Callie's Great Escape: Wheelchair Motor

Hello! I'm Callie and I am a wheelchair user living in France currently with my husband and dog. One thing I did not fully anticipate when moving to France was how much inaccessible the infrastructure would be here. I'm at a point where I can't leave the house on my own. The only way I will be able to move independently is if I get a power chair. But to get a power chair, I need to get a motor for my current wheelchair because a regular power chair can't fit in our car.

I have been raising money for a little over a year now for the motor. It costs around $8,000 to get the motor. So far, I have raised just over $6k through various assistance here in France and different benefits I can get as a disabled resident. However, I now have to raise the rest of the funds,

I can't work because of my disability. We don't make much money as a couple and already struggle to make enough to live and eat. So, trying to save for the additional funds has not worked very well.

Having the motor would mean extra independence for me. I could go grocery shopping by myself, take my dog out for a walk sometimes, and maybe even take the trash out occasionally. Currently, I never go outside on my own. I got to trial the motor in March of last year and it was the first time I have actually navigated around my own neighborhood. I'd never seen some of the places we went to. I didn't realize there was a cafe down the street from us or a bank. I'd never seen the train station before. Living the way I do is extremely limiting. It lacks empathy and dignity. A motor would be a small piece that would bring so much to my life.