← A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast 
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- [00:02]
Heather
Welcome to A Place of Yes, a podcast about how I moved through my darkest hour. And for me, that was in channeling my grief into good. Welcome to the show. Hey, guys. I want to share something super special about this episode. It's another episode that's sponsored by Freedom Concepts. Back when Jake was alive, one of my biggest frustrations was that it was so difficult to find comfortable and cool looking equipment. It just didn't exist 15 years ago. But now Freedom Concepts has become an established and trusted name in the North American mobility market. And for those who don't really know what that means, let me break it down. Freedom Concepts is a company that makes adaptive equipment for people with special needs or medical challenges. And what that really means is they create things like bikes and chairs that make it possible for all kids to participate, to move, to play, to be included. And I love them for it. I love what they do, I love how they do it, and I love the way they show up for families. This special episode of A Place of yes was made possible with their support and it features two returning guests who lives have been directly impacted by Freedom Concepts. First, I talked to Effie Parks, who been on the show before. And this time we talk specifically about her son Ford, and how much joy his Freedom Concepts bike brings him. Then I catch up with Perrier and Otis, also previous guests in Jake's Help from Heaven Recipients. We recorded this segment at Otis's house with him chilling literally in his Freedom Concepts Chill out chair. You'll hear Otis in the background throughout the entire episode making really happy noises and adding his own special energy. It's kind of the best. So today we are talking with one of my favorite people again and I'm so excited because we are here with Effie Parks. For those who haven't listened before, Effie has been a guest on my show. I have been a guest on her show. Even though we live 3,000 miles away apart, I feel like she's just one of my besties. So we are here today to talk pretty specifically about her son, Ford. And I'm going to turn it over to her shortly so she can share a little bit about him. But we're going to talk about a specific piece of equipment that he has and sort of what he thinks about it, what Effie thinks about it, and the impact it's had on their family. So, Effie, welcome back.
- [02:38]
Effie Parks
Thank you, Heather. I've dubbed myself your bestie from the Westie. So there you go.
- [02:43]
Heather
I love that. Perfect.
- [02:44]
Effie Parks
Okay. Ford, man, what a guy. He's Eight. He's almost nine, which is bananas. Time is very confusing to me and how that happens. He has a rare genetic disorder called CT and NB1 syndrome. It's a neurodevelopmental disorder. So all aspects of his growth and development are severely affected. But one of his superpowers is his thrill seeking, joy riding, maniacal sense of humor and laughter, which I'm grateful for every single day. I think it was the only thing that kept me afloat several times, especially in the beginning. He's gonna get injured several times. But, like, I can't stop him. He loves to feel the wind on his face. I always explain Ford to people as. He's like Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump when Lieutenant Dan was up on that boat in the storm, like, screaming, come and get me. Like, that is Ford.
- [03:35]
Heather
Well, it's funny that you say that. And I just had such a visual when you. You did the Forrest Gump reference, but you have posted recently a few videos of him in his chair or on the bike. Literally. If his hair was any longer, I would see it because he. And the smile on his face.
- [03:50]
Effie Parks
100%. And, you know, I also just, like, try to do that thing that's very annoying to parents like us sometimes where I'm like, he's a kid. He's gonna get hurt. Because, you know, he actually did learn a lesson once when he realized what curbs were. It helped him flipping over and getting road rash on his face because now he understands what curbs do. So I kind of just go back to one. He's going to learn a lesson. Trial and error and risk and reward. And also, kids get hurt. Why can't Ford get hurt too sometimes? Yeah.
- [04:21]
Heather
Such a huge and important comment. Because I do think, you know, sometimes as mothers in general, right. We want to put our kids in. Like, I always think of those. I don't even know what they're called, but now. You know the big plastic balls that you can. Like bubbles. Yeah. Those bubble things, orbs or whatever they are. But you just, you know, you can't. You gotta let them. And I remember, like, with Ethan, my healthy kid, I was always like, let him eat dirt. He's gonna figure it out. Like. And then Jake came along and I was like, no, no, no, we can't. But. But there's balance there because you've gotta let them be kids. He figured out that that curb is not his friend. He's gotta, like, right?
