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I realize this is a bit of a long shot and I know there's a wish section but I'm hoping Adam will give me a bit of leeway here as I'm desperate. Here goes, I came home tonight (Feb 12) and my axle plate on my wheelchair snapped. The axle plate is the part the back wheels attach to.  
It is an SMD wheelchair and in order to get a new one I will have to go through the motions with an Occupational therapist and in order to do that I will have to find some method of getting to a doctor's office to be referred before I can even see one.  
Here's the problem though, I have a full time job, it pays barely over minimum wage, I am a father of two children under the age of 10 and my family depends on a two paychecks to get by. Without my chair I am unable to go to work and left to pretty much crawl around my house until I can get another chair to use. I'm not looking for a financial handout, I just want a chair so I can go to work like anyone else. I am not on EIA or any sort of disability assistance, in fact the last time my chair broke about 2 years ago I had hoped I could get some financial assistance to help cover the cost of a rental and was turned down, at the time it was about $75 dollars biweekly I believe and it took SMD and the OT about a month to get me a replacement. I'm scared of what this means for our finances and how this makes me look as a reliable worker. I've fought so hard to just be taken as a normal person and yet when things like this happen I'm right back to being handicapped and hoping anyone will help me out and it's a sickening feeling to be honest. My spouse i wonderful but when things like this happen I feel terrible because she has to try to carry my financial weight too. I just feel gutted.  
I'm hoping someone out there in ebrandon might have a spare wheelchair or know of someone who does that might be able to help me out until I can get back on my own wheels so to speak. I would even be willing to purchase if it's in good shape with minimal wear and tear and it's not too expensive.  
I don't sit in a standard chair, the dimensions of mine are 20in wide seat by 19in depth I could settle for 20 by 18 or bigger in the mean time.  
Otherwise Anyone who knows of any services that might be able to help me out would be greatly appreciated as well, as I said I work full time and I just want to be able to take care of and contribute to my family.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by Degenerate108, 2016-02-13 00:34:44

Is it a part that can be repaired or fixed to hold until a new chair can be approved by SMD?  
There is a wheelchair that was posted in the classifieds on Feb 2, its $75, but it doesn't show dimensions. Maybe if you could message them to see if its something that you could use until a replacement is available, and check the dimensions. If that one could work, I will gladly pay the $75 for you.  
Other than that I wish I could help with another newer one, but just not possible.  
I will however check around with a family member tomorrow to see if he has another one, he's not using, or if he knows of one somewhere.  
Let me know about the one on here for $75 if it works out. Good Luck.

Cheezies said "Is it a part that can be repaired or fixed to hold until a new chair can be approved by SMD?   There is a wheelchair that was posted in the classifieds on Feb 2, its $75, but it doesn't show dimensions. Maybe if you could message them to see if its something that you could use until a replacement is available, and check the dimensions. If that one could work, I will gladly pay the $75 for you.   Other than that I wish I could help with another newer one, but just not possible.   I will however check around with a family member tomorrow to see if he has another one, he's not using, or if he knows of one somewhere.   Let me know about the one on here for $75 if it works out. Good Luck. "

I will most definitely send them a message, thanks for the heads up!  
I believe it's a replaceable part, I'm not sure if SMD would deem it replaceable but since it's a long weekend I imagine I won't be able to get a hold of them until Tuesday, though I'm going to chance it and call Monday just to be sure. I'm sort of hoping they can order it and if so I'm willing to trek it into Winnipeg to get it installed.

I believe some of the medical vendors, Rolling Spokes, Medi Chair rent out wheelchairs. I don't know the cost but maybe it would be worthwhile to look into for a short term solution. I believe they're open on weekends.

jess13 said "I believe some of the medical vendors, Rolling Spokes, Medi Chair rent out wheelchairs. I don't know the cost but maybe it would be worthwhile to look into for a short term solution. I believe they're open on weekends. "

Rolling spokes doesn't appear to be, however I did send them an email both to their site and I messaged their facebook account, The other two places didn't have anything close to a 20inch the last time mine broke but I was planning on giving them a call in the morning all the same anyways.

Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, Kinsmen Clubs. Please, is there any way you can help this hard-working man.  
 
If you know someone from these clubs, please pass it along.

Home Health Care Pharmacy on Victoria Ave? Their phone is 204-727-2483. They may be able to help you.

I will hardly help with the cost of a rental or replacement part as well!  
 
Hopefully you can reach someone today. I'll message Rolling Spokes as well if you'd like.  
 
You can email me at butterfly@mts.net

Try Seniors for Seniors. I'm pretty sure they get second hand equipment that may be available. Not sure they're open on weekend though!

Is it a metal piece that snapped? Just thinking outside of the box but could you go to a metal welding place and have it welded back together to hold enough until your replacement part comes in? You could try Morningstar Metal?

The Shilo Service Club lends out wheelchairs for free. I will pm you with the contact numbers.

This weeks flyer from Canadian Tire on page three has a wheel chair for $189.99 ($100.00 off reg.). Grab a credit card, head on down there and you're done.  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Grandmama said "Home Health Care Pharmacy on Victoria Ave? Their phone is 204-727-2483. They may be able to help you. "

Thank you for the tip, I hadn't thought of them I did give them a call and they don't have one in stock, the man I spoke to said there might have one Tuesday morning so if I'm still looking I'll give them a call back then.  
Rolling spokes didn't have one either unfortunately.  
Brandon Mobility doesn't appear to be open.

If it is something that just needs to be welded back together to be fixed I could most likely help you with it

Garret said "If it is something that just needs to be welded back together to be fixed I could most likely help you with it "

Hey I added a couple pictures to the thread, I'm not sure if it's weldable or not, I would guess no but I'm not a welder.  
Excuse the grit on it, Winter is terrible on chairs.

