Erick is the founder of Round Betty Wheels.

Evolution PSV™ cushion user for 18 years and counting!

I was 20 years old when I sustained a Spinal cord injury at the level of C5/6, and have been a VARILITE cushion user ever since. I originally found out about VARILITE through my initial rehab hospital process of trying various options from different manufacturers. Early on I started out using a different VARILITE cushion, but I have now switched to my current model the VARILITE Evolution™ cushion.

Since my main interests have always revolved around motor sports, such as building muscle cars, and ATVs, I have always enjoyed designing, drafting, and prototyping various projects. These interests led me to design and custom build my own wheelchair and it eventually turned into a career with me starting my own business, Round Betty wheels.

Because I have been working as a manufacturer of wheels for wheelchairs, I have become extremely experienced in this field and I know exactly what I need and want for my seating and positioning needs. Over the years I have been to local vendors and purchased my own cushions. Since using VARILITE products I noticed that I sit with great balance, posture, and positioning. It is a very comfortable product to use and I have never had any issues with skin break down. I have been using the VARILITE Evolution cushion now for years.

I would absolutely recommend VARILITE products to other wheelchair users because personally, I have had a very positive experience with VARILITE products for 18 years.

~Erick Bryant has been a VARILITE product user for 18 years, and is owner of Round Betty Wheels www.roundbetty.com

Jeremy displays his rugby wheelchair and truck.

Both my Evolution cushions have helped improved my transfers and independence.

I am 25 years old, and sustained a spinal cord injury 5 years ago from a motocross crash. After I went through physical therapy to learn how to live as a quadriplegic, I got right out there and started living my new life. I discovered quadriplegic rugby after watching a documentary called Murderball and have been playing with the Seattle Slam for 4 years. I love the wheelchairs we get to play in because they are like battering rams.

When someone first came to visit me in the hospital that is when I really started to learn about different types of equipment. Since I want to be as independent as I can, I need good, lightweight equipment that can take a beating. Through trial and error, I have changed wheelchairs and cushions, and now use a titanium wheelchair and a lightweight VARILITE Evolution PSV™ cushion. It is really important for me to have durable and light weight equipment because I don’t have full hand strength. Since I have been using the Evolution PSV cushion, I can tell how much my balance has improved. In fact now I own two Evolution PSV cushions, one for my everyday wheelchair and one for my rugby wheelchair. One other thing I have noticed is that when I use a transfer board to get in and out of my truck, my transfers improved and got easier because of the firmer surface of the cushion.

After 5 years of being in a wheelchair, I now try to help and educate newly injured quadriplegics, especially the guys that are interested in quad rugby. I educate them about equipment and love to show off my rugby wheelchair. I tell other people that with products like the VARILITE Evolution PSV cushion, it can improve the independence of quadriplegics because it improved my transfers, stability, and helps avoid skin issues. The cushion doesn’t make me all wobbly, like the air-celled cushion I used to have. If a valve breaks or the cushion goes flat, it is so easy to fix it at home. That saves me from having to send the cushion back for repairs.

~Jeremy Hannaford is 5 years post injury from a motocross accident and a player for a rugby team called the Seattle Slam.

Jeff at home on a crisp fall day.

The Evolution PSV™ cushion has made a positive impact on my life.

I am currently 28 years old, and have been both injured and married for the past year 7 years. Due to a car accident, which left me with a T7-8 spinal cord injury, I am now a T-7 paraplegic. I currently work for an entertainment company acquiring film and television rights for distribution to TV and DVD. I play for the Rollin’ Twins Wheelchair Softball team and the Rollin’ Timberwolves Basketball team. To stay in shape I go to the gym when I find the time, but in my downtime I love to read, play the guitar and video games. As you can tell, I am very active so I consider my motto to be “The busier you are, the more you seem to get done!”

A few years ago I heard about VARILITE through my cousin, who works for a company that works with VARILITE. I ended up getting a Talon™ backrest and an Evolution PSV™ cushion. I tend to sit at an angle based on my injury, which produces an angled line of feeling around my mid-section. This makes it difficult for a gel cushion to appropriately maintain an even support of my posterior, so I really needed something that would work for me. The Evolution PSV cushion has truly made a positive impact on my personal health and quality of life. I am very impressed with the quality and endurance of the VARILITE products, since I can be extremely hard on my wheelchair and equipment by playing sports and being very active. Also, the fact that it is self-inflating is great!

~Jeff Hayne is a husband, wheelchair model and player for the Rollin’ Twins Wheelchair Softball team.

Doug after a successful turkey hunt.

Improved Stability and Ease of Use

Every once in a while you get lucky and find a product that exceeds your expectations. The VARILITE Evolution PSV™ cushion is just such a product.

I recently went on a safari in South Africa, in a camp out in the middle of no man’s land, where everything has thorns or teeth. In preparing for the trip I made sure that all of my equipment was rugged and reliable to survive the rigors of the environment. There was one thing that troubled me, and that was the air-only cushion I had been using which had developed another leak.

Luckily, I met someone from VARILITE just before the trip who recommended I try an Evolution PSV. It was so much easier and more stable right from the start. It has a self-adjusting pressure setting valve instead of a separate pump. The valve worked flawlessly with all the altitude and temperature changes which affect air pressure. And there were no leaks, which has been a constant problem for me with the air-only cushion and my active lifestyle.

The comfort of the cushion is even better than my former cushion, especially because of the foam that adds so much more stability.

Thanks for making my life easier and better, VARILITE!
--Doug