Thursday, February 07, 2008

Ms. Lois Lee

We'd like to share with you a testimony from one of our salespersons about their experience with a 96-year-old customer of ours:


I recently sold a gently used 2005 Chrysler Town and Country Entervan to a 96-year-old lady, Ms. Lois Lee. Ms. Lee, who has never been married and has no children, currently lives with her 76-year-old sister and 79-year-old brother-in-law, Catherine and James Bass. Physically, Ms. Lee is unable to walk. She can only stand for very short periods to get in and out of her wheel chair. But mentally, she is as sharp as a tack. She constantly engages her mind by doing crossword puzzles, needlework, sudoku, reading and watercolor painting. She took her first watercolor class at Johnston Tech at the young age of 87. Until recently, to get to class or to go other places, a friend or family member would push her wheelchair out to their car, positioning it very close to the front passenger seat, then assist her to stand while she turned and sat in the car. Then, whoever was driving her would have to fold the wheelchair and lift it into the trunk of their car. Over time, this routine became so physically taxing on Ms. Lee that she began to go out less and less often.

At 96, with the knowledge that her days on earth are not infinite, Ms. Lee was understandably hesitant about spending the money to purchase a wheelchair accessible van. But she also realized how much effort it took - not only from herself but als
o from her elderly sister and brother-in-law - whenever she needed to leave the house. She was also aware that if she ever fell and sustained a serious injury, then her family would have no choice but to seek care at a living facility rather than being able to take care of her themselves. With these factors in mind, she decided to buy the van. Now that she has it, Ms. Lee tells us that she wishes she had bought it much earlier!

Now Ms. Lee can be pushed in her wheelchair straight into the van and remain in her chair while traveling to her next destination. By adding an electronic tie-down system to the basic Entervan conversion, her family members do not have stoop down to secure her chair using the traditional belt system. In the first few weeks of ownership, Ms. Lee had already been to a Firemen's banquet, several doctor's appointments and to church in her new van. She had faithfully watched a television evangelist on Sunday mornings for eight months, and her church family was delighted to have her rejoin the congregation after that long absence. For longer trips, Ms. Lee keeps a crossword puzzle book in the van so that she has some mental activity as she travels.

One can never know when their time on this earth will come to an end, particularly at the age of 96, when every day really does count; but to Ms. Lee, having this van means being able to make the most of every one. She told me that she bought her first car in the early fifties. It was a Chevrolet Coupe that cost her $600. She said that this was the most she had ever paid for a vehicle but that she was just as excited about it as she was about buying that first one. We hope she'll still be using her van and smiling well into her second century.



Van Products would like to extend a very special "
Happy Birthday" to Ms. Lois Lee, who will start her 97th year of life on Sunday, February 10th.

Testimony by salesperson Janet Harmon

(800) 662-7572
jharmon@vanproducts.com
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