Please Help Natice gain Wheelchair freedom

Hello Everyone :)

Firstly, let me just say how grateful I am that you have clicked on this to read my story. I would never normally dream of coming on something like this to raise money for myself, but I am in a very stuck position and after exploring other funding options this is the only way I can think that might help me get what I need.

My name is Natice Duncan, and I am a full time wheelchair user. I have Several chronic illnesses including a neurological disorder that has left me paralysed from the waist down. This condition has affected every part of my daily life, and although I try to remain as independent and positive as I can, there are certain things that are simply beyond my reach without help.

I became paralysed and lost the ability to stand or walk in 2014 and have been reliant on a wheelchair ever since. When I first became disabled the nhs could only offer a very basic heavy wheelchair which was completely unsuitable for my needs as a full time user and so a dear friend very kindly fundraised and helped fund a quickie xenon wheelchair .That was over 10 years ago now and that wheelchair has been my “legs” and freedom for the past 10 years .Its allowed me to get around my home easily and comfortably and enabled me to get out into the community .Its allowed me to go on so many adventures and to some incredible places and its given me the ability to meet my now fiancée and become a mama to our incredible little boy and my beautiful bonus daughter .All of these things wouldn’t have been possible without my quickie xenon wheelchair .

Unfortunately after over 10 years it’s finally broke beyond repair .The average active user manual wheelchair that’s used full time lasts between 5-7 years so my chairs done incredible to last nearly 11 years !

Although I knew my chair was nearing its end I was expecting it to last long enough to source a new chair however sadly that’s not happened and has meant I’m now left in a very heavy standard off the shelf cheap wheelchair that’s far too big for me and not at all suitable to my needs .When you’re a full time wheelchair user it’s vitally important that your wheelchair is lightweight and made to measure to fit you .Being in a illfitted wheelchair can cause not only short term pain and discomfort but long term problems .

My quickie xenon was made to my exact measurements so it fit me like a glove ,it has a specialist moulded back that supports my spine and reduces my pain and it allows me to push myself around the house and out and about for longer periods of time .

In my current new heavy wheelchair it is way too big for me ,has absolutely no support for my back and is nearly double the weight of my old wheelchair meaning that not only can I barely push myself around my bungalow but that I now can’t push myself outside so can’t get out independly;something that is not only important for my mental and physical health but is vital for me to be a mum .My Fiancée has seen first hand the affect this is having on me already causing a decline in my mental health and physically causing a big increase in my pain and discomfort .

It’s not an exaggeration when I say it’s dramatically affecting my quality of life already and this will only continue to get worse the longer I’m left in this wheelchair .

Unfortunately a new made to measure active user wheelchair like my old one is very expensive and would take us years to save up for .This is where I’m taking a leap of faith and burrowing my anxieties and asking for help to raise the money .Whilst the quickie xenon suited me perfectly ,prices have increased a lot over the last 10 years and a new one is now around £3,500 and so I’ve discovered the Quickie life which is a slightly cheaper model but by the same company that I know and trust .im awaiting trying out this chair next week to make sure its suitable and will find out the full price it will cost then but it is looking to be around £2,000 ,50% of that is needed to be place at the time of ordering and the remaining 50% when the chairs delivered .As the chair is made from scratch abroad and then shipped over here it is believed to be around 8-10 weeks for that process .

It’s hard to ask for help, especially when we’re in a cost of living crisis and I know many of my friends are also disabled and living with their own challenges but I after exploring other funding sources to no avail im left with no choice . Every donation, no matter how small, will make a massive difference to me and my quality of life. Even if you’re not able to donate, just sharing this page would mean the world to me.

From the bottom of my heart — thank you for taking the time to read, to share, or to help. It really does mean everything.

With love and gratitude,

Natice

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