Mike is supported by BraunAbility and his local mobility dealer. When you purchase a mobility product from BraunAbility, you join a powerful community.
Having recently retired, Mike Tiffany was ready to live a life without much worry or care. He had the two things he needed for a great retirement: time and his vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe. What Tiffany didn't expect though, is that he'd become an amputee in a matter of months.
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A Montana native living with type 2 diabetes, Tiffany noticed a red rash on his leg one morning, and it began to burn relentlessly. After weeks of medical observation, cellulitis was diagnosed, but not before the infection had eaten away at his left leg’s tissue and bone, leaving him at risk for life-threatening complications. Tiffany told his doctor to amputate or hand him a hacksaw so he could do it himself.
Tiffany became an amputee, losing his left leg. That amputation ultimately saved his life. Months after the amputation, he returned home, but his medical issues hadn't subsided. Despite a titanium prosthetic that allowed him to walk, his right knee began to buckle under the pressure of doing double-duty for his body, and a nagging pressure sore sent him back to the hospital, resulting in another surgery, another rehabilitation process, and the eventual loss of his prosthetic. As a result, Tiffany was left stuck in his home for 18 months. While he could ask others to help him with transportation, he felt a bit embarrassed asking for help with a task he was able to do independently before his amputation. “My Tahoe was just feet away from me, and I sat here locked up in my house,” said Tiffany.
The BraunAbility Turny Evo Seat and Chair Topper
Tiffany searched for solutions to get back behind the wheel, and eventually he learned of the BraunAbility Turny Evo and Chair Topper. The Turny Evo seat could be installed in the driver position of his Tahoe, and with the push of a button, it would swivel out of the car and lower down to a meet Tiffany at the height of his wheelchair, allowing him to transfer into the seat. With another button push, the process was reversed, and he could get behind the wheel again.
While Tiffany could get in the car with his swivel seat, he needed a way to get his wheelchair in, too. Utilizing a folding manual wheelchair to get around, Tiffany had the BraunAbility chair topper installed on the roof of his vehicle.
The chair topper stores compatible folding manual wheelchairs in a rooftop storage box, allowing drivers and passengers to maintain interior vehicle space. Together, these mobility solutions allowed Tiffany to keep his current vehicle. He visited his local BraunAbility dealer and had the Chair Topper and swivel seat installed. The day he saw the completed product is one he’ll never forget. “I probably spent 20 minutes sitting in my truck with my hands on the steering wheel, just appreciating what was about to happen. I was getting my life back,” said Tiffany.
Vehicle Modifications and Driving with a Disability
With his independence back, Tiffany feels like he has a new lease on life and appreciates every trip, no matter how small. “I can go anywhere now. I’ll drive somewhere to get hot chocolate instead of making it at home. Why? Because I can,” he said. “When I found BraunAbility, everything changed.”
No matter where he travels in the state of Montana, people often stop and ask him what he’s driving and how it works. “Everywhere I go, it’s the same reaction. People are just amazed,” he said. “Last time I was out there was a little boy watching me get out of the truck and into my wheelchair with his mouth open, just staring at me like I was a cool Transformer.”
Tiffany decided his Turny Evo and Chair Topper changed his life so much, he wants to make sure all who pass him on the road know about it. He had a custom, colorful wrap done that's bound to get the attention of anyone within eyesight. He demonstrates his vehicle adaptations whenever he gets the opportunity, letting people know about BraunAbility and vehicle modifications for people with disabilities. He wants to help anyone he can learn how to regain their personal freedom, something he never thought he’d lose.“I never dreamed I’d be in a wheelchair and having to ask people for rides just to get to my doctor appointments. Those days are over now, all thanks to BraunAbility, he said.
Whether you're looking for a vehicle with a ramp, or mobility products like the Turny Evo or chair topper, contact your local BraunAbility dealer to learn more about vehicle adaptations for people with disabilities.
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