- [04:55]
Effie Parks
Like, and now, like, his vision isn't the best, but, like, if we're In a new space, I will say, hey, Ford, right here, this is a curb right here. This is an edge. And he can. He can have that sort of guide, right? I know he understands me for the most part.
- [05:10]
Heather
Talk to me a little bit about. So you guys have a Freedom Concepts bike.
- [05:15]
Effie Parks
Yes. The only bike. Freedom Concepts bike, yes. That's what I tell you. One of the things.
- [05:20]
Heather
It really is the best bike. And one of the things that in talking with the company and, you know, we at Jake's Help From Heaven have bought a ton of equipment through them. And that's when I first started to get to know, like. And I was always so kind of moved by how authentic it felt. Like they really did care. Like, they were like, okay, let me talk to the team. Let's figure out what we can do. And they always came back at something that, well, it might not always been exactly in the budget. It was fair, and then we could do our work to get it taken care of. Their whole feel, right, is that they want, like, kind of like you said earlier, kids to be kids, but they tailor these bikes. If there's a preference, they will tailor it for that preference. Like, they tell the story about the kid who likes dinosaurs, and then they put dinosaurs on it. Or there was one. I think it was, like, a kid who likes spongebob, you know, and they found a way to have, like, a little SpongeBob decal. So talk to me about Ford's bike.
- [06:07]
Effie Parks
I love everything about this bike. It is the only piece of equipment I haven't said swear words to. So there's that.
- [06:13]
Heather
It's awesome.
- [06:14]
Effie Parks
So I call Freedom Concepts, and this guy puts me on a video call and walks me through the entire warehouse. Shows me how they make stuff, shows me how they keep stuff, shows me all the options that are available. It was the wildest thing of just how excited they were to give this kid a bike. It was so beautifully transparent. Like, you were kind of saying, right, like, this is. This is really part of their heart and soul and their mission. And I could tell from the moment I spoke to them, we got this bike years ago. That's how long this has lasted through Ford having a couple growth spurts. I think he got it when he was three. He's almost three, like I said. And this bike still fits him. It grows with the kid for, you know, a while, depending on when you got it. And it grows with their mobility situation if need be. So when Ford first got it, Ford was super floppy. Couldn't hold his head up, couldn't hold his body up so it had all of the five point harnesses and everything in the last two years we've been able to remove. So it adapts in so many ways as the kid grows, if need be, which is very cool. It's pretty. It's just this bright electric green. And he looks awesome in this thing. And it's again, one of the only things too, that people don't stare at in the most uncomfortable way when we're out in it. They comment, what a cool bike. And that's just such a relief too, as a parent, because you're constantly getting stared at some it. Sometimes it can get on your nerves. But this bike really brings in conversation and they're happy instead of being awkward.
- [07:45]
Heather
That to me is actually one of the things that I have found so cool about this because, I mean, I'm preaching to the choir here. But, you know, like the chairs and the standards and I think we've talked a lot about standards and they get a lot of swear words. They're made to look. And I hate using this word, but I think it's sometimes the only way to make the point is they're made to looks kind of institutional. Like the wheelchairs are just medical.
- [08:07]
Effie Parks
Like archaic.
- [08:09]
Heather
Archaic medical items that are not fun, colors that aren't cool. It removes that whole thing about letting a kid be a kid. Right. And I think that we push so hard for our kids to be accepted and to be seen and to as more than their diagnosis. But the equipment works against that. I remember actually Ethan, when we first started giving Chill out chairs as part of Jake's help from heaven, he was like, I want one. I was like, dude, you don't need one. You're good. And he's like, no, but I like the way my body feels in them, you know, and that's. That's kind of the goal, right? Is like, we want it to be something that everybody looks at admirably. Not looks at. Like, what is that?
- [08:48]
Effie Parks
Totally. It is. It makes things so approachable and fun and the kids feel it.
