Tristan
Moulton came to Homecare just days before his second birthday. His tiny
frame, just 19 pounds, didn’t carry enough strength to support his own
head, or allow him to sit in an upright position.
Diagnosed with Type II Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a child like Tristan
will grow and develop mentally, emotionally, and physically, with the
exception of muscle. In other words, the more Tristan grew, the weaker
he would become. Already able to speak in full sentences, express fears
and concerns, and display a preference in colors for his wheelchair, it
was apparent Tristan was a very smart little boy.
When it was determined that Tristan was a good candidate for a
power wheelchair, the seating specialists of Intermountain Homecare
went to work assembling a chair that would accommodate his specific
needs. His chair would need to support his very small frame,
tilt back to allow him to control his head movements, be easily adapted
to grow with him over time yet allow the electronic programming changes
needed as Tristan becomes weaker over time. To achieve the desired level
of independence it was also critical that the chair allow Tristan to
interact with children of his own age and at floor level, while still
offering access to the rest of his world like desks, eating counters,
and door openers. Not a small order.
Determined to provide Tristan with a more appropriate quality of
life, the seating specialists and physical therapists of Intermountain
Homecare’s Wheelchair Shop built a wheelchair that met his needs. After
an 11-month process, Homecare was able to deliver Tristan his custom wheelchair, just one day after his third birthday.
After an hour of adjusting the chair, tightening straps, and
programming electronics, Tristan was given his very first real taste of
autonomy and freedom. As he began to navigate his new chair, the quiet
sound of a near-breathless giggle told his therapists, and his parents,
that the struggle to get the right chair was clearly worth it.