Human Monster Truck by Dwayne Boyd

St. Patrick’s Day of this year will be one day that I’ll remember for a very long time. I have picked up a new, healthy pastime and I was able to road test the most incredible crutches I’ve come in contact with in my thirty nine years on this planet. Thanks to Marcy Marchello and Heidi Marie Peterson of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. They have opened up new paths for me.

Because of my meeting with them, I’ve learned that things that seem impossible are in fact more possible than I would have ever imagined. With the use of an adaptive sled, I now have a way to join my daughter on the ice when she skates. She’s still much faster than I. Rest assured, however, I’m working on perfecting my spin move. I may not be able to win the race, but I’ll run it in style.

SideStix are the crutches that have shown me a new and different way of getting around. They have also modified my way of thinking. As a personal rule, I don’t usually get too excited over medical equipment.

Nonetheless, these act as an extension of one’s own body. They don’t feel robotic. They are not “clunky”. One doesn’t resemble a futuristic cyborg or the Tin-man from the Wizard of Oz while ambulating from place to place. Motion becomes fluid.

I am personally reminded of the freedom I first felt as a child, when I learned that I could walk virtually unassisted in the shallow end of a friend’s pool. While SideStix do not let me forget that I need assistance to walk, they do provide me with a new confidence.

The crutches work for the simple reason that Sidestix were conceived and invented by Sarah Doherty and her partner Kerith Perreur-Lloyd by using real experiences to shape their design.

They differ from other crutches because they were created as a means to allow Sarah to stay active doing what she loves; hiking, climbing and snowshoeing to name a few activities.

Sarah’s invention erases fear from my mind. They are made with attachments to allow crutch walkers to “adapt” to changes in terrain. The different “shoes” allow users to go through a situation without wasting more time trying to devise a way to get around it. Ice, mud, and beach sand are no longer potential pitfalls

In addition to the attachments, there are also some other amazing elements that increase stability and provide more comfort. There are dampers to provide protection from the shock of stepping with a crutch. I can attest to lack of abuse my wrists, elbows and shoulders took during my first test session with SideStix.

Also, there’s an articulating foot. It allows the crutch tip to rotate like one’s ankle does. Therefore, the surface of the crutch tip remains in contact with the ground.
Why did it take so long for something like this to become reality? This alone could have saved me from more than a few good falls.

I’m currently working toward getting myself a set of these for everyday use. I may not climb major mountain peaks on a daily basis. My time is mostly spent on adventures in “cube-land”, in my office, at work. Nonetheless, I will be able to negotiate my surroundings with more ease and flow. I never saw myself as graceful before.

I ‘m meeting with opposition from my insurance company on my quest to gain these stix; these crutches come from Vancouver, British Columbia. I live in Massachusetts. I’m having difficulty convincing business-minded people that equipment like this changes other peoples’ lives.

In the meantime, I’m spreading the word about these crutches by any means available. Please visit the website for SideStix. I provided a link above. Check them out on Facebook as well. Leave comments. Tell others what you think.