From biological warfare to collateral damage: Coping with shattered ankle creates new challenges

It’s been 17 days now since I broke my leg. I have had a great opportunity to find new meaning from old militaristic phrases. I have been specifically advised by my commander, the surgeon who pieced my bones back together, to keep the weight off the broken leg for six weeks. This means that the only way I can get around is with crutches. I always thought that the worst challenge would be the balancing act. I had no idea how much “collateral damage” I would experience. First my poor armpits feel like Mike Tyson pummeled them endlessly. Seeking relief, I tried to shift some of the weight from my armpits and now I feel like I have borne the weight of the Ohio State Marching Band on the palms of my hands. I am thankful that I have Percocets in my arsenal.

“Safe Passage” describes the effort taken to avoid breaking my other leg. I have already managed to tear a towel rack off my bathroom wall and permanently deform my shower doors.

I have carefully removed multiple hazards from my floor, creating a “Demilitarized Zone”, Water spills are deadly as well as small scraps of paper. Beware of a fallen towel, as far as a crutch is concerned, they might as well be banana peels! 

The basement has a long narrow stairwell that does not have a rail on either side. This is aptly named, “No Man’s Land”, foreboding and unforgiving, I dare not venture into this hazardous territory. My laundry room is down there, and my clean clothes are running low. Coping with this shortage is a different kind of “biological warfare”.

On the bright side, I get all the attention a guy could ever ask for. A hobbling character with a casted leg brings out the best in people. Everyone wants to help you. I recently went to the Post Office, opened the company box and saw a pile of mail. I had one of those, uh… duh moments. How in the world could I juggle the mail, manage my crutches and get out of the Post Office in one piece? Luckily an older (and definitely wiser) woman gently came forth and said, “Mr. Goldsmith, why don’t I carry your mail for you!” I felt like I was down to my last bullet and the Calvary had just arrived!

Aaron Goldsmith
Founder and President
Transfer Master

Hospital Beds for Injured Military Veterans

Unfortunately, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have led to an increasing number of wounded soldiers requiring amputations of limbs. There are currently almost 2 million amputees in the United States alone and more than 32 million worldwide. Some in the medical field consider this an epidemic of sorts - with injured military veterans topping the list as one of the most vulnerable to this injury.

Sadly, this is not surprising. According to a recent poll by WHO, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have experienced only a 10% mortality rate. This means more soldiers are making it back from the battlefield, but many times not in one piece. Extremities remain at risk no matter how much they armor plate themselves.

Home hospital beds, such as those manufactured by Transfer Master, help make the transition to home life a little easier. Adjusting to their new life at home can be very difficult for some injured military veterans. Hospital beds are designed for just such a purpose. For those soldiers who’ve had legs amputated, these beds can be extremely beneficial. Why? Because these beds have been carefully designed to take care of their physical needs.

The most obvious problem these soldiers have is their inability to move in and out of conventional beds. Some remain bedridden or wheelchair dependent their entire lives. Sleeping in those conditions can be hazardous if they don’t have a bed that fits their unique needs. Rolling over in their sleep without the bed rails can potentially lead to additional unnecessary injuries. 

 

Disabled veterans who have experienced amputation may also have a difficult time managing daily events most of us take for granted. For example, sitting up can be arduous and can also result in back pain if the proper support is not provided. This is why many home hospital beds come with adjustable backs that can be lowered or raised according to their comfort. This also lowers the chances of any back problems and can also vastly improve mobility in functional body parts.

It also becomes increasingly difficult for disabled veterans to change positions during the night. Hospital beds are also designed with comfortable and custom made mattresses that are designed in such a way that the patient does not contract sores on the body. These beds and mattresses are extremely comfortable to sleep or relax in – ensuring that our brave men and women who have served have nothing to worry about when it comes to sleeping peacefully.

I Broke My Leg At A Picnic; Now I'm An Unintended Transfer Master Testimonial

By Aaron Goldsmith

Founder and President

Transfer Master

Last Sunday I attended a community picnic. The day started with kids running all over the place and the great smell of hot dogs and burgers barbecuing away!  At the end of this picnic, the rain started to fall..and shortly I took a fall on the slippery wet grass!  I hear a pop and I didn't want to think the worst.. I tried to stand and I knew the day was starting all over again.  A couple of friends of mine came to my rescue and heard me pronounce that most unpleasant declaration.  "I think its broken".  They tried to help me back to a vehicle but there was no way I could bear any weight on the injured leg.  A smart thinking person grabbed a folding chair and the next thing I knew was that I was riding high and the center of attention, perhaps "Dufus of the Day".  Would have preferred to have walked out of there myself but I had no option.

One fellow pulled up his truck and transported me back to my house.  My son arrived and we loaded into another truck for a trip to the hospital.  Since there was very little swelling I thought that perhaps it was only a nasty sprain.  I had expected my leg to swell out like one of the "Hulk's" legs if it was truly broken. 

A few minutes in the hospital and I was shuttled off to the X Ray department, within 15 minutes all doubts were quashed.  I snapped the tibia bone clean off of my ankle, they would need to do surgery and add a metal plate with screws, (the surgeon sounded like he worked part-time at Home Depot).  I also understood that I had months of healing ahead of me.

