobility equipment, with Hoggi’s FLUX range of walking aids coming in a rainbow of bright, trendy colours to give children even more ability to express their personalities.
Handcrafted in Germany, Hoggi FLUX promotes upright posture and features a sturdy yet lightweight frame that opens out in walking direction. It has reverse roll locks that keep constant and reliable contact with the rear wheels and lock as soon as they start rolling backwards – a safety feature that helps children grow their confidence along with their walking skills. This can be deactivated so the FLUX can roll forward or backward, too.
Another benefit for Kiveyn is the Hoggi FLUX’s adjustable features – it’s the only walker with height, vertical, and horizontal adjustment capabilities, as well as height- and width-adjustable grip bars, so it will grow with Kiveyn, meaning he’ll be able to rely on this walking aid for longer before needing a bigger size (and the FLUX is available in four graduated sizes, so Kiveyn can move up to the next size when he’s ready).
And helpfully for parents, the FLUX folds and unfolds easily, with a safety lock for transporting – fitting into the boot of the car with room to spare for the shopping (or, in Kiveyn’s case, his school bag).
“Kiveyn is a happy, cheerful child,” mum Shiranga says. “He is always smiling, always positive, and he’s happy to go to school and be with his friends. The modified FLUX helped him to have more independence at school.”
Safety, stability, and self-determination are three key characteristics of the mobility solutions Dejay creates for kids like Kiveyn. The family-owned business helps people with disabilities achieve their goals using carefully selected rehabilitation and mobility equipment. Dejay not only manufacturers, designs, handcrafts, and customises wheelchairs in their Sydney- based workshop, they also partner with respected mobility aid brands like Hoggi to create bespoke solutions.
Dejay’s wide range of solutions also include standers, strollers and prams, seating systems, therapy aids, head protection, and accessories. And they’re experts in the field of mobility bikes, trikes, and race running bikes – their website dejay.com.au contains a dedicated frame running resource section to help educate and spread the word about this fast-growing sport across Australia.
The Dejay team is keen to work with therapists around the country to create solutions, and offer equipment trials so your child can check out the products that might best meet their needs before you commit. Email [email protected] to organise a free trial in your home, at school, in clinic, or in the local Dejay showroom. They can personalise and customise each piece of equipment to your child’s needs, then deliver and fit it once purchased – making your life easier and ensuring your child’s mobility aid is able to be used appropriately, safely, and correctly from day one. Dejay can also provide training and technical support with your child’s equipment once it’s delivered, along with all-important servicing and maintenance. They’re a one-stop shop.
Most importantly, the Dejay team are passionate about providing solutions to meet your child’s goals. And the best reward, they believe, is the smiles they see on the faces of children like Kiveyn – zipping here and there with newfound freedom and safety, using mobility equipment that keeps him moving toward confidence and independence.
For more information see dejay.com.au or contact 02 9838 8869 or email [email protected]
