SUPPORT LETS MANY HOLD THEIR HEADS HIGH

OAK RIDGE -- Verna Cordia didn't know what to do about her mother, Minnie Underwood.

In her later years, Underwood developed rheumatoid arthritis, scoliosis, Alzheimer's disease and numerous other ailments. She was in constant pain, and gradually, inch by inch, her head began to dip toward her waist.

Cordia, a certified nurses' aide, knew how to help her mother, but it wasn't easy. She held Underwood's head up with one hand and fed her with the other.

Cordia and her husband, James, began talking with physical therapists and looking through catalogs of various supports in an effort to get relief. Nothing seemed able to hold Underwood's head up without choking her. James Cordia suggested a headband type of apparatus.

The physical therapists said it wouldn't work. They were wrong.

Today, the Cordia Head Support has a U.S. patent and a Food and Drug Administration approval number.

"I went out to my shop one night and said I wasn't coming back in until I had something that would help my mother-in-law," James Cordia said. "Two hours later, I came back with the head support."

The steel contraption attaches to the back of the wheelchair and adjusts to the height of the user. A soft, cloth headband in the middle attaches around the user's head with Velcro. A thin but sturdy rope controls the amount of support given.

When Underwood began using the device, her condition improved. She was able to eat solid food again, and her oxygen tube was disconnected.

Although Underwood died April 1, 1994, she was able to see her son-in-law's invention receive accolades from medical personnel around the area. James Cordia has a thick stack of testimonials from nurses and other medical professionals.

A steel fabricating company makes the head support brackets and Jennifer Sharp, a Jackson seamstress, makes the headbands. So far, there are only prototypes, but the few people who use them love them.

Roxie Seabaugh cares for her 22-year-old son, Shawn, who has muscular dystrophy. He began using the Cordia Head Support eight months ago. Before his mother found out about the support, he held his head up with his fist.

"I can't believe no one thought of this before," Roxie Seabaugh said. "It's a simple thing that really works. Shawn really likes it because it helps."

She told other parents with children who have muscular dystrophy about the head support and the device gained interest locally.

But the Cordias want to market their head support nationwide. They formed Cordia Care Corp., and Verna Cordia has sent brochures about it to nursing home administrators and others in Missouri, Texas, Florida, California, South Carolina and Kentucky.

James Cordia said that if any of them had doubts about his invention, he would leave them one for 30 days to use. He is certain his customers will be convinced of the product's value.