The main item needing resolved today is Ryan’s bed. Last Friday all functionality stopped working without warning. After spending the entire Saturday morning on the phone with technical support I was able to get it barely useable, until a fuse blew on the main circuit board. These were delivered overnight (getting here on Saturday) and I popped them in. The bed was back to barely usable and I was grateful.
Try as I might to completely fix it myself and save money, a service call seemed the right way to proceed. I’m thinking it’s more than just one issue or an issue caused downstream from another issue. The technician is scheduled to arrive this morning.

<via http://www.hill-rom.com/>
Ryan’s bed is better than those found in every hospital and rehabilitation center we ever had him in. Now, throw in all the items provided through Ryan’s Wish List (pillows, blankets, wedges, gowns, foam, powders, sensors, eye masks, and so on) that Ryan is practically floating in comfort.
This bed has so many functions and features that keep him comfortable and healthy. When I dug into the guts of it, I was able to see all these systems firsthand. It has hydraulic, electrical, and air systems that must be precisely tuned and calibrated to work in harmony. There are sensors everywhere that pick up the smallest of changes and call for the systems to make adjustments. I kid you not, if Ryan moves his arm, the mattress adjusts. Here’s a link to the summary product page for the Total Care Sport, if you’re interested.
This brings me to another fact I know about the readers of this website… most of you will click on the link to learn. You almost always do. How do I know this, you ask? Well, while I don’t know who specifically clicks on it, I do get a tally of how many do. It’s always quite a high number. This tells me two things: 1) I’m giving information you find valuable or interesting, and 2) you want to learn as much as you can in understanding every iota of Ryan’s life. In other words, you are deeply vested. Thank you.
I wish there was someway to assign a value to the collective intellect of a websites readership. You know, like a blog IQ. I know, without a doubt, this one would be quite high. As I said many times before, you guys are smart. Big, blooming, smarty-pants indeed.
Where are you located? Which company came out to repair? I have a hill ROM bed not under warranty and I can’t seem to find anyone who can fix it. I’m so frustrated!!!
hope the bed repair actually repaired the bed….
It’s fixed! Set us back $420. I guess that’s not too bad (I was expecting more).
Ken, not only do a lot of us click on the links you provide, but also expand our vocabulary by looking up such unknown words as “trendelenburg” and “Continuous Lateral Rotation Therapy (CLRT). It really helps us understand more about what is involved. Thank you for taking the time to explain things.
Oh nooooo not Ryan’s bed!! Ken, it seems a bed of this high caliber shouldn’t break down like this!! Ryan deserves to get a good night of rest. Please keep us updated, I’m upset this happened.
Waiting to hear what is happening and praying it isn’t going the way of the repair of the van (please, God). But have you noticed that “technicians” cost lots more than “repairmen?” I sure have!
This wasn’t just any technician though; he was a highly specialized bed tech!
Ken, Sure hope they fix bed today!!(Of course,what is under warranty when you really need it???). Hope all else is going well and Ryan is feeling okay.Keep us posted whenever you can and give Ryan a big hug… Love Gail
Fixed!
Woohoo!
Good news!
We sure hope that Ryan is back in his fully functional, super-comfy bed tonight. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to help you out today while you’re busy with the service technician in the meantime. (And it stinks that the bed is no longer under warranty :/)
Uh oh, hope it sounds like he knows what he is doing at least.
He’s here now, but I don’t like the sound of his questions with the main office.
Now I know what “trendelenburg” means!
…and, by default, you know what reverse trendelenburg means! FYI, to be hip, just say “tren”.
see!!!!!…spoken truly like “THE TODD”! LOL 🙂
SHSP in Morgantown
Of all the equipment needed for Ryan’s good care, the bed is surely at the top of the list. Hoping the Repair Tech. gets there ASAP!
Here now. Sounds like a fairly major issue.
Ken, I’m wondering how much a service call will set you back. This is a remarkable bed, and you are a big smarty-pants to even attempt to repair it. I couldn’t find anything on their website about warranty/guarantee. I would think it would still be under warranty, but, of course, I wouldn’t be an expert on this, like I am on my coffee maker or Ninja, for instance. I presume the company realizes the nature of this emergency and gets out there to make repairs on-the-double. We know you will keep us updated, thank you.
Cold outdoors this morning and down to 34 in your area tonight, brrr! Get out the winter jackets — again! Always here with hope and love, faith and prayers.
It’s now out of warranty. 🙁
Ouch! This is not good! 🙁