My Fundraiser To Improve Fen’s quality of life

This is really tough. However along my journey I’m meeting some incredible people including those on social media. People who I’ve never met before in real life who listen and share pictures of cats and dogs and the countryside places they go. So it feels I can reach out to all of you and say I really need some help. I’m going through what is traditionally known as palliative care. I haven’t got cancer I’ve got life limiting respiratory difficulties arising from complex Comorbidities with my sight loss, struggles with weight and severe mental illness. I’m working hard with a bariatric dietician Who gives me goodwill time as his service is not commissioned unless you are a surgical patient. I’m on Victoza I’m doing well but it’s tough treatment. I also self fund libre sensors. I worked in the NHS for a very long time doing many different roles in nursing recruitment, psychology, clinical audit and ran a successful eating disorders support group which was commissioned by 3 CCGs for 13 years. I still help a cliclinical trials at Imperial College which is incredible I do this remotely as a mental health service user researcher. Just a few hours a month. Then I became very unwell with a diabetes foot ulcer and two years ago I had my big right toe amputated. I was diagnosed sepsis so the amputation was very unexpected.Fast track to where I am now I have just moved into a flat which is difficult it’s a beautiful flat it’s large and spacious and I’ve just been given on the NHS a power chair. However on the flipside I struggle every single day. I don’t have what is officially called a bariatric environment set up with a comfortable chair, a comfortable bed and a comfortable place to sit and write. I desperately need a laptop and Other things to help my quality of life. My life revolves around carers helping me on most things from getting up in the morning and the lack of continuity with carers is extremely distressing. Explaining from where your bottle of water goes to where your clothes are and which clothes you’re wearing and what needs to go in the washing machine on what temperature and directing them every single day twice a day. Some are really good and know my routine and others are less innovative and motivated and stand there waiting for me to explain everything and then they come back for the next thing and the next thing. I have one permanent carer at the weekend and she is amazing but she only does three weekends She has a family. I have my mum and dad and I love them very much they are in their 70s and 80s. Dad a retired doctor age is showing very much at 86 . I have district nurses in twice a week to for my left foot ulcer which is long-standing and very painful. I have diabetes peripheral neuropathy, chronic pain and phantom limb pain. I’m on opioids , MST, Butec and anticonvulsants pain relief and have an amazing clinical team but I have to cut the limit of pain relief otherwise I get delirium. I’m asking for help as I need less stress as my battery has run really dry -those were the words of my palliative care consultant doctor. She said we need to help you and support Let’s see what we can do to help and I’m going to be offered emotional help as well as practical help. However I’d like to raise some money to pay off some bills without stress. I need to be able to just pay my sky; utilities bill, phone bill , Buy much needed new clothes, and so on for the next year without worrying about where the money is coming from every single week. I’m on welfare benefits and yet again my PIP is up for review. Maybe they think my toe will grow back who knows? I however I keep going on to find some good things each day. I value the contacts I’ve had and continue to have with my online family. There is a lot of love and friendship and kindness. It is a big ask and if you can afford to help me then it would be much appreciated. Lots of love ❤️ and total respect. Fenella