Wheelchair and electric bike

Help us set the wheels in motion...

We are raising funds for a wheelchair and electric bike (as seen in pic) for my husband Derek. This will be life changing for not only him, but for our whole family, especially our 6 year old, Findlay.

We have had to adapt as a family since Derek has been in a chair. We moved to a new house that was suitable for him, unfortunately it is surrounded by hills! Our sons school is at the top of one of these hills and Findlay wants nothing more than his Dad to take him to school. I think I cramp his style.

“It would be amazing if Daddy could take me to school. I’m so excited about the new chair, it’s super cool!”

Derek, Findlay and our whole family would appreciate anything that anyone is able to donate. It will all go directly towards a new chair and electric bike. I cannot express how much it will mean to see Derek regain his confidence and independence. We are all so proud of how he handles everything, there is always a joke to be told and a laugh to be had. He is truly inspirational and a superhero to us all, especially our son. Help us make him a superhero that can fly up hills!

Derek was born with Spina Bifida Occulta with tethered spinal cord and lipoma. Other than a multitude of different hospital appointments, he lived a relatively normal and active life. At the age of 22 that began to change.

It started out as numbness in his right foot, burning nerve pain in his left leg and pressure sores to both feet. Over the next 2 years these symptoms worsened and progressed. After a lot of trial and error with several different treatments, and much discussion with Dereks’s neurologist, it was decided that surgery was the only option to stop further progression.

In December 2012 Derek was admitted for surgery to detether his spinal cord. After a 13 hour surgery began a very long 3 weeks. The surgery initially seemed to have been successful...Derek now had tickly feet! Unfortunately, this would only last a few days, as he began to leak spinal fluid. After more surgery, including skin grafts, the feeling in Derek’s feet had again disappeared, along with the sensation in both lower legs. Despite this, when discharged, he left on crutches, and was soon walking again unaided. He even managed to get back to work.

Over the next year many complications became apparent, including pressure sores on his feet. As Derek couldn’t feel them, he was unaware of their severity. Many infections, antibiotics, pic lines, dislocated toes, burning neuropathy, hospital visits and surgeries followed, along with no longer being able to work.

This is when we were told a wheelchair was the only option for the foreseeable. Of course this was met with some argument, but when told amputation may be on the cards, he quickly sat his backside in that NHS issued wheelchair.

After many more infections,surgeries and worsening neuropathy we came to the realisation that the chair was around to stay.
www.cyclonemobility.com