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- Katherine (Kat) only needs a few hundred more to pay for a professional to install the elevator properly.She needs her freedom. With the pandemic, people can understand how it feels to be stuck at home. Unfortunately for Kat she has been limited by her health for over 8 years. This is not a choice, but now that she can leave her basement easily, she can do so much more with the right tools! She now needs a travel scooter most.
She is a compassionate woman who has fought for her independence and mobility for 16 years since a back injury. She has lived with constant pain, and increasing disabling health conditions.
Katherine is living in her half-basement and now unable to climb stairs. She is struggling to accept this new reality which will affect many aspects of the life she wants to live. Right now the biggest impact is that she cannot reach the only full bathroom. She hasn’t had a bath or shower in over 3 months.
Thanks to fundraising, she now has access to her yard! She enjoys outings with her dog most days, using an old heavy duty mobility scooter. It was reconstructed, also thanks to this Freedom Fund! Her husband installed the stair lift, walls and a roof to protect it and her entrance. This makes it accessible year round and protects it as well as it is a second hand model designed for indoor use. It was the best affordable option.
What else needs to be done in 2021?
An exterior wheelchair lift, also second hand, was purchased, and now needs to be installed. As of July:
1. First the balcony must be repaired, which is half done (as of July 9, 2021).
2. New, due to lack of services; install an outdoor shower with hot water for Katherine.
3. The spot for the elevator must be prepared and concrete foundation laid
4. A roof built over the elevator
5. The elevator will be installed in the place of Katherine’s accessibility shed, so the shed must be replaced
6. Adjustments made to the bath as necessary. May need bath lift
Paint room for kitchenette downstairs. Install repurposed furniture and bamboo counter (already obtained), plus buy and install a kitchen sink with sprayer. This will help with cooking, cleaning and washing Kat’s hair.
8. Purchase a power wheelchair or a travel scooter so Kat can do outings on her own, such as going to appointments at the hospital, meeting her mother for coffee, or shopping for her own fruit! (Her list).
So far the to do list has been modified many times as problems or obstacles arose. However, the main goal of getting Kat outside and to the main floor is the priority.
We have had to increase the amount needed due to complications with chair lift, and with Kat’s heavy duty scooter which is needs major repairs.
More in updates.
I’m fundraising for my sister Katherine who is disabled and has lived separately from her family for eight years - in a basement without a complete bath and without complete kitchen. Her husband must help her daily as only the finished basement is accessible.
Katherine and her husband Claude are the type of people who always help others whenever possible. She is involved in many online support groups and regularly makes gifts for people just to cheer them up. Claude is a the guy everyone calls when something breaks. He is the first to stop at an accident, doing so every time, and is always there for his parents, his children and Katherine’s mother. He has spent his life giving to others. Unfortunately, he can’t adapt the house for his wife of 24 years on his own, he needs help.
Katherine is unable to bathe or shower more than once a month. She has homecare help 5 days a week, but they can’t bring her ro the bath anymore than they can transport a tub or shower to the basement! The only feasible solution is a lift to get her upstairs. Her husband has begun working on renovating the house, but they can’t afford much. They are waiting on gouvernement help, but she needs it now! If you read on, I’ve shared her description of her situation. It is so sad that in 2021 she is bathing with a washcloth and a bucket of water, with the help of home care services. She is 46 today, April 7th, and she deserves dignity and independence!
Katherine’s story in her words
A year ago I had asthmatic bronchitis and pneumonia, was coughing for 3 months. By the end I could barely walk. The virus and infection must have triggered my Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME, plus all the sleeping propped up was horrible for my back and the Degenerative Disc Disease, hernia, and arthritis.
My leg regularly froze up for hours on end almost daily. Especially after I attempted stairs. Most days I craved a wheelchair the way you crave ice cream. I hate the thought of needing a wheelchair, so I bought a cool push bike used after knee surgeries.
Although I have learned to live with my new limitations, and exercises have helped somewhat, I still can’t climb stairs most days. I’ve had two days in 2021 when I could put on or take off pants without assistance; the only two days I went upstairs for a bath. Not being able to sit and lift my leg into pants is bad enough, but bathing in bed is horrid! Well except the hair washing, that is kinda cool hihi. I find ways to enjoy life and laugh daily, but I seriously this cannot continue!
We have begun some work on improvements, but can’t afford to do much. I haf to stop my studies last year, so my income is nil. And disability application is in process. Complicated!
The plan is that this summer I’ll have a kitchen sink with sprayer downstairs, allowing for some more thorough washing up. We also bought a used chair lift for the covered outside stairs to bring me to the yard. Its an indoor lift so Claude must weather proof the area. So I will be able to escape regularly, but I will still have 7 steps between me and the tub. I’m trying to stay positive and just keep swimming, but this is an exhausting lonely and frankly dirty life LOL. I hope someone can help!
- Ps. We're on a waiting list for home evaluation for government grant. Been waiting over 18 months now. I just can’t imagine another year like this. A washcloth simply doesn’t replace a bath!
Organizer and beneficiary
Carolyn Dunn
Organizer
Katherine Dunn
Beneficiary