- C
- L
My name is Jessi, and I was born without muscles in my limbs. I use a power wheelchair to live my life, which is usually a full one. I teach at the university and I am a single mother to a beautiful 15-month-old boy. I transport him by carrying him in a baby carrier on my chest. This is how I get to work as well.
In December 2018, after over five years in my current wheelchair, I began the process of trying to get a new wheelchair, as my current one was failing. After evaluation, I was told that my insurance no longer paid for indoor/outdoor chairs like the one I need to live my life independently. The chair they will buy will not allow me to take my son to the local zoo or the park, as it gets bogged down in mulch and the sandy grass of Florida.
Moreover, the insurance will not pay for a lighting system on the indoor wheelchair they will cover. I often come home late from work--after the buses to my area stop working--and there is no sidewalk or streetlight on the street leading to my home. I don't have the hand strength or dexterity to use bike lights. Without lights, my son and I will be in grave danger.
Given my life needs, I was advised to go through Vocational Rehabilitation to try to get assistance with paying for a more appropriate wheelchair. In January 2019, I did just that, and after several months, I was approved, as it was determined that I did, in fact, need an indoor/outdoor wheelchair to continue working safely. Unfortunately, at a cost of $40,000, my contribution would be $28,000, and my insurance will not contribute to such a chair. This is far beyond my means. My caseworker said that she would ask for a waiver, and I never heard back. When I reached out, I discovered that my caseworker no longer worked there. I have had no success in moving forward. The wheelchair vendor recently told me that he knows of others who have been waiting for years.
I have given up, and am trying to simply get what I can from my insurance. This process had to be restarted because more than six months had passed. It will be several more months.
Over this time, my current wheelchair has deteriorated. Three of the four steering wheels get stuck sideways. It will no longer drive in a straight line, and I am home bound. I cannot take my son outside or go to the store. The broken wheels are also destroying my home, pulling up parts of the flooring and carpet.
There are no loaner or rental wheelchairs that provide the custom features I need, such as tilt. Without tilt, I cannot get dressed, even with assistance, and I develop life-threatening pressure sores on my legs (this is what killed Christopher Reeve).
It is now the end of July. I have to go back to work in mid-August. As of now, I am trapped. On eBay, there are several indoor/outdoor chairs that are just like the one I need, usually at around $8,000. Many are only slightly used. Getting one would allow me to return to work and to live a full life with my son. However, my finances are tight, and I simply can't afford such an expense.
Any help you can provide would mean a lot to us. Thank you!
In December 2018, after over five years in my current wheelchair, I began the process of trying to get a new wheelchair, as my current one was failing. After evaluation, I was told that my insurance no longer paid for indoor/outdoor chairs like the one I need to live my life independently. The chair they will buy will not allow me to take my son to the local zoo or the park, as it gets bogged down in mulch and the sandy grass of Florida.
Moreover, the insurance will not pay for a lighting system on the indoor wheelchair they will cover. I often come home late from work--after the buses to my area stop working--and there is no sidewalk or streetlight on the street leading to my home. I don't have the hand strength or dexterity to use bike lights. Without lights, my son and I will be in grave danger.
Given my life needs, I was advised to go through Vocational Rehabilitation to try to get assistance with paying for a more appropriate wheelchair. In January 2019, I did just that, and after several months, I was approved, as it was determined that I did, in fact, need an indoor/outdoor wheelchair to continue working safely. Unfortunately, at a cost of $40,000, my contribution would be $28,000, and my insurance will not contribute to such a chair. This is far beyond my means. My caseworker said that she would ask for a waiver, and I never heard back. When I reached out, I discovered that my caseworker no longer worked there. I have had no success in moving forward. The wheelchair vendor recently told me that he knows of others who have been waiting for years.
I have given up, and am trying to simply get what I can from my insurance. This process had to be restarted because more than six months had passed. It will be several more months.
Over this time, my current wheelchair has deteriorated. Three of the four steering wheels get stuck sideways. It will no longer drive in a straight line, and I am home bound. I cannot take my son outside or go to the store. The broken wheels are also destroying my home, pulling up parts of the flooring and carpet.
There are no loaner or rental wheelchairs that provide the custom features I need, such as tilt. Without tilt, I cannot get dressed, even with assistance, and I develop life-threatening pressure sores on my legs (this is what killed Christopher Reeve).
It is now the end of July. I have to go back to work in mid-August. As of now, I am trapped. On eBay, there are several indoor/outdoor chairs that are just like the one I need, usually at around $8,000. Many are only slightly used. Getting one would allow me to return to work and to live a full life with my son. However, my finances are tight, and I simply can't afford such an expense.
Any help you can provide would mean a lot to us. Thank you!