Stand Up For Sophia
Donation protected
Can you help Sophia to Stand Up?
Background:
Sophia has Dystonic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy meaning it affects all four limbs, has poor core stability and little trunk control. Sophia is wheelchair bound and needs a lot of help to do even small tasks such a eating or holding a pen. It is an effort just to hold her head up and she is constantly working hard to keep her body upright. It’s recommended that to help strengthen her legs and to enable correct hip joint development that she stand for a minimum of 40 minutes a day which means being hoisted from her wheelchair into a standing frame and back again. She often gets uncomfortable and complains of sore or numb legs when sitting for so long as she is in her wheelchair most of the day, particularly at school. She misses quite a lot of class time during these additional transfers between equipment and also is out of class for 20-30 minutes each time she needs the toilet as once again she has to be hoisted.
What We Are Fundraising For:
After a 5 week trial using a Permobile F5, we are now fundraising to buy one. This is a long term investment as she won’t grow out of it so will take her into adulthood. It enables Sophia to independently change her position when uncomfortable, or to carry out various tasks by standing up, changing the angle of her body, adjusting chair height, lying down or just to recline when muscles are tight or tired - all the things we take for granted as able bodied people.
Just a few things she has been able to do on the trial:
- Stand up for the first time for a class photo, what a smile they got!!
- Stand up in assembly with everyone else to fully participate and sing songs.
- When there’s a barrier/fence blocking her view, she can stand up or if tired raise the level of the chair to see what everyone else can see.
- Use automated machines such as the one in Argos, as she can get high enough and close enough to use the touch screen.
- Being at the same level as her peers has given her so much more confidence.
- At choir, due to standing, her breath control and projection was so much better, a huge difference as breath control is really difficult for her.
....and so many more things.
Activities that many of us take for granted mean so much to Sophia. Her face just lights up when she is able to do something she’s never been able to do before, especially the first time she stood up and moved along next to me in the standing chair, she shouted “I’m walking mummy!” �
The independence Sophia will have using this equipment is vast, not forgetting the huge impact it will have on her physical, psychological and social well-being and development....
Physical Medical Benefits of Standing;
Improve circulation, improve bone integrity and skeletal development, reduce swelling in lower extremities, decrease muscle spasms, help kidney and bladder function, strengthen cardiovascular system, lessen the progression of scoliosis, improve range of motion manage pressure on parts of the body by changing position, improve bowel function and regulatory, better respiratory function so breathing and breath control becomes easier...the list goes on.
Psychological Benefits of Standing:
Increase in focus, alertness and activity level, easier to release restless energy. The increase in blood circulation means more oxygen to the brain.
Social Benefits of Standing:
More confidence in engaging with peers as at the same height/level. Helps with eye contact and easier integration into social situations and society in general. A feeling of being equal and at the same level, rather than being talked down to.
Can you please help Sophia get this life changing equipment?
Thank you for whatever support you can manage. If you are unable to donate but would like to help, then please just share our page, we really appreciate it.
Please watch out for our fundraising event.
Background:
Sophia has Dystonic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy meaning it affects all four limbs, has poor core stability and little trunk control. Sophia is wheelchair bound and needs a lot of help to do even small tasks such a eating or holding a pen. It is an effort just to hold her head up and she is constantly working hard to keep her body upright. It’s recommended that to help strengthen her legs and to enable correct hip joint development that she stand for a minimum of 40 minutes a day which means being hoisted from her wheelchair into a standing frame and back again. She often gets uncomfortable and complains of sore or numb legs when sitting for so long as she is in her wheelchair most of the day, particularly at school. She misses quite a lot of class time during these additional transfers between equipment and also is out of class for 20-30 minutes each time she needs the toilet as once again she has to be hoisted.
What We Are Fundraising For:
After a 5 week trial using a Permobile F5, we are now fundraising to buy one. This is a long term investment as she won’t grow out of it so will take her into adulthood. It enables Sophia to independently change her position when uncomfortable, or to carry out various tasks by standing up, changing the angle of her body, adjusting chair height, lying down or just to recline when muscles are tight or tired - all the things we take for granted as able bodied people.
Just a few things she has been able to do on the trial:
- Stand up for the first time for a class photo, what a smile they got!!
- Stand up in assembly with everyone else to fully participate and sing songs.
- When there’s a barrier/fence blocking her view, she can stand up or if tired raise the level of the chair to see what everyone else can see.
- Use automated machines such as the one in Argos, as she can get high enough and close enough to use the touch screen.
- Being at the same level as her peers has given her so much more confidence.
- At choir, due to standing, her breath control and projection was so much better, a huge difference as breath control is really difficult for her.
....and so many more things.
Activities that many of us take for granted mean so much to Sophia. Her face just lights up when she is able to do something she’s never been able to do before, especially the first time she stood up and moved along next to me in the standing chair, she shouted “I’m walking mummy!” �
The independence Sophia will have using this equipment is vast, not forgetting the huge impact it will have on her physical, psychological and social well-being and development....
Physical Medical Benefits of Standing;
Improve circulation, improve bone integrity and skeletal development, reduce swelling in lower extremities, decrease muscle spasms, help kidney and bladder function, strengthen cardiovascular system, lessen the progression of scoliosis, improve range of motion manage pressure on parts of the body by changing position, improve bowel function and regulatory, better respiratory function so breathing and breath control becomes easier...the list goes on.
Psychological Benefits of Standing:
Increase in focus, alertness and activity level, easier to release restless energy. The increase in blood circulation means more oxygen to the brain.
Social Benefits of Standing:
More confidence in engaging with peers as at the same height/level. Helps with eye contact and easier integration into social situations and society in general. A feeling of being equal and at the same level, rather than being talked down to.
Can you please help Sophia get this life changing equipment?
Thank you for whatever support you can manage. If you are unable to donate but would like to help, then please just share our page, we really appreciate it.
Please watch out for our fundraising event.
Organizer
Tracey Walsh
Organizer
Scotland
