As a nurse at a small children’s hospital dedicated to treating spinal cord injury, it breaks my heart to see a child without the resources they need to be healthy and happy. Of all the illnesses affecting children today, spinal cord injury is one of the most debilitating but because spinal injuries in the pediatric population is relatively rare, there isn’t enough research done to learn more about it and even less technological strides towards facilitating mobility.
What I believe we desperately need is long-lasting, durable medical equipment so that these children can function easily in their environment among their able-bodied peers. I want them–we all want them–to be able to participate in the activities that they’ve always wanted to without feeling different. I feel that this can only be done with the help of the right medical equipment. While I understand that for many of the children, they will never be fully cured, I think having durable medical equipment lessens the impact of their disabilities to a rather significant extent. When engineered with comfort and dependability in mind, wheelchairs, strollers and crutches can help a child independently move around. Especially with the technology for some newer models of wheelchairs, switches and joysticks make it easy for younger children to learn.
Having durable medical equipment is only half of the battle. The best way to teach a toddler to drive a power wheelchair is to practice with him/her and there are many toys out there that even do the job of preparing them for the complexities of the equipment. The general principles of seating and mobility can all be learned and you’d be surprised at how fast these children are able to take them up! Ultimately, I believe in their abilities in the face of their disabilities and having the durable medical products is what helps them believe that too.
