Help towards independence

Hi my names Hayley

I’ve never done anything like this before, but I have exhausted every other route.

Im raising money to be able to motorise my specialist wheelchair.

I was born with Spina Bifida and diagnosed at the age of two.

I received physical therapy to help walk and was able to walk to some degree.

But as I got older my body has slowly broken down more and more.

I use a mix of crutches and a wheelchair to get around.

Despite my challenges, I always try to remain happy and positive person.

I also attend a local day centre, as I have Autism and learning disabilities.

I have been finding things physically more and more harder to get around on my crutches and mixed with dizziness, vertigo and pain.

Im finding myself spending more days in bed recovering from constant exhaustion, pain and fatigue.

Despite having Spina Bifida, I still don’t qualify for any NHS wheelchair service help, none at all.

I’ve had both my OT and Physio therapist try and advocate for me to get a Specialist seated wheelchair for me.

But the NHS have had to tighten there rules of who qualifies for a wheelchair now, which I do understand, but because I’m slightly ambulatory and won’t be permanently in the wheelchair at all times.

I didn’t meet there criteria.

So my mother who wasn’t retired at the time, got in touch with a specialist wheelchair seating company Consolor, who was able to fit me with a wheelchair with specialist seating to keep me supported and seated upright at all times.

Which was funded privately by me and my family at the time.

The problem was it would had cost another £5,000 to get it electrified, as it was a manual support wheelchair, which me and my family wasn’t able to afford.

So I haven’t really been able to use it outside, as it’s too heavy to push by my live in carer, so I’m only able to use it inside the home.

I use a smaller wheelchair when I’m outside, but using that I’m still not independent as I’m always being pushed by my carer, as unfortunately I don’t have the strength to manoeuvre myself.

So if I want to go and meet a friend for coffee by myself I can’t, as my carer has to be with me at all times to get me to and from my home.

Even to go to shopping, she has to be with me at all times.

I just want to be able to take myself to place, events and go and meet up with my friends by myself.

I don’t like asking for help, but I’ve tried so hard to save up myself to afford to get this electric wheelchair wheels from my disability money I receive.

But I’m nowhere near close, as all my money goes on affording food, rent, electric, gas and bills.

Which would be okay if I actually received help from the NHS wheelchair service and I’ve tried asking various charities in the past, but they have been unhelpful due to my age.

Ive also tried going down the motorbility wheelchair service route, with a local mobility Shop.

But sitting with them and going through there catalogue and what the higher rate of my mobility side actually funds was a lot different.

To what I was hoping, for it cover electric wheels, that I could hire them and pay monthly through my DLA, but in reality it only covers there electric wheelchairs only.

When I tried to explain I couldn’t use theres, as I have specialist seating moulded to my body shape on mine and would only needed a engine to electrify mine, they become uninterested and explained what I needed wasn’t possible, despite it being advertised in there catalogue.

As it was under private care and they wouldn’t even set up a payment plan for me to afford one, so I was back to square one.

We have had a smaller carer assist wheelchair power pack in the past, but it broke away and fell off my chair when we was in the middle of town, so had to drop everything and get it home.

So I’m asking help towards these power wheels, so I will able to afford one and become more independent.

i recently tried going down the second hand route with a local seller who sold me her second hand one at a cost of a £1,000 which I saved all of my own money for.

Took it to a local mobility shop to have it fitted to my chair. For them to ring back a day later, to say it’s faulty and unusable.

So this seller had sold me a faulty item and now fighting to get my money back.

i hate asking for help, but I have really exhausted all routes and I’m really on my own in this.

So please, I really need you’re help, if you can’t donate then please could you share far and wide.

I will use the funds towards my Alber wheels and post update pictures on here,

thank you all so much xx