- [08:54]
Heather
Do you like. So what do you guys do? Like, can you do like, family bike rides? Like, what. What is like the best day you've had with that? Which is such a corny question.
- [09:03]
Effie Parks
It's. It's a little different with Ford because Ford is very opinionated. And when we go certain places, like, he knows the lay of the land. He has this weird memory of topography and, like, geography that is just wild to me. There have definitely been times where Ezzy has kept up on her scooter. Casey and I don't get on a bike or anything because someone has to be behind Ford just in case, because again, he's a thrill seeking maniac. So especially if we're crossing a street or something, we definitely, you know, grab ahold of Ford's bike. So, yeah, Ezzy will hang out on her scooter sometimes for a while. But normally, like, we're at a place where one of us can go with Ezzy, where she can ride her scooter this way or this fast or play at the playground and one of us can be with Ford. And 99% of our life at all times is dividing and conquering. But we'll trade. We might have this little pocket of time together where Ezzy's interested in going the way Ford wants to go. But, you know, they both have their different ideas of the day. Last summer's, the summer that he just like woke up, like in so many ways developmentally, and his legs started being stronger and now he pedals and steers, whereas before we had to do both of those things for him. So every single second in this chair now is the best day of our life when he's in it, because I just never thought I'd ever see him pedal and steer.
- [10:20]
Heather
So describe to the audience because they may not always have an idea. So the bike is equipped for him to be able to sit in it, but for you to do the work if you have to do the work. Right. Cause there's the.
- [10:30]
Effie Parks
Yep. So it's a trike, right. There's three wheels. So you can set it to where he can't steer it. So, you know, if there's a kid that's just going or if Ford's even being bad, like back in the day, he could grab it and just like take you off course. So you can set it to where they can't steer and it just stays in one place. And there is a handle that comes off the back of it. And the handle also has a handbrake. So if they are in control or if you need extra help stopping it, you can break it while they're pedaling and being in control. It's like a, you know, turny handle. So I can steer the bike any direction and back it up and course correct him if he is in control. But again, I can also completely lock the handlebars to where he can't move them. But you can always control the bike from the back handle, which is so awesome.
- [11:13]
Heather
And I think it speaks to sort of what you just said like, you know, Ford had this, like, summer of awakening where things are clicking. And that's just for any parent. That's great for our kids, it's just magical. This one piece of equipment can be used if he's exhausted, if he's tired, if he's acting up and not doing, you know, for any of those things, he can still be completely safe. You can, it can be like a PT session. Cause you can be like, hey, buddy, you're the one doing this. You know.
- [11:36]
Effie Parks
Yeah, I'd love to just highlight that piece about the exercise as one who literally got kicked out of PT yesterday. Ford hates pt. Pt, it's so hard. It's really painful for him. He doesn't like that classic sort of PT stuff anymore. I'm wavering between quitting again. But the only time that Ford actually gets a workout now is if he's in his bike or if we're holding him in the pool. And he gets way more of a workout in his bike. So the bike is one of, it's. It's literally the most important thing in our life right now for making sure that Ford's body is moving and that his bone density has something else going on. It's helping his cardiovascular system, it's helping his truncal control. And every single thing about the bike right now is a hundred percent other than riding a horse. Ford's complete top to bottom therapy.
- [12:22]
Heather
And I think so many people don't understand that piece, right, because they can think about, oh, you know, an 8 year old is active, an 8 year old is doing this or whatever. But you know, when you talked about like the bone density and that kind of brought me back to Jake and the dreaded stander. But we had to put him in the stander because he, if you don't body, if you don't bear your weight enough, your bones don't get strong, they don't know what they need to do. These are different things. And it's not just like, oh, if he doesn't get exercise, you know, we have to worry about childhood obesity. No, you have to worry about development and bone structure and muscle structure and all of those things.
