Busy moms need low maintenance cushions and support!

I have been using a wheelchair since 1992, when I was shot during the war in Kosovo in the early 1990’s. I have an incomplete spinal cord injury, and for the last 8 years I have been working full-time as a Customer Service Representative for a collections agency in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I have to work full-time because I am a single mom, and although I used to do some wheelchair sports such as skiing, and handcycling, I don’t have time for it now. All I can say is that I love being a mom, and my 4 year old son Srdjan is wonderful!

In 1994, I was lucky to be sponsored by an organization called Veterans for Peace, and I came to the United States with my mom for rehabilitation. After a few months of going through rehabilitation, and learning English, the organization found a host family for me to stay with. Unfortunately, my mom had to go back to Kosovo a few months later, and at the age of 14 years old I was alone in the United States. I was living with a wonderful host family and attending high school. I graduated from high school, and my host family became my family, in fact, I just recently moved back in with them, and they just adore my son Srdjan..

Over the years I relied on friends in wheelchairs and my physical therapist to help me about wheelchairs and cushions. I was happy when I heard about VARILITE, and was able to try out a new type of cushion. For years, I used a gel cushion, and it was always so heavy to lift. I now have the VARILITE Meridian™ cushion, and I love it because it is so lightweight. Also, when I am at work and sitting for long periods of time, I can adjust the air in the cushion. Recently, I have also noticed I am having less pain in my legs.

Because my son loves to ride on my lap and he is getting bigger, I get tired more easily. Having a light weight cushion now is so helpful, especially when I am transferring in and out of my car. The lighter my wheelchair and cushion is, the better it will be for my shoulders in the long run.

~Danijela Beckwith has been a wheelchair user since 1992 and is a happy mom of her 4 year old son, Srdjan.

My Meridian™ cushion is the best seat in the house.

On August 27th of 2007, after years of back and leg pains and 13 previous back surgeries, I had the 2nd stage of a 5th level lumbar fusion. During the procedure my spinal cord was pinched and not discovered for 4 days. A reversal procedure was performed, and as a result I ended up paralyzed from the waist down due to what is called Cauda Equina.

I did about 4 weeks of in-patient rehabilitation and during that time my therapist had me try a few different styles of chairs and cushions. My therapist did a great job picking the wheelchair and cushion for me. Since I was newly injured I didn’t have a clue about knowing what to get in the world of wheelchairs and cushions. I was sent home with a “loaner chair" that was in pretty rough shape. The cushion I went home with is referred to as a gel style cushion, which is supposed to be "fluffed" each time I got back into the wheelchair. The gel seat cushion I had caused some real painful problems for me in my legs. It was very painful when I transferred, so I stayed in my wheelchair for long periods of time to avoid transferring. The pain continued until I got THE call, my new wheelchair was ready! When I finally got my new wheelchair it was heaven.

My new wheelchair came equipped with a VARILITE Meridian™ cushion, which my physical therapist had ordered for me after pressure mapping me while I was an in-patient. Immediately, the fluid retention in my legs and feet improved. The ease of adjusting the pressure is so easy compared to the gel! I am super busy all day with long hours sitting in my wheelchair, and since I tend to forget to do pressure releases I have my VARILITE Meridian cushion to thank for not having skin issues because of my forgetfulness.

As a testimonial to the comfort of the cushion, my daughter sits in my wheelchair while I am at physical therapy. When I want to get my wheelchair back, she says it is too comfortable. Also at family gatherings, my children and grandchildren fight over the wheelchair because it's the most comfortable seat in the house!

~Guy Clark is 1 year post injury and a happy VARILITE user.