A stairlift to allow me some independence.

Hi my name is Dennis Blackman, I am a retired building surveyor (62) through illness.

firstly I had an accident whilst working but because I was temporary carer I never got compensation! This accident I had left me with damage to L3,4&5 spine, in the same accident I also gave myself two inguinal hernias and re damaged my replacement left hip. My mobility was severely impaired and I had great pain, and great difficulty getting up and down stairs. Operations were planned but due to covid they were put on hold. About two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukaemia and severe Neutrapina ( which means I catch colds flu or stomach infections that turn to sepsis. I have been an inpatient for three months where I was bed ridden and couldn’t walk, however with physiotherapy I’m up on my feet but left with neuropathy and swollen feet/ankles. The leukemia I have is pretty advanced my chemotherapy didn’t work after four sessions so it’s only my spirit that is keeping me going (with strong prayer circles) but I’m still fighting it, I have weekly blood tests and transfusions. I have paid and arranged my own funeral to take the weight off my wife and children’s shoulders, I’ve even arranged my own requiem mass complete as once the chemotherapy stopped two years ago (the consultants only gave me three weeks to get my house in order as that’s how long my prognosis was) suddenly and without warning my wife who was I’ll but not that serious (we thought) she had a massive heart attack and couldn’t be resuscitated, on the way to hospital she had two more heart attacks and one in CCU was on a life support but that had to be turned off as there was nothing they could do!

I have used all savings we had to get a wheelchair (council don’t supply them) a mobility scooter and grab handles and stair rails to allow me to pull myself up with at bedtime.

I am getting weaker especially at night and the stairs are becoming a major worry coming down and like almost impossible going upstairs. Due to what I’ve paid out I’m in now way able to pay for the stairlift and hope some good people would help fund my stair lift appeal. The cost of a secondhand stairlift is £3700.00.