Eagle cushion lifts Larrie’s independence and spirit

At 81 years of age, Larrie Waho is still mowing lawns, fixing pipes, weeding the garden and harvesting his vegetable patch thanks to the innovative Eagle Lifting Cushion which has given him back his freedom and independence.

“Just because Larrie’s got no legs, he’s not disabled in any way,” explains his live-in caregiver, Vikki Smithers. “It’s just the logistics of getting him from his wheelchair to the ground, so that he can do more stuff, that’s the challenge.”

Larrie used to rely on Vikki to lift him in and out of his wheelchair. “But he weighs 80kg so once I got into my 50s, I was like, ‘yeah, nah, we're not doing that anymore’. I actually put my back out lifting him into his chair once. It took me out for three or four months.”

The pair live on a lifestyle block, between Taupo and Kinloch, and used to rely on a neighbouring farmer to come to the rescue if they got into a jam. But their new self-inflating cushion has been a game-changer.

At the push of a button, the Eagle Lifting Cushion can inflate or deflate, allowing Larrie to slide onto it and raise or lower himself to the ground. The in-built power unit delivers up to six lifts per full charge, or it can be plugged directly into mains power for unlimited lifts. Its compact design means it can be used in tight spaces, while its durable polyurethane-coated nylon cover is easy to wipe down and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

“It’s almost doubled the amount of things he’s able to do by himself,” Vikki explains. “If he wants to fix pipes under the sink, he can now get up and down off the ground without having to ask me when I’d be free to help him. Now he says, ‘I’m going to do some gardening’ and off he goes.

“It’s a pain when you've got to ask somebody for help all the time. So the less he has to ask for, the better.”

Larrie admits he doesn’t like sitting around, and much prefers to get stuck into chores around the large property where he has lived for the past 18 years.

“I do a lot of welding, mowing lawns… I dug up all my spuds the other day. I can still do so many things thanks to the cushion because I can just shuffle on and off it once I’m at the right height. It’s really a fantastic machine. It’s very easy to use and it’s quick to inflate. I’m much more independent now.”

The Eagle Lifting Cushion can be inflated in sections, allowing Larrie to choose what height he wants to reach, and can lift a person in whatever position is most comfortable including sitting up, lying flat or on their side.

Larrie lost his first leg to an infection six years ago, followed by the second leg 18 months ago. He has previously turned down offers of a hoist because of the impracticality of trying to use one outdoors in a paddock or in the garden. But having spotted an inflatable cushion in use on a UK medical reality television series, he then worked with his OT and Cubro to source one for himself.

Cubro Solution Specialist, Emma-Kate Smith, visited Larrie and Vikki at home to show them how to work it, and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.

 “We use it inside when we’re at the marae to get up and down from sleeping mats,” Vikki says. “One time the wheelchair slipped away from his bed and he ended up falling onto the floor. So he pulled the cushion out from underneath the bed and got himself back up again.

“It’s more than just a disability aide; it enables him to do more. It’s given him more options in life and makes it easier. We used to have to build little ramps to get him up and down onto higher or lower places. The logistics of it just becomes a bit of a nightmare. But the cushion has been great for both of us.”