Hello, I’m Nick.

• In April 2024 I had routine back surgery to alleviate an ongoing problem in my left leg. All went well but following re-admission to hospital with increasing pain and numbness it was found that I have an unusual tumour in my intra medullary spine which causes
•  ongoing pain and paralysis. Come August 2024 it was clear that I could no longer live with my partner in our home and moved to Cornwall to stay with my mother as she lives in a bungalow.
  

Come February of this year, over the course of a weekend, I lost the use of both of my legs. Further neurological intervention concluded that I was now permanently disabled, no further surgery would benefit and likely to make the situation even worse. How much worse could it get?

So, slowly adapting to a life of disability and having to give up my home, relationship and career I resolved to just get on with it and make the most of it. I soon became used to the hospital bed in my room, wheelchair, commode and the inability to just jump in the shower, my biggest loss to be honest.

So far so good/bad. However, we have been served the dreaded and much maligned Section 21 notice on Mum’s property. The housing department of Cornwall council have been working hard on our behalf but there is such a paucity of social housing available that we are having to look to the private rental sector. Given our vastly reduced income we are struggling to find the money for a deposit and removal costs to enable us to find a suitable home. The alternative is temporary accomodation for my mum, 78 and increasingly frail herself, most likely a hotel, short term care facility for myself and my brother who is a joint carer will probably have to fend for himself.

The solution is there but we cannot come up with the funds to enable it.

Of course there are many, many people out there in similar or even worse situations but it is our wish that we can all stay together and have a secure home, the simplest of wishes but totally unattainable at the moment.

Please, please let me know if you have any questions or indeed advice.

I/We thank any and all that can offer help at this awful time.