A Wheely big problem

 A wheely big problem


One of the biggest challenges I have found (as well as dealing with all the 'Joy' that pregnancy and severe morning sickness brings) is that prams and pushchairs are not designed for people with disabilities. We've googled, we've shopped, and we've been to baby shows galore, but no brand on the current UK market, or the international market come to that, is compatible for a wheelchair user.

We've seen what we want:

The trouble is it doesn't exist. Well, that's not strictly true, It does, but only in prototype form. It's not been produced... ANYWHERE??!!

Try an engineering firm, a disabled bike manufacturer, try a local college I thought, there has to be someone who would like to make this contraption for us? Well how wrong I was. That was until I saw a Facebook advertisement for a set of stairs made by Cirencester Fabrication Services...

I sent them a cheeky message, after all it couldn't do any harm could it? "Hey, fancy a challenge" I said.

A few messages, emails and phone calls later and that brings us to today - today I met Marc, or Marc the miracle I have affectionately entitled him. Whilst I nervously tell him what I was thinking would be good, but having no concept of actually how it would ever be possible, he has encouraged me that he WILL be able to make us something. Something within our limited budget, something innovative, something safe, but most important of all SOMETHING THAT EXISTS!!!

I'm beyond elated. The thought that I might end up with a pram where I can safely show my baby off from the comfort of my wheelchair without a sling or a carer in sight is just a dream. Just how amazing would that be, to experience what "normal" parents do when they simply take their child out for a walk. Of course I'm still nervous, I'm nervous it will prove too much of a challenge for Marc and his team, I'm nervous that we cant get it to work, I'm nervous that it wont be possible within the budget. But this is where I have to have faith. Faith that Marc knows more than me about engineering, faith that Marc understands my abilities or lack there of, and faith that together we can make the impossible, possible for my parenting journey, and then be in inspiration for other disabled parents to be.
For I have faith...


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