Takara's wheelchair freedom fund
Donation protected
I am the Mother of an amazing young woman, who desperately needs your support.
Being a part of a large, and very active family, Takara grew up climbing trees, playing on the beach, rock pool exploring, and running across fields.
In her teens she noticed that following intense back pain, she began to change shape, and 'lost a hip'. Each time a growth spurt took place, her shape would alter, and a diagnosis of scoliosis was delivered - but we were assured it is not that unusual and after a short stint of physiotherapy Takara was discharged.
Sadly this was not to be the end of the situation, and what seems like a relatively short period of time, two curvatures and a rotation of the spine developed. An operation was offered in order to correct her severely progressive idiopathic scoliosis. This took place in March 2009 to secure titanium rods and clamps to the front of her spine, plus fusions. Takara gained over 5" in height following the operation, although there were complications, we very much hoped that life would be better.
Unfortunately later that year an additional movement took place, leaving Takara with severe difficulties in walking - but she fought on. She was also in constant and intense pain, later being diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome, which the surgeon had initially said was psychosomatic!
A fall in 2012, whereby Takara was left in horrendous pain and hospitalized. An x-ray, MRI scan and CT scan later it was confirmed that a screw had worked loose and tipping on the spinal canal - but it was considered too dangerous to operate again. At this point she was put on a cocktail of medication, and suffered an allergic reaction, which caused her to go temporarily blind and paralysed from the waist down. Takara is still unable to use her legs, and with support can only stand for a maximum of a couple of minutes. The allergic reaction has put her on 'factory reset' as she says - the messages from the brain to her muscles are confused and don't get through correctly. So, she is having to learn to walk all over again - except her legs are a bit heavier now than when she was a baby.
Despite everything that has happened, Takara continues to fight back and such a very proud moment came when she applied to the local university, and was accepted on a Degree Course.
My daughter is a permanent wheelchair user, and her current chair is from the local wheelchair services - they have been wonderful. However, the wheelchair is so limiting because Takara is unable to even use it across the garden. The family automatically changed the lifestyle we once had, simply because we want to go as a family, and it would not feel right for us not to all be together.
It all changed recently when I saw the Trekinetic wheelchair being used - what an amazing difference it could make to Takara, and the family as a whole. One huge problem though, is we simply do not have the funds available in order to give a very special young woman a huge gift of freedom to go into the woods, go onto a beach, go on family days out and not have to prepare it like a military operation!!
Thank you for your support - whether it be by kindly donating, or just acknowledging how difficult life can be in a normal wheelchair....
Being a part of a large, and very active family, Takara grew up climbing trees, playing on the beach, rock pool exploring, and running across fields.
In her teens she noticed that following intense back pain, she began to change shape, and 'lost a hip'. Each time a growth spurt took place, her shape would alter, and a diagnosis of scoliosis was delivered - but we were assured it is not that unusual and after a short stint of physiotherapy Takara was discharged.
Sadly this was not to be the end of the situation, and what seems like a relatively short period of time, two curvatures and a rotation of the spine developed. An operation was offered in order to correct her severely progressive idiopathic scoliosis. This took place in March 2009 to secure titanium rods and clamps to the front of her spine, plus fusions. Takara gained over 5" in height following the operation, although there were complications, we very much hoped that life would be better.
Unfortunately later that year an additional movement took place, leaving Takara with severe difficulties in walking - but she fought on. She was also in constant and intense pain, later being diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome, which the surgeon had initially said was psychosomatic!
A fall in 2012, whereby Takara was left in horrendous pain and hospitalized. An x-ray, MRI scan and CT scan later it was confirmed that a screw had worked loose and tipping on the spinal canal - but it was considered too dangerous to operate again. At this point she was put on a cocktail of medication, and suffered an allergic reaction, which caused her to go temporarily blind and paralysed from the waist down. Takara is still unable to use her legs, and with support can only stand for a maximum of a couple of minutes. The allergic reaction has put her on 'factory reset' as she says - the messages from the brain to her muscles are confused and don't get through correctly. So, she is having to learn to walk all over again - except her legs are a bit heavier now than when she was a baby.
Despite everything that has happened, Takara continues to fight back and such a very proud moment came when she applied to the local university, and was accepted on a Degree Course.
My daughter is a permanent wheelchair user, and her current chair is from the local wheelchair services - they have been wonderful. However, the wheelchair is so limiting because Takara is unable to even use it across the garden. The family automatically changed the lifestyle we once had, simply because we want to go as a family, and it would not feel right for us not to all be together.
It all changed recently when I saw the Trekinetic wheelchair being used - what an amazing difference it could make to Takara, and the family as a whole. One huge problem though, is we simply do not have the funds available in order to give a very special young woman a huge gift of freedom to go into the woods, go onto a beach, go on family days out and not have to prepare it like a military operation!!
Thank you for your support - whether it be by kindly donating, or just acknowledging how difficult life can be in a normal wheelchair....
Organizer
Wenona Dancy
Organizer