- [12:57]
Effie Parks
And their heart. I mean, the cardiovascular system. These kids are sitting like all day, all the time. And then something else you said about getting tired. I don't know if this even really goes into it, but I do want to mention too, like on our bike rides, this is also a mobility device. So I go into the grocery store with Ford's bike. So if we have to do something in there. I mean, we go in there because he likes the doors that open and shut. But, like, if I have to go get a tomato, I take Ford in in his bike. I can control him, and it is his mobility device. I don't even feel remotely weird about it.
- [13:27]
Heather
A lot of people who are listening probably know this, but some who are listening don't. Like, the hardest thing in the world can be like, oh, crap, I need, I don't know, a tomato. Or, like, I don't know, whatever you need. Like, whatever item it is. And people often think you just run into the store and get. We can't just run into the store and get it. And I would imagine, because he's almost nine and he's got his opinions, like you said, it's not like, oh, you're popping them in a stroller and getting it in. So the fact that this one device, like, A, he loves it. B, he's getting benefits from it, but you can also say, hey, I have an errand to run.
- [13:59]
Effie Parks
Well, yeah, and I'm already out. Right? So it is. If anyone listens to my podcast. That's listening now. You know, my relationship with the grocery store since the day Ford was born, it is intense. If I'm out on the bike and I'm in town, it's another step that I don't have to take, right? Another 20 steps of getting Ford packed up, in his wheelchair, in the van, out of the van, and then good enough for me to hang onto his wheelchair while I try to buy something. Not going to happen. But if he's already out working out on his bike, feeling like the man and I go in and grab whatever I can carry whilst maintaining Ford, I don't have to do all of that extra.
- [14:30]
Heather
I love that. Like, I. You know, that's like. That's even like a bigger added perk. I love freedom concepts.
- [14:36]
Effie Parks
Yeah, me too. I mean, it's freedom for the whole family, right? Like, it really is. I cannot talk about this bike enough in real life. Like, it's funny you asked me to do this because I'm obsessed with them. And what it has brought to Ford and beyond is just really, really hard to describe because it is just undiluted joy. And it has given us. It has given us so much as a family. It is Ford's mental health. You know how good it feels when you move your body and you're in control of something, and it's so multipurpose that I'm already planning on. Like, who am I Gifting this bike to and when am I getting another one?
- [15:13]
Heather
You know, and we talk about a lot at our board meetings about. And it's always, you know, my husband Brian's kind of go to is like bikes for our kids. Because one of the best things for kids, typical kids, is when they get their first bike, you know, or even their first trike, you know, like there's just that feeling of freedom that comes with a bike and these bikes give that back. And it's not just a gift for him. And I like that you brought in like the whole family because that's, that's what I, what Brian would always talk about. He's like, whether you do the family bike ride or not, it is a win for everybody because everybody's getting benefits from it. It's not just about the one individual who needs the extra support or help. It's about the whole family. Because when the whole family unit is working well and happy and feeling good than everybody. Right. Like, it's like we've talked about this before, but like our self care, our mental health, all of that, like ours needs to be on point too, in order for Ford or Jake's or anyone's. If the family's off balance, our kid's going to be off balance too.
- [16:12]
Effie Parks
Yeah. I mean, and it's inclusion for us too. Right. It's a whole family system. Like everything is. And it's important to recognize that it's one of the things that doesn't make Ford look disabled. You know what I mean?
- [16:23]
Heather
Yep.
- [16:24]
Effie Parks
And I'm talking about the stare and the questions and the, and this and those moments. It's one of the things that people first have that gut reaction of going whoa. Instead of oh.
- [16:34]
Heather
And when you see those videos of him like going like that, you've posted some of them where like his hair's kind of blowing and he's doing all that. The first thing you think of is there's an 8 year old boy having a blast. As moms and as parents, that's all we want. Like see our kid for who he is, not for what he has or what he doesn't have.
- [16:49]
Effie Parks
Yeah. And it reminds us not to underestimate them. Right. Which we do. And it really helps. It really helps us in that way too to be like, there's progress. He can do this. He is learning. Oh my gosh, I'm so pleasantly surprised. I had sort of put a ceiling here and it's a reminder to not do that or to know that I'm always going to Lift it. It's important to sort of have this moving idea of our lives and things like this help you not get stuck.
