We have our new lift van!!!

[shovan]

Just wanted to update anyone who's interested. (see copy of my 1st post on this below

We have our new Braun lift van! Finally! We picked it up on Friday 11/3. It's great! You just press a button & the door opens, lift goes down & DH rolls right on in! I know, I sound a little crazy but this is just so much easier! This has been in the works for months, so you'll have to excuse my excitement!
Next week, we'll take a trip to have a driving assesment for DH. If they can find the right equipment for him to drive, the State is telling us they will cover that also! DH would be so excited to have a little more independence!
Have a good day!

1st post on 10/27/06:
I wanted to go outside & scream: Wooohooo!!
So I thought I tell you guys about instead!
My DH (50 with limb-girdle MD) just received a call from our state, LA. Rehabilation Services letting us know we did get the final approval for the state to pay for the lift conversion on our new van!!!! Wooohooo!
This has been a long process & we thought we had the final approval over a month ago. Well, we ordered the van from a local dealer, with a state approved Conversion Company. To make a long story short (shorter anyway), final papers still had to come from Baton Rouge. So, the van has been here in town for about 2 1/2 weeks in storage at the conversion co., but we could not pick it up until they recieved all the papers from the state! or pay for the conversion ourselves! ($21,500 for just the lift conversion, not including cost of the van.)
The local state rep. for this, now has the papers on her desk & my Dh just went sign them! We should be able to pick up our new van with the lift on Wednesday!! Yeah!!!

 

[Michigan]

Congratulations on your new van! You will find life is easier with a lift. However get ready for a new headache that will be people blocking you in so you can't get the lift open.

Before I got my rear lift van I had a side lift and used a cone to try to stop people from parking right up against the van and this worked most of the time except the time when someone threw it across the parking lot.

 

[SueM in MN]

I remember very well how exciting and wonderful it felt when we got our first ramp van!

 

[dclfun]

Woo hoo! If they can figure out a way for me to drive, then I feel confident that your husband can too. I'm thrilled for you!!!!!!!!!---Kathy

 

[shovan]

Thanks everyone! We are really enjoying it! DH was able to go out to lunch with the guys at work yesterday! Usually he would skip it because it was so much trouble, but not anymore! Just roll & go! He was really happy!

 

[Twende]

That is great news for your DH. I know he will enjoy his freedom.

You have every right to be thrilled!

 

[Karalynn]

Whoo hooo!!!!


Awesome news!! I'm so happy everything worked out for you guys. How great for dh!! Thanks for updating us and have fun!!!

 

[allie_to_you]

Congrats on the new van. I know you guys will be thrilled with it. My husband is in a wheelchair and he has a conversion van too so that he can drive, work, etc. It has given him so much independence! Have fun on your trip.

 

[shovan]

Thanks guys!

I love the DIS!

It's just so great to chat with other's who get it! I'm sure you all know what I mean, even close family members don't understand the trials, tribulations & now this CELEBRATION! My DH & I have been going around showing the van & making everyone watch as we operate the lift!! They sort of just laugh at us, they don't really get how much easier things will be for both of us, now that we have this lift-van!

 

[Karalynn]

Thanks guys!

I love the DIS!

It's just so great to chat with other's who get it! I'm sure you all know what I mean, even close family members don't understand the trials, tribulations & now this CELEBRATION! My DH & I have been going around showing the van & making everyone watch as we operate the lift!! They sort of just laugh at us, they don't really get how much easier things will be for both of us, now that we have this lift-van!

 

[Lillypug]

CONGRATULATIONS! Enjoy your new van (and much easier road trips!) I could not live without my van. BTW, did you guys get the EZ-lock system?

 

[Lillypug]

Thanks guys!

I love the DIS!

It's just so great to chat with other's who get it! I'm sure you all know what I mean, even close family members don't understand the trials, tribulations & now this CELEBRATION! My DH & I have been going around showing the van & making everyone watch as we operate the lift!! They sort of just laugh at us, they don't really get how much easier things will be for both of us, now that we have this lift-van!

Undisabled people really don't "get it." Having a vehicle that makes getting around makes your quality of life so much better.

You know what tickles me is when children are walking by (in a parking lot, etc) and they usually say "cool" or "wow" when our ramp is folding and the van is unkneeling. It is so cute when they get a kick out of our van. LOL

 

[shovan]

Hi, Nadia! Sorry I didn't see your post a few days ago. Yes, we did get the EZ lock & boy it's cool!! The whole van is amazing! Chad placed the lock on the front passenger side. You probably know this, but both front seats are on wheels & we have channels for tiedowns in the back. So the seats can go back in if we need more seating & tiedown the WC. I just thought that was so Cool!
We are traveling up to LA Tech in Ruston on Thurs. for a driving assessment for DH. If they find a driving system that works for him, LA Rehab Serv. is saying they'll pay for that also!! So if all goes well, we'll have Chad installing that as well, sometime soon!

 

[shovan]

Yeah, kids seem to be amazed at all of the HA stuff. They love the power WC, the lifts, etc.. They'll come up to my DH & ask some pretty cute questions. It's thier parents who really don't get it, they're often mortified over thier kids questions!!