Hi, I’m Chloe. I am 24 years old, and my life has changed drastically over the last few years. While my health issues began a while ago after a fall down some stairs. Things changed overnight in August 2025. After enduring a full week of total paralysis below the waist, I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

Since that week in August, my house has become a place where I am trapped rather than somewhere I feel I can go to relax. The reality is difficult to share: I have had no access to a shower or toilet in my own home for over 7 months as I am unable to get up the stairs. I’m forced to sleep in what was the dining area of the kitchen. I have been having to use a commode since things took a turn this is not pleasant for anyone. I’ve spent months washing in the middle of the kitchen.

Where I live is not wheelchair accessible, and I am currently forced to pay for a 1 night hotel stay once a month just so I can have a proper shower. Just to feel human again rather than washing in the kitchen. This is not only a massive financial drain on a tight income, but it is an exhausting and undignified way to live.

My carer does everything possible to support me—even building temporary wooden ramps to get me in and out of the house. But these are makeshift fixes for a house that is currently a cage, trapping me most days.

Social services have agreed that my situation classes me as needing help, but they have told us it will be months before any help arrives. I cannot spend another several months without a bathroom or a way to move freely.

I miss my dignity. I’m only young not that I feel it. It has made me feel like my life is wasting away and like I’m a burden 24/7. Some days I can be trapped inside due to the agonising pain in my whole body despite pain management. 

It takes me 30 minutes just to get in and out of the house; the bumps and the pain the ramps cause only add to the problems. I hate this feeling, and it’s making my mental health worse, as I can’t even get proper help for that either.

After months of trying to help others because I felt I don’t deserve help myself by donating to my local food bank even when I had little I’d spend my spare funds on others that needed help.

However after being encouraged to put myself first I have now decided I have to focus more on me. I can’t believe it’s come to this and I wish I didn’t have to ask, but my carer cannot take all the burden himself while the system is failing me. But we simply do not have the funds to cover everything that needs to be done.

Our goal

I hope to raise funds to help fund the modifications needed. So I can live with dignity. We have started the basic modifications that we can.

Your donations will go toward:

• A Specialist Wheelchair (£3,000+): A bespoke, ultra-light chair to provide the specific mobility support I need to minimise pain while maxing my energy.

• A Shower/Toilet Pod: To finally have hygiene access on the ground floor.

• Home Modifications: Building a new wall, installing accessible wardrobes, and widening the back gate for wheelchair entry.

• A Specialist Bed: To provide the physical support my body needs during flare-ups.

• Permanent Ramps: So my carer no longer has to manually set up three temporary ramps every time I need to leave.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings me closer to a house that actually works for me and gives me more independence. If you can’t donate, please could you share this link. Thank you for helping me reclaim my life it means the world. Thank you clo x