- [17:16]
Heather
And they help you be pleasantly surprised. I love that. This one bike, like you said, he sat it for like four plus years and in the beginning there was not much he could do with it. Now he is maniacal on it. And that's awesome, like, in the very best way.
- [17:29]
Effie Parks
Yeah, totally. I know. I love Freedom Concepts bikes so much. There's a local organization called Outdoors for All here, and they go to one of the parks every, like, Saturday and Sunday in the summer. And they have like 30 different types of Freedom Concept bikes. So that's definitely where I'm going to be headed on the weekends to see, like, maybe what else we could maybe do for Ford. If not, I would just literally get the same bike in the. In a big.
- [17:55]
Heather
In the bigger size. I was so impressed. So I think that's so cool to sort of see the different ones because in some of my conversations with them, the ways that they can customize and the ways they want to customize, like, is part of what makes me fall in love with this company because they really do look at the individual. And even though they are producing these on sort of a larger scale, they're also producing them on an individual scale at the same time.
- [18:16]
Effie Parks
Even when you get it, like, you order the bike. I think I got the bike in like two weeks. It is completely put together. I didn't have to do one single thing, which was also a relief as a parent.
- [18:26]
Heather
They're legit, they care, they're real people and they're making a difference. They're helping us. Yeah, they really are.
- [18:31]
Effie Parks
I mean, do it. Borrow one from your friend. I've lent Fords to my friend Rocket and he could use it and it was amazing. And so Rocket ordered one. This bike is like a portal in so many ways. But yeah, Freedom Concepts is. It's everything you wish that a company would be when they're dealing with our kids. This is the most heavy duty, high quality bike you could ever get.
- [18:52]
Heather
Thank you, Effie.
- [18:53]
Effie Parks
You're welcome.
- [18:57]
Heather
Thanks for listening to Effie. And now let's hear from Perrier. So we are very excited today because we are on location, which makes us feel very special when I can say that. But we are here with season one guest Perrier.
- [19:13]
Perrier
Welcome back. Thank you.
- [19:15]
Heather
And even better, no offense, but we're also here with Otis, who's really the star of the show.
- [19:20]
Perrier
Absolutely none too.
- [19:22]
Heather
We are here because we are excited to kind of talk about the updates and things that are new and exciting for Otis. But also to showcase this pretty cool piece of equipment that we were able to purchase for Otis through Jake's help from heaven. But also that it's kind of a piece of equipment that frankly I'm a bit little and I tell this story sometimes I've sit in it. I mean it looks so comfortable, it fits in so nice. And it goes back to like, remember the older chairs right where they were. So almost like institutional looking.
- [19:52]
Perrier
Yeah.
- [19:53]
Heather
And now like you walk in and it like matches your couch.
- [19:56]
Perrier
And I can lift it up and.
- [19:58]
Heather
You can lift it up. It's so easy.
- [20:00]
Perrier
The fact that he's. The sides come up a little bit more all the way around. I feel like I can take a shower while he's in his chair. I can leave him temporarily if you.
- [20:09]
Heather
Don'T feel like he's.
- [20:10]
Perrier
I mean a lot of the other seating. If I don't have the five, the five point harness on, I worry he's going to fall out. I can't just leave him on the couch.
- [20:18]
Heather
Back in like Jake's day, we didn't have any of that. And I would like have him propped on a couch with like pillows all around and pillows on the floor because God forbid he like rolled off. So it's just awesome. And what's cool about it, you can't even really tell with him sitting in it. But his butt goes down low. So that's another way to keep him super secured.
