‘The fall broke my spine. But ACC and Freedom Mobility gave me hope for the future.’
Jane Robinson fell out of a tree, resulting in partial paralysis. At first, getting around was a slow and painful struggle. Until her ACC Consultant pointed her in our direction.
Jane Robinson has long loved quilting as a hobby. In fact she was a keen member of the Whangarei Patchwork and Quilters Club, displaying and selling her pieces as well as helping administer the organisation. It was another of Jane’s passions, however, that led to tragedy: working on her lifestyle block. Attempting to clear the upper part of a partly-fallen tree after Cyclone Gabrielle, the 65-year-old fell, landing awkwardly on another tree. The impact was enough to paralyse her, retaining only upper-body function.
After her accident and a period of rehabilitation, Jane had to transfer in and out of her private vehicle, “It involved quite a lot of upper body strength,” says Jane. “ It really was very painful and incredibly exhausting. Especially when I needed to go to more than one place on a trip.” As a result, Jane wasn’t always so keen on venturing out.
Fortunately, her ACC Consultant eventually arranged for her to have a Freedom Mobility Accessible Van. This meant Jane could wheel straight into the van from her chair, making trips out much more comfortable and enjoyable. “As well as regular travel to the hospital, the van lets me do so many of the things I love, like getting out and about with the grandchildren,” she says. While Jane still isn’t pain free, the ease and comfort of the travelling in the van has made a world of difference to her.
Jane’s had a few changes of vehicle with us, including replacements for maintenance, and is now back happily driving the van we first gave her. Along the way, however, she took a particular shine to the Mercedes Sprinter we loaned her. So guess what’s heading her way shortly? Vehicle logistics like this play a big part in getting things right for customers, and Jane’s case was handled throughout by our staff member Georgia. “I was super impressed with the Freedom Mobility team, especially Georgia,” says Jane. She was also very happy with the drivers who delivered the vehicles to her. “They were always so kind and patient in showing how everything worked.”
In fact, Jane was so grateful for the way we treated her as a customer that she decided to give us a very special ‘thank-you’. Seeing the Freedom Mobility logo on our collateral, it inspired her to get back into quilting after a two-year absence. “I felt the logo summed up the journey I had been on, depicting the road ahead I have yet to travel and the sun representing a brighter future.” So she decided to make a quilt based on our logo. She was lucky to have a Janome machine with a start/stop button which meant she could by-pass the usual foot pedal operation. It was not easy and incredibly frustrating at times but she managed to get it done. Along the way she has discovered a local machine repairer, who has come up with some clever modifications that will make quilting easier. Much like our hand control cars with controls on the steering wheel, a modified pedal on the table top will allow Jane to operate it with her elbow while sewing.
Meanwhile, it’s another form of transport that Jane is most excited about. She is set to take delivery of an all-terrain wheelchair that will allow her to venture out and about on her farm again. Jane’s positive approach to the journey that lies ahead has certainly inspired us at Freedom Mobility. We think it’s only fitting that she now has not one, but two, vehicles to help get her there.