I was sent home with a temporary cast and a pocketful of Percocets, as I was rolled to the exit, the nurse clearly and repeatedly instructed me to keep off my feet and to elevate the broken leg.

Being the President of Transfer Master definitely has some benefits for this predicament.  I called my son and told him to drag out the prototype "tilt in space" recliner.  It has three lifting motors, six massage motors and a heat bar for the lower back.  For the last week, that was my new day home.  At night I went to bed in one of our Kodiak Adjustable Beds and learned how to sleep while being shaped like a Pringle potato chip.

Today, the surgeon took his first look at my progress and let me know that I must be doing a good job elevating my leg because the swelling was less than normal!  I was the perfect guinea pig for using the stuff that I designed. Overall I am happy with the design, but I saw many things that I could improve.  Additionally, while my issues are transitory, it is good to have to experience the world the way our clients do.  That's the good news.

The bad news is how crazy it is to go to the bathroom, how I have to dress up (not down) for a shower and I have had to face the great and daunting challenge of sitting down and remembering that everything I need must be very close to me.  Its terrible having frequent senior moments, forgetting what I need,  and having to get up and drag myself all of those extra times.  

That how life is at this time from my hobbling perspective.

All the best,

Aaron

Hospital Beds for Arthritis

Arthritis can be an extremely debilitating condition for those who suffer from it. Almost no one young or old is safe from its crippling grasp and even the strongest of individuals can be severely impacted by its effects. That’s because this condition involves the breakdown of cartilage which is responsible for protecting the joints that allow smooth movement to take place. Stiffness can also result from this arthritis, which can occur for a number of reasons :

• If the body begins attacking itself (Autoimmune disease).
• As the result of a broken bone.
• Internal infection caused by bacteria.

The inflammation may leave after the injury is healed or treated. However, some injuries may be more serious, which can result in long term pain and deformity of the limbs. This can result in chronic arthritis. Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is a more common form of this condition and is most likely to occur as one ages and is usually felt in the hips, knees or fingers. The risk factors included in this type of arthritis are similar to the previous one but can also include weight issues as well as erosion of the bone due to repetitive action (most commonly seen in athletes).

Hospital beds can serve as reliable and comfortable sleep solution for those ailing with arthritis. For those who have severe arthritis, the simple task of moving about can seem an impossible feat. Every step or movement can cause excruciating pain to radiate through their entire body. Hospital beds are essential for such people since it allows them to sit up without having to struggle to adjust their bed or pillows to find a comfortable position.

Hospital beds are especially useful for those patients who suffer from chronic arthritis. These beds can be installed with remote controls so that these patients don’t have to wait for their caretaker to help them sit up. This allows them to feel more independent and they can also feel safe knowing that their caregiver is just a push of a button away. 

Of course, the foot of the hospital bed can also be raised or lowered for those people who have chronic arthritic pain in the knees. The desired position can help alleviate some of the discomfort associated with this condition and can even help in healing it. The bars on the side can also be lowered or raised quite easily if the patient wants to get up or needs to be physically transported.

If you or someone you love is suffering from arthritis, please contact us to see if one of our custom home hospital adjustable beds may help provide more comfortable sleep solutions.

Hospital beds can help those with Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy is a debilitating disease that literally saps the strength from the victim’s muscles as it progresses. These are actually a group of inherited disorders that may occur in childhood or during one’s adult life and can be emotionally crippling in the long run. This condition also has the unfortunate habit of worsening as a person matures in age and can include a number of different conditions such as:

• Becker muscular dystrophy
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy
• Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
• Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
• Myotonia congenita
• Myotonic dystrophy

The symptoms associated with this condition vary according to the types given above though. Either all the muscles will be affected or only a specific group of them will be according to the types of muscular dystrophy. These can affect adults but more severe cases are found in children. The latter can suffer from:

• Late development of muscle motor skills.
• Loss of strength in muscles as an adult.
• Reduced muscle size.
• Problems walking.

These last issues are the ones that usually prove to be the most physically debilitating for the victim. Forget trying to walk, most can’t even take care of themselves properly. A home hospital bed, such as those provided by Transfer Master, can help take some the brunt of the burden from those impacted by MD. A home hospital bed provides a level of mobility normal beds cannot. The bed also provides patient families with peace of mind since it allows the patient a level of comfort and ease normal beds do not.

These hospital beds can have a variety of features, including a convenient wheeling system that allows the whole bed to be moved about without a problem. This provides a change of scenery/environment for the patient, a fact that is crucial for their emotional development. Keeping patients cooped up in one room can only make both patient and relative/loved one uncomfortable and irritated after all. They need to be moved about so that they don’t feel left out.

The adjustable bars that come with hospital beds are strong safety features – ensuring that the patient is not in any danger of falling off. The bars can also be useful in assisting with exercise and physical therapy routines.

Caretakers understand that another challenge sometimes arises in trying to assist those with MD with eating. In extreme cases, some patients lose the ability to move their facial muscles. This can be somewhat rectified by hospital beds since most of them come with adjustable backs that can be raised and lowered according to the patient’s requirements.

