Hi, my name is Chloe, I’m 23 years old, and I live alone with my little cat, Wilbur. My mum sadly passed away in 2016, and since then I’ve had very little family support.

I live with several complex health conditions — including Autism, ADHD, BPD, a Learning Disability, ARFID, Visual Impairment, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Mild Cerebral Palsy, and Hydrocephalus.

Over the past few years, I’ve had eight brain surgeries due to issues with my shunt, the most recent being in July 2024. Following these surgeries, I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder, which causes dissociative seizures and mobility problems, including unpredictable paralysis. When these episodes happen, I have no way of knowing how long they will last — hours, days, or even longer — which means I rely fully on my wheelchair to get around safely.

For the last four years, my carer and I have been fighting tirelessly to get the support and adaptations I need from Fife Social Work, such as ramps to access my home. I’m so grateful to my amazing Mental Health Team, who have stood by me through every setback and continue to advocate for the support I should have.

After three assessments, Social Work have only just applied for funding for 12 hours of care a week — but they refuse to provide ramps for my home.

Right now, the only way I can get in or out of my home is by dragging myself across the floor, which is incredibly unsafe. I’ve already injured myself doing this, but I have no other way to enter or leave my house. Despite this, Fife Social Work have deemed this acceptable.

They’ve even said that if I become fully wheelchair-dependent, I should be admitted to hospital. But I’ve already spent more time in hospital than at home over the last two years — often not because I’m unwell, but simply because I need basic support that could easily be provided if my home were accessible. This breaks my heart, knowing that I’m taking up a hospital bed that could go to someone who truly needs it, all because the right help hasn’t been put in place.

Being stuck in hospital for reasons that could be avoided has had a huge impact on my mental health. If I just had ramps fitted, I could live independently, safely, and with dignity in my own home.

Social Work’s reason for refusing is that my FND symptoms are unpredictable — they could improve in months or they could last for years. But right now, without ramps, I cannot safely access my home. This has left me isolated and cut off from the outside world. I can’t go out with friends, attend my art group, or go to my piano lessons, all of which bring me so much joy and purpose.

I don’t like asking for help, and I never imagined I’d have to start a fundraiser. But I’ve run out of options. I’m raising money to install two wheelchair ramps — one at my front door and one at my back door — so I can safely enter and leave my home and get back to living my life again.

If you can spare anything at all, I will be forever grateful. And if you can’t donate, please consider sharing my story — every share means the world to me and helps me get one step closer to freedom, safety, and independence.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Chloe ❤️❤️