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Electric Wheelchair For Sophia

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We are trying to raise money for the purchase of a light weight, heavy duty, all weather, electric wheel chair that is not covered by insurance. My daughter Sophia was diagnosed with two illnesses last Spring after nearly 10 months of being really sick and trying to get a diagnosis. She was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which is a connective tissue disorder that she  was born with. It also affects her heart and has caused a slight mitral valve prolapse. There is no medication to treat with and there is no cure. She is looking ahead at a lifetime of pain and unexpected symptoms. EDS comes in many types and we are still waiting for genetic testing to find out which type she has. Most of her symptoms are excruciatingly painful joints and loose joints that dislocate easily.  She was also diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or POTS. This was causing her blood pressure to get dangerously low and her heart rate to be dangerously high. Her symptoms from POTS have mostly been passing out when standing up from a sitting or lying down position. She is taking a new medication that seems to be helping. Staying hydrated and eating extra salt also helps, thankfully. 
Sophia missed close to four months of her senior year but graduated and was accepted at 10 colleges. She received the best scholarship from Champlain College in Burlington, VT which was her dream school. She is majoring in Graphic Arts and Digital Media and absolutely loves Champlain and Burlington. Her scholarship is guaranteed each year for four years.  She was doing very well since leaving for college on August 23rd but last Wednesday she woke up with a complete dislocation of her left hip. She was unable to stand or move her leg and was unable to walk. This is the most severe dislocation she has had yet and the longest period of time that she has been unable to walk without assistance. In order to return to Champlain she needs a power chair to get around campus to her classes, the dining hall and her work study job. She has already missed 8 days of classes and we are worried that she will be unable to catch up or will need to take a medical leave for the semester if we are not able to get this chair soon enough. Champlain's Accommodation office is working on getting Sophia into an ADA dorm room on the first floor with a ramp and a handicapped accessible bathroom.  
The chair that was suggested to us by another mom who has a college aged daughter with the same diagnosis can be viewed here: 
https://www.foldandgowheelchairs.com/weatherproof/heavy-duty/
It is lightweight yet sturdy enough to use on the snow and ice covered hills of Champlain's campus. It is also light weight compared to other chairs so that it will not cause further dislocations of her shoulders, elbows or wrists. We are hoping to be able to purchase this chair within the next week so that Sophia can get back to college. Thanks so much for taking the time to read about Sophia and her diagnosis.

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs

Organizer

Gemma Amero Flavin
Organizer
Gloucester, MA

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