If you have a loved one with Muscular Dystrophy, we encourage you to research home hospital bed options and determine which is the most comfortable and best fit for your situation.

Transfer Master adjustable home hospital bed featured on hit ABC show, “Extreme Makeover – Home Edition”

Wichita, KS, (May 3, 2011) – It's a phone call Transfer Master Founder and President Aaron Goldsmith will always remember. A producer from the hit ABC TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, was on the line and she was facing an urgent deadline. She needed to know if Transfer Master could provide an adjustable home hospital bed that was also voice-controlled. The bed would be used in an upcoming episode featuring Carl Hill, a former Wichita State baseball player and father of four who was tragically paralyzed below the shoulders in an auto accident. Goldsmith told the producer that building the bed wasn't a problem – selling custom built beds to customers is what the company does all the time. The show needed the bed in 24 hours. These types of beds usually take 10 working days to build, but he was confident in the company's ability and said they would build the bed in time for their production.

Transfer Master's bed was featured in the master bedroom on the ABC hit show Extreme Makevover: Home Edition

On April 17, America watched the story of Carl Hall and his family – and witnessed how they have coped and dealt with a tragedy few people can comprehend. And they also saw how the Wichita community rallied behind the show to help build a new home tailored for Carl and his family that will better allow him to cope with his condition. Included in the home was Transfer Master's bed, which was shown and mentioned for its ability to be adjusted up and down with Carl's verbal commands.

The home features 250 additional voice activation controls, an elevator, a therapy room, movie theater, indoor sports room, and a batting cage that allows Carl to once again pitch to his own son.

“It is an honor for Transfer Master to see one of our home hospital beds contributing to the quality of Carl's life,” said Goldsmith. “We have been fortunate to have helped many patients with challenging situations since 1993 and we look forward to continuing to provide sleep solutions for those in need.” Transfer Master adjustable home hospital beds can include special electrical outlets and hooks at the end of the bed that make it easier for healthcare professionals to plug in and hang monitoring and related equipment (keeping it safely out of the way). Transfer Master has also created custom remote controls that include a safety pin feature (to avoid accidental use by others), as well as bedsides made of cherrywood that match the décor of the Hospital Family Care Suites.

About Transfer Master

Founded in 1993 in Postville, Iowa, Transfer Master engineers electric beds for sleep centers and pregnancy wards, hospitals and home use. For Transfer Master, customer-driven design and innovation is paramount. Each bed is custom designed and hand-built for the user. The company received the industry's first patent in 1993 for combining adjustable medical bed functionality with home use design as well as for creating the first specialized dual-use King beds.

The company builds beds that are low enough for users to transfer in and out of, but high enough for caregivers to easily access. Domestically designed and manufactured, Transfer Master beds are durable, comfortable and attractive, providing customers with the functionality and comfort they deserve.

Transfer Master listens to customers and builds its beds specifically to meet the precise needs of each user. The electronic boards of the newest models were designed by a U.S. defense contractor. The beds are innovatively designed and solidly manufactured, creating a long-lasting product that allows its users the features they need and the comfort they deserve.

To find out more, please visit www.transfermaster.com, visit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

CONTACT:David Kaufer
Zenwerks
206-262-7302david.kaufer (at) zenwerks.com

Hospital beds can help those with obesity issues sleep better

Obesity and weight gain in general has become a major issue throughout the country. While debate rages about the underlying causes behind the obesity epidemic, the increase in the number of severely overweight Americans has compelled innovate companies to come up with solutions to help these people live comfortably. Advancements in beds have followed suit.

Many overweight people cannot fit in regular beds comfortably without some serious maneuvering on their part. Many of them face the humiliating and emotionally crippling limitations that their large bodies face when they try to live life like normal people. In extreme cases, many have to be confined to their beds because their weight disallows them to move about freely.

Transfer Master has found a solution to this dilemma by designing hospital beds that cater to overweight individuals. Several adjustable hospital beds have been made so that these patients can fit more comfortably in them and sleep better. These models are built to be sturdy enough to withstand the extra weight and some even come with an electronic powered drive system that allows the hospital bed to be raised, lowered or adjusted easily.

Hospital beds such as these also come with adjustable mattresses so that the obese individual remains free of bed sores. They can even be adjusted to reduce the likelihood of pressure ulcers forming on the skin due to the body’s lack of movement. Air control also allows caregivers to turn the obese patient on their side and to inflate or deflate the leg area when needed. Some hospital beds also come equipped with equipment that allow pulmonary therapies to be administered to the patient.

Some of these heavy duty hospital beds come with their own trapeze which is designed to provide the patient with the ability to move themselves without the aid of their caregiver. This piece of equipment is crucial for home patients since they will then feel no need to hire a nursing staff to help them.

Several patients and their families are turning their attention to such hospital beds to ease their worries. With the rise in the number of obese individuals in society, it has become increasingly necessary to invest in such hospital beds for both families and hospitals in the country. An investment like this can go a long way in increasing the quality of life and easing the mental turmoil such overweight individuals have.