What is the most useful piece of equipment?

What is the most useful
piece of equipment?

- It's been different at
different times.

The first piece of
useful equipment

was her pushchair.

She was too big for a normal
child size buggy.

It allowed her to be really comfortable.

- It's given us the freedom to
do things.

- Actually for us, her
mobility car.

It has enabled us to go on so
many adventures

and done so many things
which without the car

we would never have been
able to have done.

- I think from a practical point of
view though

in terms of equipment, it's
the suction machine.

In terms of keeping her secretions
and airways open.

- At the moment now she has
got bigger her Achiever bed

is the best thing we have got
in our house

because it is really comfortable
for her [Isabella]

and we can change her easily
because she is difficult to lift,

and carry, it makes things
easier for us.

Two things I'd probably say.

Her p-pod chair was great.

She had other chairs, a stander but
the p-pod seemed

to be more comfortable, relaxing
and natural for Ruby.

We had difficulties with her arms

in some of the chairs.

So, we loved the p-pod.

The other one was the

vibrocushion.

It was more of a sensory

piece of equipment.

Ruby loved lying on it,
she was so comfortable

and Sam would get on
with her.

She could hear the music
and feel it.

Ruby could feel it through
the cushion, that was

one of her favourites.

We got a lot of things

For me it was the bath aid.

That was a god send because
trying to hold a baby

with no inner core strength and
trying to was

a slippery child and trying
to get that child

out of the bath has
been second to none.

Also her p-pod is very useful.

It gives Hope another perspective
to look around the room

and to see things from
a different hight.

That has been very useful.

For Amelie one of the
biggest problems she has

are her secretions.

We've used various ways
in controlling it

but when we got the
suction machine

at first

we rarely used it and it
sat in its box.

But, over time it has become
one of the most

important things.

It really helps us maintain
the fact she is healthy,

she isn't getting any chest infections.

You grow to use it and you grow
to realise how important it is.

At first it is a bit of a
worrying piece of kit to use,

but then it becomes
second nature.

When a child coughs, you
use the suction machine.

It makes such a huge difference

rather than have them

coughing all the time.

You can just help them get
rid of their secretions

and they will be very comfortable.

I think another important
piece of equipment

is the wheelchair.

They are just special prams.

Amelie was in a regular
highstreet pram

for longer than most children

because we have a younger child

so we had them in a double buggy.

We had to adapt it in several ways

and now we've had this pram for a year

and she is very comfortable in it

and we use it in the house as well.

We can go anywhere with her,
on trains, taxis, cars.

So, as soon as they start to
need more support

with seating it is a very
important piece

of equipment to get.

It helps with their general health

and you getting around giving

them new experiences.

I think at first, we were
resistant.

Lots of other families were
about actually having the wheelchair

because they are going
to look different.

Well, they do, because they
are in a wheelchair

and they have a condition
that requires it.

I wish we had got one earlier
because I think she would

have benefited a lot more

because we use it for everything.

We use it in the house as a
seating solution.

It's definitely something to consider

as soon as you can

because it will make a big difference.