Susan Ongirski

"I think I'll go take a nice, hot shower." Most of us say that and don't think a thing about it. But not Susan Ongirski—and people like her. Just maneuvering into the bathroom can be an ordeal.

Susan has spinal neuropathy, which means she can't walk. And she lives in a two-story house—with the bathroom on the second floor. So how does that work? She simply "parks" her wheelchair at the bottom of the steps, transfers to a chair glide—and—in Mary Poppins fashion, glides up the banister to the top floor. From there, she scoots herself into the bathroom, and then hops up the entrance ramp that leads into the shower—on her rear-end! Ouch!

What she wanted and needed was a shower chair. It would await her at the top of the stairs, where she would transfer into it from the chair glide. Then it would be a simple procedure of wheeling herself into the bathroom, up the ramp and into a wonderfully steamy-hot shower.

But Medicare wouldn't pay for it, and other disability organizations insisted the rolling shower chair is not considered needed durable equipment. Don't get us started…

Suffice it to say, Alternatives in Motion saw things differently and purchased the rolling shower chair for Susan. And in gratitude, Susan wrote the following poem:

Words can only say so much,
About the way I feel,
For you are like a ray of hope,
When help just seemed unreal!

My faith for man has been restored,
And strengthens my belief,
That somewhere kindness still exists,
Which creates an inner peace!

So, once again, I thank you sir,
You put my mind at ease,
And gave me independence,
With this spinal cord disease!!

We think that says it all.