[EFSTA]

hi eveeryone,

my brother is on his 28th day of being a c5/c6 paraplegic, he hasnt used his hands yet,
and we arent sure if he is going to either, he has strong shoulders tho.

anyways..its his 27th birthday on tuesday , his trackiostomy has just been removed
and he can now speak to us...poor thing must of been totally frustrated!!!

because we are new to this lifestyle now, we have no idea what to get him for his birthday.

a list of a few ideas would be so good, so a few of us can get him some things that he might find
handy or even help in his development in regaining some sort of normalcy.

i have suggested a portable dvd player, which is a fantastic idea according to his doctor.

he already has an ipod...any more ideas would be good guys

anything will help at the moment, mind diversion is the best thing at the moment coz he is only just starting to come to terms with the fact that he will never walk again, it has kind of hit home and he needs some cheering up...

thanks in advance
effie
xoxo

[Kwag_Myers]

How about a subscription to Netflix (to go with the DVD player)?

[qbounce]

Hi EFSTA, (Kwag),

Sorry for the disturbance on the other thread,,I didn't intend for that to happen. Please accept my appologies (both of you!).

Maybe pooling your families finances together to buy him a lap-top computer. There are so many extraordinary hands-free voice programs out there to help type. He'll get alot more use out of this, and still be able to watch movies, too!!

This post has been edited by qbounce: 31 March 2008 - 11:28 PM

[jass1]

The best gift you can give is unrestrained,please educate you self by reading more info

good luck

[topperf]

"anything will help at the moment, mind diversion is the best thing at the moment coz he is only just starting to come to terms with the fact that he will never walk again, it has kind of hit home and he needs some cheering up..."

Pity you fell like that.

well, If he likes gaming (wii, playstation and so on) maybe find him a huge gamepad, that would also be a little training for him...

best of luck.

thomas.

[ParaforGod]

Im so sorry to hear about your brother. I noticed the picture of the dog is that yours? Hes or she is beautiful. If its your brothers and the hospital has a garden then maybe you could bring the dog. I loved my dog and at the hospital I was at I saw some pets.
I think the laptop is great. Right now although he has people around to occupy him and keep him busy the laptop will also be something he can use when he gets home.

[longhaul]

A stripper or maybe singing telegraph stripping or a clown or a stand up comic or a streaker. Hang in there.................

[chrisandcori]

Favorite Cd's.. a Cool shirt with a Band or group he likes.. No reason not to still dress cool.. Don't forget hes still the same man.. Just a thought..Happy birthday to him!

[Dave Bishopstone]

Hi,

Like the idea of a laptop and an introduction to this website, which will be of immense value to your brother.

All the best to him and yourself!

[allis53ca]

not being referred to as "poor thing" might make a good gift too

[xmotocrossbum]

EFSTA, on Mar 28 2008, 06:53 AM, said:

hi eveeryone,

my brother is on his 28th day of being a c5/c6 paraplegic, he hasnt used his hands yet,
and we arent sure if he is going to either, he has strong shoulders tho.

anyways..its his 27th birthday on tuesday , his trackiostomy has just been removed
and he can now speak to us...poor thing must of been totally frustrated!!!

because we are new to this lifestyle now, we have no idea what to get him for his birthday.

a list of a few ideas would be so good, so a few of us can get him some things that he might find
handy or even help in his development in regaining some sort of normalcy.

i have suggested a portable dvd player, which is a fantastic idea according to his doctor.

he already has an ipod...any more ideas would be good guys

anything will help at the moment, mind diversion is the best thing at the moment coz he is only just starting to come to terms with the fact that he will never walk again, it has kind of hit home and he needs some cheering up...

thanks in advance
effie
xoxo

1 nothing in spinal cord injuries is set in stone when I was injured I was told Id never walk again call it stubborn or denial but here I am I can walk and do many things that when I was in the hospital I feared Id never do again
well do give him his space in the hospital and when hes back at home and have him push his therapy for the first four years I used the swimming pool a lot for exercise theres so many things you can do in the pool
hmmmm as for a gift how about a laplot ? the do have voice recognition programs available oh yeah treat as you always did to an extent dont cut him no slack

[azx43]

I really like all the ideas that I've seen mentioned so far! When I was in rehab, I really wanted something that could allow me to use my mind and think, instead of just the standard balloon or flowers. How about a subscription to a magaizine like Sports 'n Spokes or New Mobility? I get SnS myself, I look forward to it, and it defenitely helped with all the attitudinal barriers, i.e."you're life is over once you submit to wheelchair, walking is everything, and if you don't walk- you can't do anything."

Sports 'n Spokes emphasizes all the things you CAN do with a disability. There are many photos and articles that show people that use wheelchairs being active, fishing, playing basketball, camping, etc. I can honestly say that magizine opened my mind, and blown the minds of many people that I've seen reading it.When I 've read my copy, I like to leave it around in hopes of doing a little education!


P.S. I wish more doctors would read it.

This post has been edited by azx43: 03 August 2008 - 08:49 PM

[RaginTurtleHead]

When I was in the hospital... best gift I got was a HUGE get well poster signed by all my friends and coworkers.... In fact nearly 3 years later... I still have it. A close second was a laptop my dad got me so I could keep in touch with everybody.... the fact that I could watch movies on there didnt hurt either ;-)

Oh another thought... REAL FOOD

Find out what food outside of the hospital he is craving and bring it in for him. I LOVED when people brought me food... or starbucks or JambaJuice! Anything but the hospital crap

[Slowlegs]

Yep, I got food poisoning in the hospital about 4 months in and for the next 8 I had food delivered by friends, family as much as possible. Better than the gruel they serve you in there. What I may suggest if he does have limited movement in his hands is silly putty, flarp or something similar. My physio gave me some and I used to play with it when I was bored. She was amazed at how much more movement I got by just using that and she reckoned she was seeing improvements every day. And if he doesn't use it, it doesn't cost much and he could always donate it to the childrens hospital. Perhaps also a book (or even a talking book) like "Gimp" by mark Zupan, "Reach for the sky" by Paul Brickhill or a book called "from there to here" which is a book about 50 or so people living with SCI.

[In love with my paraplegic]

EFSTA, on Mar 28 2008, 12:53 PM, said:

hi eveeryone,

my brother is on his 28th day of being a c5/c6 paraplegic, he hasnt used his hands yet,
and we arent sure if he is going to either, he has strong shoulders tho.

anyways..its his 27th birthday on tuesday , his trackiostomy has just been removed
and he can now speak to us...poor thing must of been totally frustrated!!!

because we are new to this lifestyle now, we have no idea what to get him for his birthday.

a list of a few ideas would be so good, so a few of us can get him some things that he might find
handy or even help in his development in regaining some sort of normalcy.

i have suggested a portable dvd player, which is a fantastic idea according to his doctor.

he already has an ipod...any more ideas would be good guys

anything will help at the moment, mind diversion is the best thing at the moment coz he is only just starting to come to terms with the fact that he will never walk again, it has kind of hit home and he needs some cheering up...

thanks in advance
effie
xoxo

Hi I know this didnt get to you in time but I am new to this site and I am a wife of a paraplegic. and your question touched me now my husband accident happened back in 1991 so he has ajusted, so i went in and asked him honey picture yourself 28 days after your accident and your birthday is only a few days away what would you want>?

His answer was the gift of being treated the same as you would have before.

Thanks,
Tammy