JOPLIN, MO.--- Michael Hohler's job is sort of like a car mechanic, only he works on power chairs. He took part in the Mobility Checkpoint at the Freeman Health Essentials in Joplin. The goal was to essentially give the chairs an oil change.
"They're their legs. So, they may eat in them, do their everyday activities. They get dirty and dusty," says Michael Hohler, Freeman Equipment Technician.
One of the most common problems with power chairs is a low battery. So, those have to be replaced often. Some of the people try to fix their own chairs with duck tapes.
"They have multi color duck tape or whatever color their seat is," says Hohler.
Terri Burker is a cancer survivor. She had cancer of the knee. So, it's sometimes is hard to walk. She says checkpoints like these are essential.
"Amazing, and many of them wouldn't of gotten their chairs repaired if it wasn't for us," says Burker.
Terri says having a chair is like a car and they go through a lot of abuse.
"The screws work there is way loose. Airlines are very rough wheelchairs for us to get from place to place," says Burker.
Clarice Betis has M.S., and she can maneuver her chair on a dime. She says that's only after a lot of practice.
"I can't move anything but my left arm. So, I have to have it," says Betis, Used Chair 30 Years.
Like a car, if you don't fix it, the chair will eventually stop working.
"As many miles as people put on them for everyday mobility. They don't realize the maintenance they should be doing," says Betis.
The event has been a yearly tradition and they usually fix about 50 chairs.
"They're their legs. So, they may eat in them, do their everyday activities. They get dirty and dusty," says Michael Hohler, Freeman Equipment Technician.
One of the most common problems with power chairs is a low battery. So, those have to be replaced often. Some of the people try to fix their own chairs with duck tapes.
"They have multi color duck tape or whatever color their seat is," says Hohler.
Terri Burker is a cancer survivor. She had cancer of the knee. So, it's sometimes is hard to walk. She says checkpoints like these are essential.
"Amazing, and many of them wouldn't of gotten their chairs repaired if it wasn't for us," says Burker.
Terri says having a chair is like a car and they go through a lot of abuse.
"The screws work there is way loose. Airlines are very rough wheelchairs for us to get from place to place," says Burker.
Clarice Betis has M.S., and she can maneuver her chair on a dime. She says that's only after a lot of practice.
"I can't move anything but my left arm. So, I have to have it," says Betis, Used Chair 30 Years.
Like a car, if you don't fix it, the chair will eventually stop working.
"As many miles as people put on them for everyday mobility. They don't realize the maintenance they should be doing," says Betis.
The event has been a yearly tradition and they usually fix about 50 chairs.