- [20:36]
Perrier
The way it's seated and the way his posture is because his back is so curved, it actually is really the perfect seat for him. And regardless if he slides down a little bit in the chair, it doesn't really matter. It still positions him really well. So I'm super grateful because it's very lightweight and it's easy for me to. I travel with it. So we go down, he goes to see his dad and Brooklyn. Brooklyn. I go out to Long island to see my friends. And the chair fits in the back of the car. I'm able to put the bags and whatnot on top of it and I can carry it in and out. And if we go, you know, if one of the kids has a soccer game, you know, do you even bring.
- [21:12]
Heather
It to like the soccer field?
- [21:13]
Perrier
Yeah, because if we're gonna be somewhere for like a couple hours, it's a no brainer. The stroller can get uncomfortable for him and he's just much comfortable, more comfortable in this. So it's. As long as I have Somebody who can push him while I carry this or carry this while I push him, it just makes sense for me to bring it.
- [21:28]
Heather
And what's also cool about it, because you raised the good question or a good comment about, like, the stroller gets uncomfortable, like, the wheelchairs get uncomfortable. And it's, you know, there's that fine line with kids like Otis or kids like Jake or any of the kids we work with at Jake's, where positioning is so important.
- [21:42]
Perrier
Right.
- [21:42]
Heather
Like, it's important, but there's also comfort. There's that balance. So it's like you can't sit in the proper alignment, the proper place positioning, the proper everything.
- [21:50]
Perrier
And when I can't tell you and he can't say anything, I mean, sometimes, like, for example, with certain pieces of equipment that he needs to use, like his braces or whatever, I won't know until I take the brace off pinching that I'm uncomfortable. It's nice because. And he's also gotten more vocal over the years, but, like, I can tell now when he's not comfortable. And I have had issues with other seating. This has been a godsend for us, so I'm very, very happy.
- [22:16]
Heather
We Freedom Concepts is the company that has made this chair. This company is out of Canada. And what's kind of cool, and I didn't know this until I sort of did a little research on them, like, and we've done a bunch of chill out chairs and we've done some of the bikes, but they started 30 years ago because the owner, like, before it was even a company, had a friend with CP who couldn't ride a bike. And he was like, I want to figure out how I can, like, make a bike for my friend. And he did it. And then it sort of, I don't want to say it went viral because it was 30 years ago and things didn't go viral, but, like, words spread.
- [22:47]
Perrier
Yeah.
- [22:48]
Heather
And then the company started because their whole premise is to make seating or bikes or things for kids, for adults, but, like, kind of level the playing field. Like, make it so they can participate.
- [22:59]
Effie Parks
Yep.
- [23:00]
Heather
And we, you know, I interviewed someone else whose son, similar to Otis, a little bit younger, got one of the bikes and then has done now multiple triathlons.
- [23:09]
Perrier
Oh, wow.
- [23:10]
Heather
Like, isn't that awesome?
- [23:11]
Perrier
Oh, that's so cool.
- [23:12]
Heather
So it just has all of this, this opportunity to have kids be kids without being stuck in the sort of, like, labeled or, you know, where they so often fall.
- [23:22]
Perrier
And I think also, too, sometimes it's more in my head, like, I don't want him to be in such a therapeutic looking piece of equipment just for, I don't know, for my own self. Like, I don't want people to look at. Stare at him or whatever. And now I really don't care because his chair is cooler than anybody else's, so.
- [23:41]
Heather
Well, it's funny with the stuff that looks this cool too, is because I've noticed sometimes very typical kids will run up and be like, hey, that's cool.
- [23:48]
Effie Parks
Yeah.
- [23:48]
Heather
You know, and then that's.
- [23:49]
Perrier
Oh, anybody that brings a kid that's under the age of seven or eight, they all want to sit in the seat. Yeah. And I mean. And he's able to rock it himself because we got the rocker version.
- [23:59]
Heather
Oh, right, right.
- [24:00]
Perrier
So he's able to rock it himself. He uses. I have been using the footrest to be able to put his, like, movie so they're closer to him. But if the movie's not on there, he uses the footrest just to, like, chill out, relax. He loves it.
