Empower Emma's Journey with a Custom Wheelchair

Hi, I’m Emma, an upcoming disabled college student hoping to attend the University of Cincinnati to major in psychology. I am in desperate need of funding a custom manual wheelchair with a power assist. My dream is to work in pediatric medicine, but I can’t do that without the assistive device I need to function day to day and get around campus. I currently have a second-hand wheelchair from eBay; however, it’s slowly falling apart and won’t hold up much longer. My current wheelchair is also not built for me and my needs, which unfortunately leads to things like joint damage, pressure sores, poor posture, pain, and even fatigue because of my many conditions.

I am diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Vasovagal Syncope, Non-Epileptic Seizures, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Dystonia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Swallowing Disorder, and many other conditions. All of my conditions are chronic and do not currently have cures. They also can be very hard to manage. I use a wheelchair to help manage my Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in my feet, dislocations and joint instability caused by a genetic condition (Ehlers-Danlos), my neurological disorder that causes periods of paralysis along with gait issues and tremors, and my seizures and fainting that make me a fall risk. Before my health severely declined, I was a competitive athlete as an all-star cheerleader and ballerina. Now I spend multiple times a week at doctor’s appointments and trying to find ways to help manage my symptoms and find answers. I also frequently end up in the ER because of how severe and dangerous my symptoms can become.

This wheelchair will cost us a little over $8,000. The wheelchair itself is $3,000, and the power assist is $5,000. It will be a TiLite Z wheelchair with a SmartDrive power assist. While I am doing what I can to set aside money for this, I am only able to work very minimally at the moment while we get my pain under control and get the assistive devices I need.

I’m a big advocate for disabled individuals and service dogs, as I have two myself. I also spend a lot of time trying to help my community when I can. This wheelchair will be life-changing for me and significantly improve my quality of life. For anyone that donates, please feel free to contact me privately so I can personally thank you for your contribution to my life-changing medical equipment.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!