Where has October gone? Part Deux

RAMP VAN RESOURCES

I got to talk with two important ramp van resources on island who can help with our transportation needs:

1. Albert Amiott of Ali'i Adaptive Equipment (albjoe@hotmail.com; work: 676-3816; cell: 232-7956) - ALbert is an adaptive equipment installer who works with van conversion companies in the mainland. Basically, he puts the finishing (and most important) touches to your van. This service is vital in the islands because as many of us know, there is no conversion service in Hawaii! For newly converted vans, one must look to purchase in the mainland, have it converted by, for example, Braun,and have it shipped to Oahu. Albert puts in whatever accessories come with the conversion, eg, automatic wheelchair clocks and delivers the van to you. Aside from this important service, he does the initial assessment (much like the fitting for a new wheelchair) before he advises you on the best route to take, eg. which van conversion is best suited to your needs. According to Albert, it takes a wide range of 2 weeks to 5 months from ordering to arrival of van in Hawaii, depending on the accessories the van requires. The average cost of a new Rollx converted van is $42,000 while a used one would cost in the mid-$20,000's.

2. Judy Heller of Access Aloha Hawaii (www.accessaloha.com; phone: 429-4560) - Judy provides converted van rentals. The cost depends on the number of days rental, with 2-3 days at $502, all inclusive.

Having scouted for the above information, let's proceed to the last reason why October just whizzed by like someone needing to answer nature's call FAST!

FRIENDS ARRIVE

We, in Hawaii, get visited a lot, one reason we are lucky we live Hawaii, especially to folks like us to whom arranging travel outside the home is like plotting a rocket launch, without NASA! So when Britt's longtime friend from UCLA, Karen Ito, fulltime professor and parttime caregiver to her husband who has Alzheimer's, breezed into town, it was definitely a reason to chart trips to museums and dinners with the family.

Meet my friend, Karen, from UCLA.

She took this picture of Diamond Head up in Tantalus when we made a wrong turn off of Makiki Street in search of the Contemporary Museum!. We had a fun drive, tho!



In the second week of Karen's visit, my pal from college, Sokie Roman-Dinglasan and hubby, Jimmy, came to visit, too! It was also around this time that my once trusty steed, DA CARAVAN, decided to cough and screech. Despite the van problems, Sokie, Jimmy and I had a great time reminiscing with our co-UP'ians at a picnic under the stars in our backyard and a lovely dinner at John Dominis.






So. Is it any wonder why my usually steady neural circuitry suffered a short? Well, the Trusty Steed is still in Windward Dodge but notice I already have November plotted on the right? Hah! I am on the rebound and ready for November! Are you?

Where has October gone?

It's almost the end of October. I didn't forget to make an October calendar of events, like I have for all the previous months of the year. It just went by so fast and now, at the edge of the third week, the fourth Thursday of the month, i think it is time to look back. Let me see why October streaked by like a speedskater on ice:

OKTOBERFEST WITH CHESTER

It started with Bruddah Chester Kahapea, taking Nancy, Tammie and me to the Oktoberfest celebration at Hale Koa, along with his friends who have made this a ritual over the years. It must have been the great fun we had: pitchers of beer, champagne, chardonnay, stronger stuff that you get in tiny cups and quaffed with a dozen other kindred folk in various hues of redness and degree of joviality! Since I volunteered to be the designated driver, I had fun watching these transformations. I also concluded that the Germans may not have the greatest cuisine but they sure know how to party. Herr Leader of the Grand March around the room had more people trailing him as the evening ripened. Dancing the polka (here with Nancy) and the "chicken dance" was the most fun! Thank you, Chester, for inviting us and we will surely join you again next Oktoberfest!

Here's us in merry revelry:





SUPPORT GROUP MEETING

Boy, we were soooo glad we didn't have to picnic it this month! Although we had a fantastic time, sitting on the greens by the hospital, feasting on the potluck dishes the Mahis, the Fujinos and our newbies, Walter and Sylvia Tanaka brought! Thank heavens we caught Jan Medusky on his way to the QCC and special thanks to Penny Chun who came by to drop off the photo album she assembled of our August yard sale! Look at our pictures from last month's "picnic meeting"!




So, this month, we had two "new" families - the Tanakas and Kathy Mason representing her mom, Mrs. Esposito - at this meeting so we all took turns giving our best shot at their questions. The questions have remained the same over all these years reflecting the similar, and familiar, sources of anxiety that seem to plague all newly diagnosed families: caregiving issues, comparing doctors and their compassion/understanding index, what community resources are out there, etc. I was reminded of my own dizzying confusion when I was at that stage many years ago. Every time we have new folks at our doorstep, I am glad that we have a resource such as our support group with our many die-hard volunteers such as Nancy and Tammie Fujino, Dale and Paul Mahi, Tanya Mau-Halsall, and now Mary Valenti and many, many more who come back, month after month, generously sharing of their insights and knowledge.

Much mahalo, one and all!

VAN DEMONS

Our van conked out on us two (yes, two!!!) times this month. Britt said it is showing its pedigree: American and, I said, its age. It is a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan and it has given us great service over the years. Perhaps it is in its last legs, or more appropriately, its last tires. But we hope it will be around some more!

Meanwhile, who so generously loaned us their van so Britt can go to work without having to rent a van? None other than the Medusky's! Muchos majalos to both our angels, Jan and Vi! Otherwise, I would have called on favorite folks, Adrian and Russell, co-owners of Five Star Transcare (808-456-8457) who provide prompt, careful and friendly curb to curb service for a fee. They can bill your insurance, too, if their service is covered.

Van troubles are part of having to live with ALS. It starts with having to fork out a heaping amount of money to buy a converted van. Buying a used van from the mainland has been Tracy Sherman's job lately, so mom Nancy can look forward to painting the town red on a comfortable ride. She found this company which sells used ramp vans through Craig's list.

Bruddah Chester Kahapea uses the Handivan, which I have learned, requires you to be physically present in order to apply for and be eligible for service. DaBus is wheel-chair friendly so if you aren't much of a hurry to get somewhere, this is one way to get there.

As everyone who needs one knows by now, there is no van conversion service in Hawaii. All conversion is done in the mainland so be prepared to throw into the price tag the cost of shipping your van to Hawaii. I don't know where Britt got the idea but he told me Albert Amiot, Jr. of Ali'i Adaptive Equipment (albjoe@hotmail.com) can equip your locally bought van with accessible options. I will have to talk to Albert more about this and get back to you next post....

TO BE CONTINUED....