Renting a wheelchair?
October 31, 2015 7:55 AM Subscribe
My friends son is sick and REALLY wants to go trick or treating. Help me help them find a wheelchair!
This is last minute, they are living near Wilmington NC and if you have any ideas they could call. She is trying local supply stores and drug stores with no luck. Does anyone know of any places that might do last minute wheelchair rental, or charitable orgs in the area that might help or she could all to ask? He has really been struggling and she didn't know it was this important to him until today. Any ideas would be appreciated!
This is last minute, they are living near Wilmington NC and if you have any ideas they could call. She is trying local supply stores and drug stores with no luck. Does anyone know of any places that might do last minute wheelchair rental, or charitable orgs in the area that might help or she could all to ask? He has really been struggling and she didn't know it was this important to him until today. Any ideas would be appreciated!
Response by poster: He's older, middle school. He's been ill for a few months and out of school and in and out of the hospital for weeks at a time. They think it is chron's but I don't think they know for sure since it's been so debilitating and treatment resistant. He has lost so much weight because he can't eat anything. Since he was older she didn't think it would matter so much to him but I think it's just hitting him how much he can't do and they still don't really know how to fix it. I will ask her about a wagon.
posted by xarnop at 8:15 AM on October 31, 2015
posted by xarnop at 8:15 AM on October 31, 2015
Maybe sign up for and post on Nextdoor.com (like a hyper-local craigslist where people use their real names)? Someone might have one they can lend.
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:19 AM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:19 AM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
Are there any on Craigslist? When I found myself suddenly needing a wheelchair for my sweetie, going second hand was the way to go. She can always sell it afterwards.
posted by Too-Ticky at 8:20 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Too-Ticky at 8:20 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Consider calling a hospital or med center, or a nursing home, to ask for their lists of rental places, to make sure there aren't rental businesses she's overlooked.
If they know anyone who has recently been ill and is now better, or a friend or church-member or other community org person who's been looking after a sick parent, ask if they could borrow their wheelchair for just the evening.
posted by aimedwander at 8:21 AM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
If they know anyone who has recently been ill and is now better, or a friend or church-member or other community org person who's been looking after a sick parent, ask if they could borrow their wheelchair for just the evening.
posted by aimedwander at 8:21 AM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
Can he walk a bit? Maybe recruit some neighbors and/or older kids or friends who could help him get to a couple houses. He could put his arm over a shoulder or two for support. Getting him super involved with handing out candy could be a lot of fun, too.
posted by amanda at 8:22 AM on October 31, 2015
posted by amanda at 8:22 AM on October 31, 2015
Response by poster: She does have a wagon! I am still hoping they find a wheelchair but at least they have a back up plan. She said he wants to go bad enough he will ride in the wagon. I am so happy they have an option! I've been watching all these hospital visits and updates from another state and I want this kid to have at least something good!! I am sharing ideas with her from here as well to try in case they can find him one, so feel free to share if you have more ideas. Thank you all!!!
posted by xarnop at 8:28 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by xarnop at 8:28 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Call and ask local churches. Many churches especially larger ones keep a few wheelchairs for situations like this.
posted by ilovewinter at 8:32 AM on October 31, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by ilovewinter at 8:32 AM on October 31, 2015 [4 favorites]
The local fire department may have a few available, if she hasn't tried that already. Airports also have courtesy wheelchairs, maybe she could call and ask to borrow one?
posted by notjustthefish at 10:02 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by notjustthefish at 10:02 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Your local Red Cross likely does this. I went to my sister's graduation in a wheelchair borrowed or rented from the Red Cross.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:06 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by DarlingBri at 10:06 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Call a manager at a local big box retailer, appeal to their sense of community, and maybe they'll lend one of those motorized scooters many of them have for their patrons? If she offers to hang a sign on it "Scooter Loaned by BigBoxMartDepot", maybe they'd be even more amenable?
posted by SuperSquirrel at 10:08 AM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by SuperSquirrel at 10:08 AM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
Yes the Red Cross definitely does equipment loans (not rentals), however in my area you have to plan in advance. It's not a same day exercise.
Have you thought about renting other types of equipment. Maybe a golf cart? Some sort of landscaping equipment? Basically anything wheeled or motorized that could go on a sidewalk? How cool would that be to trick or treat on a backhoe, even if you couldn't go far.
posted by crazycanuck at 10:21 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Have you thought about renting other types of equipment. Maybe a golf cart? Some sort of landscaping equipment? Basically anything wheeled or motorized that could go on a sidewalk? How cool would that be to trick or treat on a backhoe, even if you couldn't go far.
posted by crazycanuck at 10:21 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Look on Facebook BST groups for the area, as well as special needs supply groups. They're generally pretty active.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 10:51 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 10:51 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you know anyone in your local film scene, wheelchairs are often "borrowed" for use as camera dollies. Someone might have one or know where to get one.
posted by Etrigan at 10:51 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Etrigan at 10:51 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: How far does he want to go and what's the sidewalk/road situation around them? With the help of a friend I think a block or two would be navigable in something as simple as a rolling desk chair.
posted by telegraph at 11:02 AM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by telegraph at 11:02 AM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
This place does rentals. They list a weekend number you could try. Have you tried just googling for wheel chair rentals in Wilmington, NC? That's how I found that place.
posted by AppleTurnover at 12:19 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by AppleTurnover at 12:19 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Many local Goodwill stores also do medical equipment loans; she might try them. (I recently donated some to the one by me.)
posted by pitrified at 12:28 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by pitrified at 12:28 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also try churches --- many churches will keep a closet full of stuff (wheelchairs, crutches, canes, cribs, potty chairs, etc), the kind of things people need short-term and don't want to buy.
posted by easily confused at 1:11 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by easily confused at 1:11 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you all so much for your responses-- it being a weekend and last minute, a lot of the normal options are not available, but I think they will try the rolling chair idea or the wagon (he doesn't want to be professor x but it would be perfect!).
I thank everyone for coming up with ideas-- the good news is I think my friend felt very supported getting all the ideas and went from feeling like it's hopeless to being confidant they can make something happen for him, so I am very happy about that! She did say the doctors feel confident they are doing the right things it had just gotten dangerously severe and can be hard to get under control from there, but hopefully he really will be feeling better soon! Thank you all, happy Halloween!
posted by xarnop at 1:59 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
I thank everyone for coming up with ideas-- the good news is I think my friend felt very supported getting all the ideas and went from feeling like it's hopeless to being confidant they can make something happen for him, so I am very happy about that! She did say the doctors feel confident they are doing the right things it had just gotten dangerously severe and can be hard to get under control from there, but hopefully he really will be feeling better soon! Thank you all, happy Halloween!
posted by xarnop at 1:59 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
I am going to second the Facebook idea, if you or someone you know post on there you need a wheelchair quick you may get a response. I have one is storage and if I saw a post like that I would get it out in a new york minute for someone needing it.
posted by just asking at 3:20 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by just asking at 3:20 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Aaaaw her oldest son spent half the day searching for one and found one among family! YAY it's a Halloween miracle!!!
posted by xarnop at 6:25 PM on October 31, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by xarnop at 6:25 PM on October 31, 2015 [12 favorites]
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posted by amanda at 8:06 AM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]