At
3 months old, Brianna Beckstead was diagnosed with Spina Bifida, and
Chiari Hydrocephalus, a structural defect in the cerebellum which
interfered with her breathing function. Even at her very young age, she
already had an extensive history of surgery and prolonged hospital
stays. By the time she was 1 year old, it was clear Brianna would need
extensive and specialized mobility equipment to allow transport of the
medical equipment she relied upon to keep breathing. Her parents brought
her to Intermountain Homecare.
Her first chair was a non-powered chair, designed primarily to
accommodate her ventilator and oxygen equipment with supportive adaptive
seating that would help her tiny body to grow and develop as
orthopedically normal as possible. While not giving Brianna much
independence, it at least allowed her parents to take her outside the
home. As with all children, the more she grew, the stronger her need for
independence became. Intermountain Homecare’s wheelchair shop began
working on solutions that would grow with her, including her increasing
need to not rely on her parents at every turn. A specialized power chair
was designed that allowed her to move freely and independently,
accommodating not only her equipment, but the positioning her body
requires to be comfortable. [Brianna received her first motorized
wheelchair on Halloween Day (just in time for trick or treating with her
sister, Leah.) Brianna was just 2 years old.]
Brianna is now 7 years old. She is a clever girl with a sharp sense
of humor and a wry, albeit fragile, laugh. The wheelchair and equipment
provided by Intermountain Homecare has helped give her the ability to
enjoy life much in the same way other 7 year old girls do. She goes to
school, plays with friends, loves to draw and color, and is even able to
“ice skate.” Her dream is to be a doctor when she grows up.
Intermountain Homecare will be with her along the way to help make her
dream a possibility.