Hi, I’m Achilles. I’m 20 years old, going off to uni this year to study music, and my joints and I don’t get on.

 I have an unknown, long-term skin condition that has impacted my life catastrophically for the last few years. 5 years in, and doctors still don’t have a solid answer on what it is. I have constant hospital and doctor visits to test for different things, which puts a lot of strain on my body as it is.

 As a result of trial treatments that haven’t worked for me and other co-morbidities, I’ve developed an unfair handful of mobility and joint issues that are threatening to strip me of my independence entirely. My hips are unstable, and I cannot stand for very long. My shoulders, hips, knees and ankles dislocate severely on the daily, often times even in my sleep, or whilst doing minor activity. I have had many hospital admissions in the last few months surrounding dislocations that have sparked a concern for a need of surgery, and I have been unable to leave the house alone and comfortably in a long time.

I have a partial diagnosis of Connective Tissue Disease, and am awaiting a rheumatology appointment and an MRI to determine what exactly that means for me and my future.

 My disability robbed me of my teen hood, I’m not going to let it take my twenties too.

If you can donate anything at all, it would mean the world to me, my goal currently is around £1100 - this would cover half of the cost of the chair suited to my needs! If you can’t, sharing also helps so much!!