March 10, 2017
On March 3rd, Senator Harriette Chandler invited our durable medical reuse program to her community access TV show Beacon Hill Chat. Sen. Chandler learned about us at a recent legislative forum hosted by Easter Seals, the Center for Living and Working and Elder Services of Worcester. She clearly loved the program’s mission and wanted to assist us with spreading the word among her constituents in Central Massachusetts. We were delighted!
Senator Chandler expected to interview me with someone who has benefited from REquipment donations and would tell their story. At the last minute, however, our invited program user was not able to attend and we thought we were in trouble.
Then in rolled Randi Sargent!
Randi works for Easter Seals which has office space in the same building as REquipment, Inc. in Worcester. She is a former REquipment Program Director and, importantly, a recent REquipment device recipient! Graciously, Randi bailed us out of our embarrassment and we were off to the Worcester Community Access TV studio.
On Channel 194, Randi explained how she broke her ankle this winter, falling on the ice. Stuck in an air cast and crutches, she was told no to weight bearing for four months. Randi contacted REquipment for a manual wheelchair and a knee walker to giver her increased mobility and the capacity to get back to work.
Randi did a great job talking about the benefit the devices have made. She also spoke as a mom of a teenage son who uses durable medical equipment and the issues families like hers face wrestling with insurance providers as their children grow out of their equipment. Some devices are simply not covered by insurance at all. “There’s a huge need for pediatric DME and reuse can play an important role.”
Senator Chandler was so impressed, she has suggested REquipment host its own monthly cable show to share the stories of the many people we serve. If you watch WCCA TV look for us soon!