As long as it is steel I can fix it for sure, can you just slap a magnet on it and see if it sticks? If it does I will be around in an hour or so and I could pick it up and fix it then return it within the hour

It's really heartwarming to read all the offers of help. Nice to know people do care and are willing to step up and lend a helping hand.  
Garret, you are a stand-up guy! Really hope to hear it all works out.  
Good job people of e-Brandon!

Garret said "As long as it is steel I can fix it for sure, can you just slap a magnet on it and see if it sticks? If it does I will be around in an hour or so and I could pick it up and fix it then return it within the hour "

Non-magnetic, a buddy I know also with a chair figures they're probably magnesium.

Hmmm well I do see some rust on it there, if it is magnesium it won't be weldable without compromising the rest of it.  
 
I don't think honestly they would use that for a material on the chair it is most likely steel or aluminum. If you would like I could still check it out and see if it is repairable

I've found and got a 21x19 chair, Thank you so much to the people that were able to lend it to me until I can get this stuff with mine figured out. You've really helped me out and on Monday I'll give SMD and rolling spokes a call about possibly replacing that part. Also thanks to everyone who offered to help me out and to Adam for letting me use the discussion for personal use like this. Not having a wheelchair is a pretty scary thing when you're in my position, I can't begin to explain the literal pit of my stomach dread I felt when i heard that crack at 11pm last night and on a long weekend to boot. There really needs to be a better way to do things in regards to broken chairs, for myself it's the difference between a roof over our heads and food on the table. I shouldn't have to be left to the kindness of people when something so pivotal to me breaks. So I'm not sure I'm entirely done with this situation yet.  
 
Edited by Degenerate108, 2016-02-13 14:08:35

I am still willing to have a look at your broken chair. I am sure it can be fixed with the tools I have

Oh no! Sorry to hear about your chair Degenerate!  
 
If Garret isn't able to fix yours and you need to buy a new one, I'd like to offer to help put some money towards a new one too

Degenerate108 said "I've found and got a 21x19 chair, Thank you so much to the people that were able to lend it to me until I can get this stuff with mine figured out. You've really helped me out and on Monday I'll give SMD and rolling spokes a call about possibly replacing that part. Also thanks to everyone who offered to help me out and to Adam for letting me use the discussion for personal use like this. Not having a wheelchair is a pretty scary thing when you're in my position, I can't begin to explain the literal pit of my stomach dread I felt when i heard that crack at 11pm last night and on a long weekend to boot. There really needs to be a better way to do things in regards to broken chairs, for myself it's the difference between a roof over our heads and food on the table. I shouldn't have to be left to the kindness of people when something so pivotal to me breaks. So I'm not sure I'm entirely done with this situation yet.     Edited by Degenerate108, 2016-02-13 14:08:35"

So glad to hear that you've found one to use for now. That's great news!  
Take care and hopefully you get your new SMD chair soon!

Thread really choked me up. So happy for you that so many people stepped up and offered to help you. Amazing the generosity of so many people. A lot of us understand hardship but I doubt many of us can understand the feeling of vulnerability that you have to face with a broken chair. So glad you used this site as a solution. You helped us all realize that maybe our problems are so big after all thank you and good luck  
 

Maybe you need a backup chair. How much would a chair cost?

Chairs can run from $2,000-$6,000+.

saltnpepper said "Maybe you need a backup chair. How much would a chair cost? "

Indeed I do, I've tried to push the issue in the past but was met with the one chair limit, I can understand their reasoning mind you but it puts a guy like me in a hard spot.  
That reply above mine is right, my chair I currently have is by no means extravagant it's no frills aside from a heavy duty 20.5 inch seat which is incidentally an 882 dollar mark up from the standard 20.5 inch seat (basically it comes with one extra cross bar under the seat)  
My chair with just that heavy duty seat is $2950.43 with taxes included.  
So while I'd love to buy my own spare it's $3000 I don't have.

im glad you found a loaner chair and im glad you received so many offers to help, I know you try your best and your family has gone through a lot! you so deserve more help then you get so let us know if you need any more help i'm sure some of us on here would get together and give what we can

Aluminum part that has been powder coated, magnesium while lighter would only be a small savings in weight while significantly more expensive.  
 
In either case that part may be salvageable if welded with the TIG welding process. If magnesium is present then the part is still weldable with minimal concern about having the part burst into flames.  
 
Worst case it is a aluminum zinc mixture that is best welded while in a clay mold so it retains its shape. However that is a specialty filler metal very few in the province will have or know how to find.  
 
john

johnnoon said "Aluminum part that has been powder coated, magnesium while lighter would only be a small savings in weight while significantly more expensive.     In either case that part may be salvageable if welded with the TIG welding process. If magnesium is present then the part is still weldable with minimal concern about having the part burst into flames.     Worst case it is a aluminum zinc mixture that is best welded while in a clay mold so it retains its shape. However that is a specialty filler metal very few in the province will have or know how to find.     john "

See the other problem is that the weld is a super temp fix, and the chair is a loaner, I've had the cross frame welded in the past knowing that I was going to be in for a long haul trying to get a new chair and once the new one did arrive I had to send the old one back which I was promptly reprimanded for "altering without consent"  
The whole process is a bit of a nightmare, there's things I'm expected to do like apparently replace broke spokes on my own (i found this out last week after 15+ years of using a chair), replacing upholstery, changing bearings et al, but getting it serviced by someone outside organization's umbrella seems to be a no no, and leads to problems more often than not.  
Right now I'm hoping they'll be reasonable and just let me replace the axle plates without much of a fuss, but we shall see.