Hi. I am Nathanya and Cathy is a very dear friend who has had to fight for everything in life.
Cathy has dedicated over 30 years service to working in the NHS as a Nurse and as a Midwife. She is a single mum with Twins at home, a teenager now in Supported Living, and a young adult who has just had her own child. All of them are Autistic with differing needs and she has fought for their rights throughout their lives and still does. She also has a late diagnosis of ADHD/Autism.
Everyone with Special Needs Children knows how hard it is to get them the assistance they need.
Cathy left her Midwife role to focus on her children. She returned to nursing in the last few years. Cathy has endured many health issues over the years, her back and neck issues began following an Ambulance crash whilst transferring a patient; and as many NHS staff know back problems are often worsened by the Midwife/Nurse role. She has previously had surgery to her back and neck; but her neck deteriorated to the point that she needed urgent surgery, or risk ending up in a wheelchair. Her surgery was delayed twice, the second time getting into the operating theatre, but was cancelled due to a trauma case needing urgent surgery.
In view of her delays, Cathy's Consultant sent her to a private Specialist Hospital. Her surgery took place early November; but following complications, she nearly died, returned to theatre twice, spent time in ITU, and woke up paralysed, unable to do anything for herself. Cathy was active with her children and dogs and her mind is also constantly thinking of everything that her children need. Sadly, those children are currently being cared for in their home by carers and have been for the 18 months Cathy has been in hospital. Her son has had to sit his GCSE'S without parental support and needs his mum for his A Levels.
Cathy desperately wants and needs to be with them; but her recovery has been long and slow due to complications and subsequent delays in transferring to a Rehabilitation Hospital. She is now facing life as a Tetaplegic - something she hasn't fully accepted yet. She has acquired a very rare syndrome due to the complications from the surgery. She can use one arm/hand but her grip is weak and will need on-going 24 hr care. One of her acquired conditions is Autonomic Dysreflexia - which if not treated is a life threatening emergency. Stoke Mandeville and the Spinal Injuries Association helped Cathy apply for Continuing Health Care and this was denied. She also lost her appeal. This process has taken 6 months, during which Docial Services offered 4 1/2hr sessions a day which no agency was prepared to do. They then suggested she transfers to a 4th hospital for an interim period. After quoted The Social Care Act to the Social Worker she is getting discharged with a 10 day interim care order, followed by a 6 week assessment of her needs. Cathy has always privately rented and her Landlord will not undertake any required work for damp, mould, etc let alone permit adaptations and was unsuccessful on bidding on an adapted Social Housing Fully Adapted Bungalow recently. Cathy will be unable to access the bathroom and kitchen and will have to use the lounge as her bedroom. Entering and leaving the property by the back door.
She will need a WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) Car, this will take time as she has to apply for PIP, be awarded the highest rate for mobility (not guaranteed) and then order one if successful. In the meantime she will have to pay for WAV Taxis to take her to physiotherapy, doctors appointments, shopping etc. There will be many more daily needs identified once she is home and is anticipating having to fund any shortfall in her care needs. She needs Trauma Therapy too.
Whilst she had been in hospital, her friends have rallied and raised funds to assist her with communication and daily living needs.
We know that many people are struggling financially at the moment, and we really hope that if you can, please donate even a few pounds. Every little will help Cathy.
Show your support for this GoFundMe