Theraposture donates to DIY SOS
Theraposture, the leading specialist in assistive beds, chairs and cots, has donated a double combination adjustable bed to Amanda Worne from West Sussex as part of her DIY SOS TV home conversion.
Amanda Worne, aged 46 from Yapton near Arundel, is a remarkable athletic lady who continues to rebuild her life after experiencing a severe spinal injury. Amanda unfortunately crashed at high speed on her bicycle whilst training and now requires a wheelchair for mobility. Her family has just received a complete home transformation thanks to the flagship TV home makeover programme DIY SOS. As part of this ‘Big Build’ donation to remodel the Worne’s house for wheelchair accessibility, Theraposture has donated an electrically operated double combination bed so Amanda has greater independence, comfort and support.
Following her accident Amanda spent 51/2 months in Stoke Mandeville hospital. She underwent two major back operations and extensive physiotherapy to rebuild her strength. However, on discharge, her home was not suitable for her needs resulting in Amanda ‘not being able to be a mom’. This was why DIY SOS and Theraposture agreed to help.
Following close consultations with Amanda’s Occupational Therapist, Theraposture agreed to handcraft a double combination bed with profiling and variable height functionality on each side to benefit Amanda and her husband. The profiling gives postural support to Amanda when sitting up and she can raise her legs to manage pressure and circulation issues. By raising and lowering the bed Amanda is able to easily and independently transfer into her wheelchair which was a significant struggle with her old standard bed. The upholstery was finished in a unique vibrant material to fulfil the DIY SOS designer’s scheme and the Theraposture specialist technicians completed the install free of charge.
Amanda comments: “My Theraposture bed has made a massive difference to my life. I can now sit up without having to struggle. It also means I can use the bed to elevate my feet. When you have a spinal injury, your circulation is quite harboured in a lot of ways so this elevation helps any fluid disperse. This bed is an absolutely vital part of my life transition.”
“I think mornings are a struggle anyway in life, in general. Then add a disability and a bed that doesn’t work can make a disaster. I used to have two voices in my head – one saying stay in bed and the other encouraging me to tackle the day. Now I don’t have any of those contradictory thoughts, I wake up and its totally different, it’s like a massive cloud has been lifted that was weighing me down. Since having the bed I have being so much more aware of how much easier life is with it. I’m really grateful.”
Amanda adds: “I don’t use a transfer board anymore whereas with my old bed it was something that I had to do as it was too tall. I would regularly forget my board and leave it downstairs which was a real pain. Now I don’t need it, which is important from a physiological point of view as I have eliminated one piece of kit. My bed transfers are also so much quicker. When you become disabled you have to learn to be patient, everything takes a lot longer. So any small thing can make a massive difference, my bed having really low access is one of them.”
“There is another link with Theraposture as I now have a through floor lift donated to me by Eric Rivers’ family. The late Eric Rivers was another recipient of a DIY SOS conversion and Theraposture bed which helped him during his fight against Motor Neurone Disease.”
In summary Amanda said: “This Theraposture bed ‘is me’, it has my name all over it, it’s a Mandy bed! When I had my old bed I would lie awake at night, unable to get comfortable. I would sometimes resort to getting out of bed and sitting in my shower chair just so I could change my position. Now I can move myself at the touch of a button. Once sleep break downs it can affect everything in your life. I now feel refreshed and have a lot more energy during the day. My Theraposture bed is really beautiful and just the best bed. I would really recommend it to anyone with a disability, it is absolute first-class.”
You can see Amanda demonstrating her new bed HERE