Help With Purchase Of Motorized Scooter
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My name is Martha Thompson, I am in my early 60's and live on a fixed disability income. I have been in and out of the hospital within the last two years for various reasons, which has caused me to worsen at a quicker rate, and has increased my need for a mobility scooter.
[Image of me in the hospital/emergency room. My husband, who has become my full-time caretaker is wiping my face]
I am starting this GoFund me campaign to ask for donations to help with the purchase of a motorized scooter. The reason I am needing a scooter is I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder, for which I was diagnosed as a teenager. CMT is progressive, which means that symptoms get worse over time and degenerative nerve disease that usually appears in adolescence or early adulthood. It is classified as a peripheral neuropathy disorder, which means it affects the peripheral nerves (nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord) making them unable to activate muscles or relay sensory information from the limbs back to the spinal cord and brain. Muscular atrophy in the hands often causes people to have difficulty with tasks involving manual dexterity.
[Image of me right after I got out of the rehabilitation center. My family took me out to eat as a celebration! I've been out of the hospital ever since!]
CMT causes muscle weakness and reduction in size (atrophy) and loss of sensation in the lower legs and feet. Sometimes the hands, wrists, and forearms are affected as well. CMT also often causes contractures (stiffened joints due to abnormal tightening of muscles and associated tissues), and sometimes, the curvature of the spine (scoliosis or kyphosis). As the disease progresses, weakness and decreased muscle mass may occur in the hands, arms, legs, or feet. People may lose the ability to feel heat, cold, and touch, experience difficulty walking, instability and lack of coordination.
[Image of me and my two daughters. This picture is from 2014.]
My condition has progressed to the point that I can not walk unassisted, and usage of my walker or wheelchair is becoming extremely difficult due to the loss of muscle strength in my legs, arms, and hands. I am asking for your help to purchase a scooter to help with mobility. A motorized scooter costs between $1200 and $2500, which I can not afford on my limited income. I have medicare and have tried to purchase one through my insurance, but Medicare will not help cover any portion of the cost. I am getting to the point that without the aid of a scooter I will not be able to get around on my own. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated and you would be improving my quality of life. Please research CMT and look for yourselves on how this disease affects those diagnosed with it.
[Image of me in the hospital/emergency room. My husband, who has become my full-time caretaker is wiping my face]I am starting this GoFund me campaign to ask for donations to help with the purchase of a motorized scooter. The reason I am needing a scooter is I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder, for which I was diagnosed as a teenager. CMT is progressive, which means that symptoms get worse over time and degenerative nerve disease that usually appears in adolescence or early adulthood. It is classified as a peripheral neuropathy disorder, which means it affects the peripheral nerves (nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord) making them unable to activate muscles or relay sensory information from the limbs back to the spinal cord and brain. Muscular atrophy in the hands often causes people to have difficulty with tasks involving manual dexterity.
[Image of me right after I got out of the rehabilitation center. My family took me out to eat as a celebration! I've been out of the hospital ever since!]CMT causes muscle weakness and reduction in size (atrophy) and loss of sensation in the lower legs and feet. Sometimes the hands, wrists, and forearms are affected as well. CMT also often causes contractures (stiffened joints due to abnormal tightening of muscles and associated tissues), and sometimes, the curvature of the spine (scoliosis or kyphosis). As the disease progresses, weakness and decreased muscle mass may occur in the hands, arms, legs, or feet. People may lose the ability to feel heat, cold, and touch, experience difficulty walking, instability and lack of coordination.
[Image of me and my two daughters. This picture is from 2014.]My condition has progressed to the point that I can not walk unassisted, and usage of my walker or wheelchair is becoming extremely difficult due to the loss of muscle strength in my legs, arms, and hands. I am asking for your help to purchase a scooter to help with mobility. A motorized scooter costs between $1200 and $2500, which I can not afford on my limited income. I have medicare and have tried to purchase one through my insurance, but Medicare will not help cover any portion of the cost. I am getting to the point that without the aid of a scooter I will not be able to get around on my own. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated and you would be improving my quality of life. Please research CMT and look for yourselves on how this disease affects those diagnosed with it.
Organizer
Martha Thompson
Organizer
Douglasville, GA