- [24:11]
Heather
So give us an update on Otis. So I. I think last time we filmed it was. It was certainly season one. What's new with him? I haven't seen him, I think, since we delivered this chair. I want to say he looks much bigger. And the haircut, I got to tell you, I love the haircut. He looks so mature and handsome.
- [24:26]
Perrier
He's great. He's going to be 14 in August. He's going to school. He's got his prom on Friday. The biggest new thing for us is we were accepted into Shriners.
- [24:39]
Heather
Okay.
- [24:40]
Perrier
So we have gotten a lot of equipment, or not equipment, but, like, braces, bracing and things. A backpack instead. He. He was wearing a big plastic torso piece.
- [24:50]
Heather
Okay.
- [24:50]
Perrier
And he couldn't breathe well in it.
- [24:52]
Heather
Okay.
- [24:52]
Perrier
So what they made him is like a. It's soft and it's Velcro and it's like a backpack. Okay. And they're gonna get him one of those pressure mattresses.
- [25:01]
Heather
Oh, I've heard a lot about those.
- [25:03]
Perrier
And they're gonna do some adjustments to his wheelchair. Just lots of good things, you know.
- [25:10]
Heather
That's awesome.
- [25:10]
Perrier
So. And it's.
- [25:11]
Heather
Keep him comfortable.
- [25:12]
Perrier
Yeah. And it's nice.
- [25:13]
Heather
I have been working with you guys. I mean, I can't believe he's 14.
- [25:17]
Perrier
Since he was 4.
- [25:19]
Heather
Yeah. Like, he was little. Little. So I would say at least 10 years. So it's so great to see, like, for me, it's just good for my heart, really, to see, like, these kids get older and grow and you really develop Friendships. So, you know, for sure.
- [25:33]
Perrier
And with you doing your podcast with the places. Yes. I've actually been able to see updates on some of the kids who I've passed, you know, by doing things with you before. So it's great, because I'm like, oh, I wonder what happened to him? You know? And so that part of it has been really nice. And the chair. I mean, as far as the chair goes, we've just been so lucky. And we had a lot of choices. I mean, they were really. All the paperwork that they came because it was a woman who was his caregiver. Okay. Or works as his caregiver for the state, who came with everything. And she, like, we got to pick out the color. They had certain sizes, whether we wanted to do stationary or we wanted to do the rocker. They also have one, I believe, that's on wheels, so you can actually move it. I think there was another harness option. There's some cushioning options. So I really feel like they build the chair kind of, like around the.
- [26:26]
Heather
Kid, which is such an awesome thing about Freedom Concepts, too, is because they do. They offer so many things so that it can be, like, even something as little as being like, oh, I want it to be blue.
- [26:37]
Perrier
Right?
- [26:37]
Heather
Like, I want it to be blue because it matches in my house.
- [26:39]
Perrier
That's what below. That's what I want. So that was a big thing for me because I was like, I don't want a big orange or a big.
- [26:45]
Heather
Red chain, something that just stands out.
- [26:47]
Perrier
And sometimes, like, with his leg braces, and they're great. They let you pick or. But, you know, I thought it was cute to do, like, a comic book. And then after three times of him wearing them, I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, you know, so I like that they give you. They work with you. And it wasn't just, okay, I like that chair. They. He had to be measured. He had. I mean, they really.
- [27:08]
Heather
It's really.
- [27:09]
Perrier
Otis. They really made sure that it was for him. I mean, everybody loves sitting in it, but it is for him. And so we were using the stroller until you told me that this was something I should look into. And as soon as we looked into it, it was like, how fast?
- [27:24]
Heather
I mean, and that's another thing I kind of like about the company, too. And you know this very well. Anytime you're getting equipment, it can be. You know, you can order a piece of equipment, and you can still be.
- [27:33]
Perrier
Waiting a year later. Oh, yeah.
- [27:34]
Heather
They work so hard to get it to you. Like, in A very reasonable amount of.
