February 10, 2022

COVID restrictions have impacted many people in a variety of ways. Some people got crafty; others baked. Some folks took up a new hobby and others dusted off an old one. But overall, there is one thing virtually everyone did, and that was stay home.

Linda is no exception. Over the last few years, she hasn’t been as active as she used to be, and her leg muscles have weakened to such an extent that she has been falling often. St.Amant physiotherapist Rita recommended that she get more exercise to help rebuild the strength in her legs, however her fear of falling was making her hesitant.

A member of her support team suggested she try a small stationary pedal bike. It is small enough to use while sitting in her chair and she can carry on with other activities that she enjoys. This will help build strength and improve her stamina, while keeping her safe from falls.

Thanks to your donations, Linda is now happily using her new pedal bike! This eliminates her fear of falling and helps her get healthy while she watches TV or works on puzzles; two of her favorite past times. It will help Linda get her heart rate up and maintain range of motion in her ankles, knees and hips.

The display screen allows her to track her progress and set new goals. She can even put it on the table and use her arms to pedal, so she can build upper body strength too.

Because of your wonderful support, Linda is gaining strength and confidence and improving her overall health.

Thank you!

November 10, 2021

Spending 8-16 hours a day in a wheelchair means that comfort and support is not a luxury but a necessity. Wheelchair users will tell you that an ill-fitting wheelchair will cause pressure sores, issues with posture, difficulty with eating and digestion and can lead to being confined to home or worse bed.

Andie is one of many people supported by St.Amant that use a wheelchair to get around every day. She is a very social young woman who enjoys going to bingo, bowling with her friends and getting out to swim at the local pool. She especially loves to help babysit her four young nephews.

Recently, her mom, Joan, began to notice that Andie was often leaning to one side when in her wheelchair and was twisted in her seat, despite her mom’s help to sit straight. “Andie rarely complains about anything,” said Joan “but I could tell that she was uncomfortable.”

St.Amant Physiotherapist, Macara recommended a new custom molded back and seating for her wheelchair to improve Andrea’s positioning. Like so many specialized health items needed by people with disabilities, this seating is very expensive and is not covered by regular health funding.  The cost is out of reach for Andie’s family.

Both Joan and Macara know how essential supportive seating is for Andie’s overall health and well-being. Andie spends nearly all of her waking time in her wheelchair, so it is imperative that she is well positioned.

“Being seated properly will allow Andrea to be comfortable for longer periods of time and will provide her with a greater ability to continue to do all of the things that bring her joy and fulfillment,” Macara explains.

Your donation will provide the custom seating Andie needs to ensure that she can keep bowling, babysitting and playing bingo!

www.stamant.ca/equipment

February 5, 2021

Claudette’s main source of happiness is spending time window shopping, getting together with her long time love and cruising the streets looking out the window.

Due to changing health needs, these important things were becoming less accessible when she could no longer safely transfer into the standard seat in the van. Since wheelchair accessible vans are usually shared between homes, this left Claudette housebound half of the time.

St.Amant Occupational Therapist Shannon Hargreaves recommended a Bruno valet transfer seat that could be used in a regular van. These are very cost prohibitive, an expense far beyond anything that Claudette could manage on her own, so all efforts were made to request funding from government funding agencies. Sadly, these requests were denied so her staff turned to St.Amant Foundation for help.

Thanks to your generosity, the Bruno valet seat was purchased and installed in the van and Claudette regained valuable mobility and independence. Even though mall visits are out of the question right now, she is still able to go for drives and, most importantly, have physically distant outdoor visits with her loved ones.

Claudette is grateful for the increased independence the power seat gives her. At 56 years old, she has been supported by St.Amant since childhood and was one of the first to move into a community home. She values the ability to get out into her neighbourhood without having to rely on Handi-Transit or van sharing and continues to find joy in these excursions despite the current COVID-19 restrictions.

It is your generous support that made this possible for Claudette. THANK YOU!