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A customised wheelchair power add-on has given young Pippa a major boost to her confidence and independence, explains Katherine Granich.
Kids love to go fast and our youngsters who use mobility aids are no exception. In the suburbs of Wollongong, nine-year-old Pippa is embracing the thrill of speed and newfound independence – and as far as her mum Sian is concerned, there’s no going back.
“We thought Pippa would have more freedom at home, with being able to travel to the local park, go to the bike track, and get around our property better,” Sian says. “But now her wheelchair has a power add-on, she’s unstoppable!”
Over the summer, Pippa’s wheelchair was fitted with the Empluse F55 Wheelchair Power Add-On from Dejay Medical. It soon proved its worth when the family went away on their annual camping trip. “On previous trips, Pippa had to rely on other family members to push her around the campsite,” Sian explains. “This year Pippa was able to drive herself around, play Spotlight with the kids in the caravan park, and visit friends in other campsites. One friend even hopped on a skateboard and held on to the back of Pippa’s chair while they rode around the bike track!”
MOTORING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE
Explained simply, the F55 is a power attachment that clips on to the front of Pippa’s wheelchair and allows it to function similarly to an electric bike. Pippa can already ride a bike really well, so when the family learned about the F55, something clicked. “I saw an adult using one, and questioned whether something like it would be good for Pippa,” Sian says. “When Dejay brought the F55 over for Pippa to trial, she took to it instantly.”
The F55 has not only revolutionised Pippa’s mobility, it’s also given her a sense of autonomy and independence. For example, it was Pippa’s own idea to take the power assist to school with her. “In the past, when I dropped her off at school, I’d need to wheel her into the classroom,” says Sian. “Now I get her out of the car, pop the power assist on to her wheelchair, and off she goes!”
The F55 is user-friendly and easy to attach to Pippa’s wheelchair, so she can instruct her teacher aide on how to do it – and as she grows and gains strength, she’ll be able to attach it independently herself in future. It’s also compact and easy to tote around in the car. “I can’t imagine it not being with us everywhere we go,” says Sian.
A TEAM EFFORT
Pippa’s parents, along with her occupational therapist, worked with Lena from Dejay Medical to trial the F55 and ensure it was the right piece of equipment for Pippa. “Lena has been outstanding,” Sian says. “Every facet of the experience has just been handled so well. Lena has formed such a lovely rapport with Pippa, getting her input on the process, asking her opinion about the equipment, and going out of her way to make sure Pip was fully comfortable and confident using the F55 during the trial and when it was time for Pippa to have her own one.”
Pippa’s family wanted a non- permanent power assist for her wheelchair because they wanted her to be able to self-propel as much as possible, not to mention the complicated upheaval of needing to convert their vehicle to accommodate a larger power chair. “We wanted something more versatile, and the F55 fit the bill,” Sian says.
VERSATILITY PLUS
With sturdy, off-road wheels, the F55 is compatible with most fixed-front wheelchairs, and with two independent brake systems, it’s super safe. The battery has up to 25km of range, which is perfect for Pippa’s everyday needs, and its intelligent battery management system ensures improved charging cycles and lifetime. And it’s easy to dock and undock, meaning Pippa can swap between using her wheelchair on manual or motorised mode quite easily.
The F55’s portability is something that Sian says is really helpful for their family. “When Pippa has hospital appointments, I’ve always needed to bring along a support person to help me push Pip, carry her equipment, and manage getting from car to clinic,” Sian explains. “Now Pippa can propel herself, and I can carry what we need to bring.”
With the F55, Pippa can also manoeuvre her wheelchair around on family outings herself, which gives her more autonomy and freedom. “When we’re shopping at the mall, for example, she can go look at what she’s interested in, instead of me trying to show her what I think she wants. It really helps her to feel more independent.”
COOLEST KID ON WHEELS
The F55’s sleek, stylish design means it looks cool – an automatic box-tick for any kid using mobility aids. “All the kids who see Pippa using her ‘motor’, as she calls it, want to have a go,” Sian smiles.
One place where Pippa can show off her power assist chair is at Frame Running Wollongong (framerunningwollongong. org.au), the local frame running club she attends on Monday afternoons. Pippa turns up driving her F55, then swaps over to a frame runner – a specialised three- wheeled running frame without pedals.
Co-founded by her mum Sian, this nonprofit community activity is the only provider of frame running in the Illawarra Region, and is a growing sport for disabled kids around Australia. With around 30 kids attending alongside Pippa each week, it’s a great way to get kids enjoying fitness as well as expanding their mobility skills.
“Through frame running, Pippa’s gone from being able to take only a few steps to now being able to run for an hour,” Sian says.
Dejay is integral to the sport of frame running in Australia, providing the frame runners the children use as well as supporting the sport’s development nationwide. With over 35 years of experience manufacturing wheelchairs and custom components, Dejay truly knows how to meet the mobility needs of kids like Pippa – and their families.
At the end of the frame running session, Pippa easily transfers back into her power assist chair and heads to the car to go home for dinner. As Sian says,
the F55 has given Pippa a self-esteem boost alongside increased freedom. “It’s just changed Pippa’s life.”
A free trial can be organised by emailing [email protected]. The full range of power add-ons for manual wheelchairs can be seen at dejay.com.au
