Karen live to new adapted life

Hi my name is Beckie & I’m fundraising for my auntie Karen. Unfortunately Karen underwent emergency spinal surgery in December 2024 , when initially thinking the symptoms she had was that of gallstones. This surgery was needed to help with increasing infection in Karen’s body where they were required to remove infected discs , and a spinal abscess. Unfortunately due to this, my auntie Karen is now paralyzed from the waist down , unable to bear weight in her legs & unable to move independently. These complications are unable to resolve themselves & her upper body has been damaged from previous surgeries. Therefore leaving my auntie Karen with life-changing disabilities - requiring carers and a hoist to assist moving when home. Karen is currently in the spinal injuries rehab unit undergoing intense rehabilitation to enable her to be as independent as possible although this is limited. Karen currently needs to wear a back brace at all times which you can imagine causes intense pain on top of all pain experienced through multiple surgeries, due to these surgeries her spine continues to crumble and curve which is restricting her breathing.

My auntie Karen is a strong woman and fiercely independent- A woman who has given back to her community her whole life, even with her disability (spina bifida) she has volunteered in her local food bank, raised money for multiple charities, raised money for local schools including langfaulds primary, Lochgoin Primary, Antonine Primary & Drumchapel High School, various community projects and on top of all this runs a Wheelchair basketball team to enable and encourage those with disabilities , that a disability does not define you , and a space to created new friendships and support.

A bit of background information- Karen had major reconstruction of Achilles tendon and in plaster for 12 weeks then a moonboot for another 6, two weeks later broke her opposite ankle. This was linked to poor balance and an eventual diagnosis of spina bifida (a birth defect usually showing as a sac on babys back). Karen has a form called Spina bifida occulta which means hidden as no sac. This led to

Five spine surgeries in 11 years, tethered spinal cord release and decompression leaving weakness in legs, anterior cervical discectomy fixation and fusion, nuts and bolts and plates put in to hold neck in position as she was losing arm and hand function, two surgeries putting rods in back of her neck, first of which left her left side paralysed but was rectified by another surgery.

With all these surgeries and life changing injuries, my Auntie Karen needs a lot of new adaptations at her home which she understandably can’t afford - I’m looking to raise as much as we can for her to be able to live as independently as she can when able to go home, that unfortunately social work do not fully cover, She requires widening doors, accessible kitchen, special armchair, electric wheelchair, wheelchair accessible vehicle. As well as private carers until funded package of care in place.

Karen is a pillar of her community & deserves help back for all she has done for hers. We would appreciate any donation big or small & even shares to get the word out there.

i thank everyone from the bottom of my heart & I am proud to have an auntie who is staying positive and maintaining her humor throughout all of this despite everything she has been through & continues to go through.