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Paralyzed man explains how he uses chair to do the deed
A man who was left paralyzed after a dirt bike accident has explained how he uses a chair to be intimate with his partner.
Neven Hart, who is from Southern California, was on a Thanksgiving trip with his parents and his partner Amber Cogbill's family when he was involved in a horrific accident in 2022.
Neven doesn't remember how the incident unfolded because he "knocked himself out when [he] got hurt," but explained that he took off on his dirt bike and was on the floor within 30 seconds.
"We are unsure of exactly how he crashed because no one saw it actually happen and he knocked himself out. Neven is paralyzed from his T6 vertebrae and below. The T6 vertebrae is located mid torso, he cannot feel or move anything below his injury," Amber told BuzzFeed.
Hart demonstrates how he uses a special chair during intimacy
The pair uses their social media to shed more light on their experiences as an interabled couple.
In one video shared on Facebook, they openly addressed intrusive questions about how they can have sex when Neven has lost feeling and movement below his injury.
He demonstrated a specially designed swinging chair, which he referred to as a "deed chair" that allows him to move without relying on his hips.
However, he admitted that transferring from his wheelchair onto the device takes practice, particularly because the seat moves freely.
"It takes practice to actually get onto it. I know it didn't look that hard, but trust me, it's pretty hard," he said, adding that the chair has no "locking mechanism" and "swings back and forth", allowing movement through shifts in the user's upper body.
He suggested that the device could be useful for people with other spinal cord injuries, although its suitability would depend on an individual's mobility and support needs.
"There's no like hip movement involved in this at all. It's just like your upper body swinging back and forth," he added. "They do sell like some risers for the bottom, or you can like lower it down... Everyone comes in different sizes, so you have to figure out what works for you."
He clarified that he's the one in the chair, while the partner is "on the floor or somewhere in this vicinity".
Hart explains why he shares intimate details online
The content creator stressed that his videos are meant to educate others living with paralysis.
"Yes, it's entertaining for you guys. I 100% understand that. But this is a video for someone that's paralyzed and maybe wanting to get it," he explained.
He also showed how he transfers back into his wheelchair, admitting that getting off the moving seat can be more challenging than getting onto it.
"I think the transfer out is harder than the transfer in, just because, as I said, this moves - so when [you want] to come forward, it's coming forward with you," he said. "You will get the hang of it. You just have to push forward."
Neven concluded: "So hopefully that helps to explain it a little bit more and it helps you understand what it actually does."
The video was flooded with positive responses from viewers. "Thank you for explaining this! It could be useful (with the Trimex you guys have posted about) for people with a lot of different physical/sexual difficulties," one person praised.
"Omg thank you for this actually. I didn't actually know that paraplegic could use it. I suppose its not a conversation that comes up. I also didn't know there was feeling. Perhaps I just didn't or don't know much. Thank you for this," another said.
A third user raised a practical safety concern, writing: "I feel like someone should be able design a locking mechanism to make it safer and easier to transfer."
Couple celebrate wedding and welcome their first child
The interabled couple has since celebrated two major milestones in their relationship.
On February 26, Neven and Amber tied the knot in California, with Neven walking down the aisle using a walker and leg braces.
Reflecting on their special day in a social media video, Hart said the celebration had gone almost perfectly.
"We have no complaints at all. Everything went really smooth," he said. "The only frustrating part was whenever we were doing family pictures and trying to organize everyone to get in the photos. That was the most frustrating part, but other than that, everything was perfect. So we were really happy."
Their wedding took place less than two weeks after they announced on Valentine's Day that they were expecting their first child.
The couple announced their pregnancy with an Instagram post that featured Amber sitting on Neven's lap and holding a onesie bearing the words "Baby Hart," along with the caption: "Our Little Valentine's Surprise!"
The pair has since welcomed their first baby, with Neven sharing a post on August 1 with the caption: "Officially A Dad!"