Doing-It-Yourself

by Alyssa Quintero

Carla Cammack Effie, La.; age 49 spinal muscular atrophy

Carla Cammack, a CPA in Effie, La., has only slight movement in her hands, so picking up a glass or adjusting a straw is extremely difficult. To allow her to drink without waiting for help, Cammack, along with a childhood friend, developed the Hummingbird Sipper, a straw longer than those usually available. Knowing she wasn’t alone in her frustration, Cammack found a manufacturer for her Sippers and is now marketing them.

The straws are available in different lengths from 12 to 25 inches and vary in inside diameter from a quarter inch to just over a third of an inch. The Spectacular Straw, pictured here, has three flexible sections, extends to 21 inches, has a quarter-inch diameter and bends to almost any angle.

The straws can be cut with scissors to fit the users’ needs, and sipper clips hold the straws in place. Cammack has also discovered and made available a fully adjustable special drink holder that will keep a drink from moving or tipping, two problems that the straw’s length can exacerbate. The straws can, however, be used without a special cup or lid.

The straws are sold in packs of 10 for $4.95, sipper clips are $1, and the drink holder is available as part of the set with long straws and clip for $25. For more information, visit www.hummingbirdsipper.com.

Harry Hoffman Santa Fe, Texas; age 61 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

After receiving a diagnosis of ALS in October 2005, Harry Hoffman began experiencing severe arm weakness. As a result, he and his son, Joe, devised a plan to use a fly fishing vest to assist Hoffman with his daily activities. Hoffman purchased the sleeveless, black mesh vest with gray pockets, made by Simms, for $170 at Fishing Tackle Unlimited. Then, he and his son attached several ADLs (aids to daily living) to the vest.

In the front, the vest has three Velcro pockets and one large zipper pocket on the left side, and two large Velcro pockets and one large zipper pocket on the right side. On the inside, the vest has a large zipper pocket on each side for secure storage. In the front, Hoffman stores his cell phone, PDA, and his Harley-Davidson wallet on a chain, which attaches to a D-ring that’s sewn into the vest.

And, with the help of Fishing Tackle Unlimited’s travel manager, Andy Packmore, Hoffman attached a magnetic net release ($29.95) and some retractors ($7.95) to the vest. Hoffman attached his house keys, a pen and a tool that assists with zippers and buttons to a retractor. For example, if he needs to use his pen, he just pulls on it, and when he’s done, it retracts back to its original position on the vest. Hoffman uses the magnetic net release, which can lift up to 12 pounds, to pick up items without having to bend down.

Hoffman advises that you buy a vest a size bigger than what you’d normally wear because it should be loose, especially if you have arm weakness. Hoffman, who continues to make minor changes to the way items are stored on the vest, suggests that others not put the magnetic release too close to anything with metal.

Albert Zatezalo Middleburg Heights, Ohio; age 55 polymyositis

Found to have polymyositis in 1991, Zatezalo uses a power wheelchair most of the time. With the help of a friend, Zatezalo designed a cupholder that’s attached to the underside of the wheelchair’s left armrest.

Zatezalo purchased a folding cupholder for $10 at a boat and marine store. Since it already had holes for mounting to a boat, Zatazelo mounted the holder to a small metal plate and drilled holes through the plate to correspond to the holes that secure the armrest cushions on the wheelchair. He and his friend used screws and nuts to attach the cupholder to the plate and the chair.

For safety, the holder can be folded up into a flat position when not in use so that it won’t hit door jambs or walls. The total cost for the cupholder attachment was less than $15. The screws, nuts and scrap metal plate cost about $2.