Hydraulic lift chair donated to Levi Jamieson
September 15, 2022, 11:57 am
When Merle Malin of Redvers read in the World-Spectator about Levi Jamieson a few weeks ago, he knew he could help.
Malin became a paraplegic years ago, after an accident while driving a semi.
He farmed for years as a paraplegic, and had a specialized piece of equipment that he knew would make Levi’s life easier, a hydraulic lift mounted in the back of a truck. In addition to farming, Mailin travelled to schools to give presentations on farm safety.
The hydraulic lift that made it possible for Mailin to continue farming without the use of his legs is worth around $50,000 and can raise a person in a wheelchair as high up as 11 feet.
Powered by a remote control, it can lift a person in a wheelchair up to the cab of a piece of a tractor, a combine, or any other piece of farm machinery, allowing them to access and use the equipment.
After reading about Levi through a story in the World-Spectator, Malin thought it would be a good idea to contact Levi and donate the hydraulic lift chair to him.
“In the paper I saw a photo of Levi with his calf in the Fairmede 4H,” Malin said. Levi lost the use of his legs in an ATV accident in October of 2020.
“I got in contact with Kevin Weedmark at the World-Spectator to get a hold of Levi, then I messaged Levi and the rest is history.
Malin says the lift made a world of difference to him when he was actively farming.
“Other than picking apples I don’t have a lot of use for the lift anymore, but over the years when I used it when I was farming, it was a life changer. It made it easier to farm. It made my life easier, so I thought why not give it to Levi.”
Levi’s dad said the family was so excited to hear from Malin that they picked up the lift just a few days after his call.
“He called us on the Friday on the long weekend and we were going to the lake,” said Darcy Jamieson.
“We came home on the Saturday and phoned Merle, then we were down there Monday of the long weekend. We couldn’t get there quick enough.”
The Jamiesons said they are really appreciative for Malin’s donation.
“I haven’t used it every day yet, but when I get out more on the farm I will,” said Levi.
“It’s helped a lot already though. For getting into tractors, it’s a lot easier than climbing up on the tractor like a monkey.”
He said it has helped him do work around the farm and to cut hay for the RM.
Levi’s dad said they only make hydraulic lifts of this type in the United States now, and that the company who used to make them in Canada no longer sells them.
“MacDon Headers the big headers on the combines, the fella that invented those, invented this hydraulic chair,” said Malin.
“He was selling them himself and was in Saskatoon. Through his work of MacDon he knew the people Atom-Jet Industries who thought they could take over after he died from a heart attack.
“Atom-Jet did sell them at one point, but eventually stopped making them.”
Levi said he cannot wait to start using the lift on a regular basis when farming. Tweet
