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Hello everyone!
I’m Katie! I’m a young woman who likes to see people smile. I’m an aspiring writer, and always love to try new things and meet new people.
For those who may not know much about me, I also have a physical disability. Cerebral Palsy, does not define me, but it is a huge part of my life.
Cerebral Palsy is defined as an impairment of muscle coordination that is typically caused by brain damage that occurs before or during birth. Cerebral Palsy affects everyone differently. Some of us are affected by our abilities to walk or talk, and others are affected developmentally.
For me, the umbilical cord was tightly wrapped around my neck, limiting air supply to my brain, causing the brain damage. I am most affected physically, needing the use of a wheelchair and other mobility devices.
Fortunately, I am very blessed to have been born into a family that embraced the challenges that came with my disability. My family made the choice to move from the East Coast to Ontario because there were a lot more resources available to us here. I had the best healthcare possible. My mom and dad did everything they could to make sure my life would be as “normal” as any other kid.
Fast forward thirty years and I’m thriving as a young educated women, living in a city I love. I have a lot more things that I want to accomplish, like having a column in a Toronto newspaper or writing a book, and travelling Europe or visiting the Backstreet Boys star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
As a women with a disability, I am very blessed to have access to a variety of resources that are there so I can maintain an exceptional quality of life. I have access to 24 hour attendant care services, who assist with things like personal care and hygiene, I live across the street from a non profit organization called Vibrant Healthcare Alliance where I seek out care from a nurse practitioner, an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist, a social worker, a dietitian and I even receive peer support from there.
I also receive a large percentage of funding from the Assistive Devices Program every 5 years for a new wheelchair.
My home is also fully accessible, renovations were made last year to make my kitchen fully functional for me which includes, pull down baskets in most cupboards, a faucet mounted on the side of the sink, and an oven made at wheelchair level that opens like an oversized microwave.
I also have a mobility device that I use in my bathroom and bedroom called a ceiling track lift, the device lifts and transfers me into bed and back to my wheelchair, it does the same for transfers in the bathroom. The funding for this lift was gifted to me 6 years ago by the Centre for Independent Living Toronto and I am forever grateful.
Time has passed since then, and naturally, the lift is in need of some repairing. After requesting repairs, I was informed that my particular lift has been discontinued, so specific parts are unavailable. In other words, I need to purchase a new lift device, because this one is unable to be repaired. I have been searching for funding anywhere I can think of, and soon realized that most organizations I have reached out to have exhausted their funds due to people’s emergency needs with COVID-19 relief.
I do have a very supportive parental unit and they have continued to do everything they can for me since the day I was born, and that will never go unappreciated. I would not be the person I am today without the two of them.
For them, and myself, I wanted this challenge to be something I take on myself. So I’m asking for your help today, this is a device that helps me to get out of bed, to use the washroom and to shower. It is an essential device for me and my care attendants, having a new modernized version would help me to continue on with pursuing and working towards my dreams and goals without stress or burden. ANY AMOUNT HELPS! I would be forever thankful!!!!!
I understand that not everyone may have the means to contribute, and that’s okay, just you taking the time to read my story means a lot to me too.
Thank you so very much!
Please watch the DEMONSTRATION VIDEO ATTACHED BELOW TO UNDERSTAND THE LIFT AND ITS FEATURES!
PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND REPOST THIS IF YOU LIKE!
XOXOXO