Help me be mobile
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Demetrious McMullen and I have been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis. A.S. is an autoimmune disease that primarily effects the spine and causes burdening pain throughout the joints in the body. An autoimmune disease is a disease in which the body attacks itself. I have multiple other diagnoses, three of which are also autoimmune diseases.
I will be celebrating my 21st birthday this month, January 2019. 21 on the 21st! This should be a time of independence for a young adult, but I do not have that freedom that most people in their 20s do. I am bound by the restrictions of my chronic illness.
I need a foldable and lightweight power wheelchair, so that I am able to join what everyone else participates in: Living. I am supposed to be living my life. My debilitating illnesses stop me from doing so. Insurances cover the bare minimum and the type of powered chair that I need is simply not covered by insurances.
Graduating from Harrison high school was a bit difficult due to many other health issues. My physical health was getting worse, and my mental and cognitive issues were overwhelming. Though, with all of these obstacles, I graduated with a regent’s diploma.
I went to a SUNY school for 5 semesters. My A.S. began to show symptoms right around the start of college. Being in a new academic environment and combating new health issues was incredibly difficult, especially as I did not know what was wrong or how to deal with it. Despite this, I stayed for my 5 semesters.
It was unbearable for the entire time and I finally withdrew from my classes last semester. I could not always leave my dorm with a cane or manual wheelchair and getting to class exerted most of the energy I had. There is only so much energy I can expend each day. Every Wednesday night, I would have to rely on others to help me get to rehearsal. I could not get to rehearsal alone. I had no independence.
My goal is to go back to school. I want to finish my degree. I tried to stay, but it only hurt me in the long run to continue to struggle for those 5 semesters without the proper support.
Shopping is a burden. Cooking the groceries I purchase today will have to wait until tomorrow, because my energy is gone for the day. This is the same for getting to classes, the library, or even much needed physical therapy. Many of these things are just out of my reach.
If I had a wheelchair that accommodated ME, the quality of my life would be restored to what it used to be. I could return to school to get my degree and do things any other 21-year-old could do.
Any amount of money will help me gain back some of life’s freedoms. I hope you help me dream big and allow my plans to become reality as I obtain a degree, join the workforce, and join the "lifeforce".
Help me be mobile! Thank you for reading :)
I will be celebrating my 21st birthday this month, January 2019. 21 on the 21st! This should be a time of independence for a young adult, but I do not have that freedom that most people in their 20s do. I am bound by the restrictions of my chronic illness.
I need a foldable and lightweight power wheelchair, so that I am able to join what everyone else participates in: Living. I am supposed to be living my life. My debilitating illnesses stop me from doing so. Insurances cover the bare minimum and the type of powered chair that I need is simply not covered by insurances.
Graduating from Harrison high school was a bit difficult due to many other health issues. My physical health was getting worse, and my mental and cognitive issues were overwhelming. Though, with all of these obstacles, I graduated with a regent’s diploma.
I went to a SUNY school for 5 semesters. My A.S. began to show symptoms right around the start of college. Being in a new academic environment and combating new health issues was incredibly difficult, especially as I did not know what was wrong or how to deal with it. Despite this, I stayed for my 5 semesters.
It was unbearable for the entire time and I finally withdrew from my classes last semester. I could not always leave my dorm with a cane or manual wheelchair and getting to class exerted most of the energy I had. There is only so much energy I can expend each day. Every Wednesday night, I would have to rely on others to help me get to rehearsal. I could not get to rehearsal alone. I had no independence.
My goal is to go back to school. I want to finish my degree. I tried to stay, but it only hurt me in the long run to continue to struggle for those 5 semesters without the proper support.
Shopping is a burden. Cooking the groceries I purchase today will have to wait until tomorrow, because my energy is gone for the day. This is the same for getting to classes, the library, or even much needed physical therapy. Many of these things are just out of my reach.
If I had a wheelchair that accommodated ME, the quality of my life would be restored to what it used to be. I could return to school to get my degree and do things any other 21-year-old could do.
Any amount of money will help me gain back some of life’s freedoms. I hope you help me dream big and allow my plans to become reality as I obtain a degree, join the workforce, and join the "lifeforce".
Help me be mobile! Thank you for reading :)
Co-organizers (2)
Demetrious McMullen
Organizer
Harrison, NY
Jason Wright
Co-organizer