Dean Johnson. Adapting to a life in a wheelchair.

For those of you who don’t know, back in May, Dean had a serious motorcycle accident in Derbyshire.

Thanks to the efforts of the Air Ambulance, Dean was swiftly transferred to the Royal Stoke Hospital, where he received emergency spinal surgery.

Dean required intensive care and was ventilated via life support for a short period of time, allowing his body time to recover from not only the trauma from the fractures to spine, multiple facial and rib fractures and a collapsed lung, but also a nasty chest infection he picked up which was impacting his ability to independently breathe for himself. It was touch and go for a while.

Thankfully, Dean pulled through but the next hurdle for Dean, his life partner and two children was coming to terms with the devastating news that Dean had suffered a complete spinal cord injury paralysing him from the chest down.

For those of you who know Dean well, you will know that he is a larger-than-life character and very much a family man who is determined to show his children that accidents do happen, and despite the huge challenge he has ahead of him, he will not be beaten by this accident.

Dean is the most amazing partner and father who has faced his life changing injuries with strength, determination and humour. He wishes to grab life with both hands, live it to the full and is eager to return to work.

His family are immensely proud of him and how he continues to stride forward, always with a smile on his face. They are desperately missing him, and are already counting down the days until he can return to home. As his the family pet, Buddy.

Dean is currently part way through his rehabilitation programme at Oswestry Hospital, where he regularly attends gruelling physio sessions to build up his strength and is eagerly learning the skills he will require to live an independent life from a wheelchair.

However, despite Dean’s positive attitude and commitment to recovery, he and his family now face huge financial difficulties to not only get him back home where he belongs, but to also give Dean the means to return to a life as normal and as independent as possible - something that so many of us take for granted.

Dean was insured but that simply covers his mortgage for a home that, due to it's size and location, does not meet his needs as a wheelchair user. Without major and costly adaptations (amounting to approximately £50,000.00) Dean's access within his home will be limited to just one ground floor room. Wheelchair access in and out of the property is also problematic due to the steep incline from road level to his front door. Therefore, when Dean returns home he will essentially be a prisoner in his own lounge.

In addition to the costs required to provide Dean with a suitable living space the family also need to self fund thousands of pounds for a specialised wheelchair, standing frame, adapted vehicle and ongoing physio & therapy sessions (these are limited on the NHS due to lack of funding and resources). All of which are essential for Dean to be independent, mobile and back at work.

It is very difficult to imagine what Dean, his partner and his two children must be going through as they all come to terms with Dean's life changing injuries. A process that has been made even more difficult and stressful due to the huge financial implications and lack of state support.

If you would like to support Dean and his family adapt to their 'new normal' without the added pressure of financial worry & constraints please consider making a donation. All amounts, no matter how small, would be gratefully appreciated.

Thank you.