STARS Rehabilitation Engineering brings wedding bliss to patient Roy

Roy taking on ‘flower girl’ duties at his grand daughter’s wedding thanks to his customised wheelchair seating.

When 98-year-old great-grandfather Roy was invited to his beloved granddaughter’s wedding, at first he didn’t think he would be able to attend. Roy’s wheelchair set-up required two people to help him stand and it was so unconformable he could only sit it in for less than an hour. Being able to get through the wedding ceremony and reception seemed like an impossibility.

In stepped in the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre (REC) at STARS. The only professional engineer-led service of its kind in Queensland and one of only a few in Australia, the REC specialise in building or modifying assistive technology and mobility equipment to suit patient’s personal needs.

REC Director Oliver Mason was confident a solution could be found for Roy.

“We see a lot of patients at REC who need customised wheelchair seating, from young children to the elderly,” Oliver said.

“In Roy’s case we collaborated with STARS physiotherapist Angela Williamson to design a cushion taller than the standard height to enhance his sit-to-stand ability, while carefully selecting foams that balanced support and comfort so he could remain seated comfortably throughout the wedding.

“All of this was completed remotely utilising measurements provided by Roy’s granddaughter, the bride to be, negating the need for Roy to travel to our clinic.”
With the new custom wheelchair seating in place Roy was not only able to attend the wedding, but also play a significant role in the ceremony, taking on flower girl duties.

Roy could sit in his chair for longer periods and be included in all parts of the wedding, enjoying the garden, the cocktail hour and the whole dinner reception, including the speeches. He could also stand easily to his walker and walk short distances.

Roy declared it “the best wedding he had ever been to”. Roy lives with his granddaughter and her now husband, so it meant the world to her and her family to have him present at her wedding.

The custom wheelchair seating has also made a big difference to Roy’s daily appointments. Independently standing from a seated position has meant less need for manual handling from family members and he no longer experiences the same level of stiffness when he gets out of the chair.

For Oliver, seeing the photo of Roy at the wedding is a wonderful reminder of the importance of the work they do.

“Improving a patient’s mobility equipment can have such an impact on a patient’s quality of life- whether it be allowing them to return to work, enjoy a hobby or attend special family events – it is all about getting people back to doing what they love and find fulfilling,” he said.