Now that I’ve had my new chair for about six weeks, it’s time to reflect and review the Omeo, a relatively new power chair device for wheelchair users.
I first heard about the Omeo in 2020 when my husband saw his friend Gretchen on Facebook using the chair. As it turned out, she is an ambassador of the company and we reached out for a demo. It took a couple of months to get it scheduled, but once we did, it was well worth the wait. I couldn’t remember the last time I had smiled so much and felt so free! And as we heard more and more about the chair throughout the demo, I decided I HAD to have it.
Then I learned the price. $26,500. My heart dropped to my toes.
This vehicle is made in New Zealand, not FDA approved and isn’t covered by insurance.
BUT. I thought in my head…it would be a complete game-changer.
BUT. I’ve been a wheelchair user long enough to know that life in a chair is not easy, it’s definitely not cheap, and any type of equipment adapted for an individual with a disability always has at least two more zeros (if not three) after it’s price tag, than the able-bodied equivalent.
BUT. On the way home after the demo, the car was silent. I had a lump in my throat; mad because I’m tired of trying to afford this lifestyle so unfortunately gifted me by an inattentive driver.
BUT. Then the wheels in my head started moving. And I spent months thinking about how I could make it happen. In the meantime, some fortunate events came about—a new job, a donation from a local philanthropist, friends pitching in, taking the risk to apply for a personal loan, and a few speaking engagements—the landscape was beginning to look much clearer. It was still a scary and indulgent financial leap, but I also felt that what it would add to, not just my, but OUR (Steve’s and my) lives, it was easier to swallow.
I took the plunge.
The first thing I did after taking on a literal monthly car payment due to the loan I took out, was to fully insure the chair.
Then I received my purchase on September 21st, when Omeo Agent “Omeo Mike” Neher brought the chair to my house. In the case of this chair, it isn’t just handed over and you’re off. It has a fairly steep learning curve, or at least it did for me.
The chair is build on the body of a Segway, which operates on a gyroscope. For more information, visit How Gyroscopes Work and How Segways Work.
The day I had ridden with Gretchen (Omeo Agent), I did flat and small-incline riding on a street with no traffic, so I felt confident going in to my training session with Mike when he showed up at my house. It didn’t take long though before that would change.
Steve was home with me to take delivery, and he and Mike worked together to help fit the chair. It comes with a standard-sized body, but the seat height adjustment is how you account for leg length. Mike spent about 6-7 hours with us over the course of two days, so I could learn to safely ride the Omeo. We stayed on the side streets and a park near my house. And I made sure I was never without a helmet.
As Mike was leaving, Steve and I were getting hungry, and I looked at him and said, “It’s Friday. Let’s go out!” After all, that was actually the impetus for us wanting a vehicle like this. We had wanted to be able to “walk” or “ride bikes” to dinner at the restaurants about three miles from our house. So we set off.
The night ended up being a disaster.
I had so many mishaps (riding through a rock garden, nearly toppling a large planter at the restaurant, ramming Steve’s ankle into a curb while he tried to save me while spinning out of control) I started to second guess my purchase. Now, I was scared of the chair on top of having the car payment. Not cool.
Fortunately, Omeo Mike came to the rescue. He was still in Denver (he lives in Oregon) and came back to my house. One incident at a time, we broke down what happened, how I got out of control, and what to do to fix the situation. I would realize later just what a valuable learning experience that night out would ultimately prove to be. Especially considering we had an upcoming vacation where we planned to use the Omeo a lot.
I got all (well most) of the bugs out in that one night. Thankfully.
After that, I practiced most days before we were ready to head to Hawaii and our beach getaway. And we learned as much as we could from Mike some best practices for travel (similar to a power chair) and headed off to see how the Omeo would do “on the road.”
Stay tuned for part 2…The Omeo Goes to the Beach