- [27:39]
Perrier
Time in under four months. When you and Ethan came to deliver the chair, I was, like, skipping down the walk. I was so excited. And when we put him in it, if you remember. Yes, right away. He was so excited right away. So he's very particular. He'll let you know what he likes and what he doesn't like. And so far, we've got no complaints whatsoever from him. And the fact that it's something that I can travel with. I mean, his father's in Brooklyn on a second floor in a narrow hallway. This is so much easier. Even though it's large, it's so much easier than carrying the metal heavy seat.
- [28:16]
Heather
Which you can't even. When you said that, I hadn't even actually thought about that. But the fact that you pop it in the car, take it out, like, I mean, on so many levels, I love that. I love that. Because it just speaks to, like, it's a testament for the chair, like, about its ease and its use and because so much of these.
- [28:31]
Perrier
Super durable. Because I drag it across the floor a lot. Super durable. Really easy to clean. Well, I was gonna say, like, I.
- [28:38]
Heather
Feel like the first ones, and I don't. I'm not sure that this is entirely correct, but I feel like the first ones we got were more of like a fabric. Yeah.
- [28:45]
Perrier
You know, I could put some kind of the cloth thing down if I wanted to, but it doesn't need it. It's. It's very easy. And also for a kid who is in diapers full time, you know, sometimes they have accidents and they have leaks and just easy to wipe and be done. Easy. And makes my life so much easier.
- [29:02]
Heather
When it comes to fabric for the chill out chair, Freedom Concepts offers a wide range of options. Whether you're looking for something soft and cozy for indoor use or durable and wipeable for easy cleaning. There are even outdoor friendly fabrics. So no matter your lifestyle, there's something to suit your home, your kid, and your environment. Obviously, it's about, like, Otis's comfort and all of that, but with our families, it's about the whole family.
- [29:26]
Perrier
Right.
- [29:26]
Heather
So when it's easier for you, it's better for Otis, it's better for everybody.
- [29:30]
Perrier
Yeah, because when I'm less stressed, he feeds off of me 100%. Anytime I, you know, and I have to remind myself of that because anytime I tend to get a lot and I spiral. So when I do spiral, you know, I can tell immediately, like, he's. He's watching me like a hawk. But it's It's. It's been. It's been awesome. I mean, we go to my mom's for holidays and family stuff, and I can just bring the chair.
- [29:54]
Heather
And then you kind of touched on this, but you talked about, like, the different harnesses and stuff, and I. It reminded me that they also have. And I don't know if Otis would want this or not, but they. They also make, like, a tray for it. It's like a separate piece, but it comes and then it, like, opens and closes. Oh, okay. So I was actually talking to a mom, and she uses the tray for feeding, so it's become his feeding chair.
- [30:16]
Perrier
Really cool.
- [30:17]
Heather
And it's like, you know, when he's done, she just moves it. It's perfect, you know, so it's just another way to like, incorporate the chair into sort of daily activities or daily needs for them.
- [30:27]
Perrier
I mean, that's so glad that he's here now at this time. Time in the world, as opposed to 30 years ago. I don't think he would have had the life that he has now. I mean, he just. In general, I mean, I feel like all that time ago, there was. The labels were. Were a little heavier and. And maybe fear was part of it. You didn't know what to do. But now he's included in everything, and it's really. I mean, it makes me so happy because it's easy to get lost, you know, in a situation, and we don't have the, you know, some of the typical things that other kids have, but they really are trying to make it as normalized as they can for somebody like Otis, and that means the world to his parent.
- [31:11]
Heather
Well, you even said it before, right? And it's as simple as, like, when. When he's sitting in this chair, he's not being stared at. So then you're not getting, like, mama bear defensive or sad. Like, I remember those stares. The stairs would just make like they hurt your feelings. Oh, of course.
- [31:25]
Perrier
The only stares that I get now is that's the coolest chair I've ever seen.
- [31:29]
Heather
And that's just awesome. Thank you for listening to A Place of Yes. Please follow us wherever you listen to your podcasts. If you really like this episode, please share it with a friend. It would make a world of difference if we could just reach more people and share the work that we do and the stories we want to tell. Thank you so much for watching.