Wheels and Ears for a Better Life
Donation protected
My name is Wendy and I need your help.
THIS IS THE TL:DR VERSION: I AM A GEEKY, FAT, DISABLED FEMINIST, ACTIVIST AND POET WHO NEEDS A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR TO GET OUT AND REPRESENT PEOPLE LIKE ME AS AN ACTIVIST. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A PRESCRIPTION FOR A MUCH NEEDED POWER CHAIR FROM MY DOCTORS AS YET AND BECAUSE I AM A DISABLED PERSON ON MEDICARE, (doesn't cover hearing aids, or glasses or dental work) I CANNOT AFFORD THE HEARING AIDS I NEED.
I am a really awesome person, and you'd have no doubt if you were to meet me. I'm witty, goofy, sarcastic, and creative which can make for a lot of fun and laughs. I am an artisan (I MAKE LOVELY AND AMAZING THINGS) and poet and I am happily married to my rock-n-roller with a heart of gold, George. We have a house in Austin where we live with a baby hedgehog named Hank Quilliams, Sr., and 7 pet rats: Lemmy, Dio, Joey, Edie, Clem, Frida, and Ollie. George and I are both fat and proud Ramones enthusiasts (which was enough for us to fall in forever love). We love to watch bad movies and make fun of them. We are both collector geeks and bargain hunters. We are always making each other giggle. He is the best partner I could have ever asked for. He takes care of me on an extra level that most couples can't comprehend, because I am disabled and need help daily.
That brings me to the why I need your help. I am permanently sick. I have terrible days and not so terrible days, but every day of my life, I will be sick and in pain. I battle debilitating fatigue and my mobility is greatly limited. I am unable to stand or walk for more than a minute or two , and sometimes not even that.
See, (among other things, i.e. fibromyalgia, birth defects and Dercum's Disease) I have a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It is caused by genetically defective collagen. EDS causes my joints to be hypermobile, so that they can easily sublux or dislocate, which leads to early onset osteoarthritis. My left kneecap has gotten so bad, that I have to wear a brace when I leave the house because my kneecap will just slide back and forth with each step. My right hip slides out of joint frequently, and I've had to learn to pop it back in. Many other joints will right themselves on their own. I get frequent strains or sprains and terrible muscle spasms because of my body trying to hold the joints in place. EDS also makes my skin soft, stretchy and prone to tears and bruising. Wounds heal poorly with abnormal scarring. EDS leads to periodontal disease and tooth density problems. This is an often excruciatingly painful disorder, and the only treatment is supportive for pain relief.
I am severely limited because of my lack of mobility.
I am completely dependent on my husband to be able to push me in my manual wheelchair when we go on an outing, because both my elbows are dislocated permanently and I could throw out a shoulder or wrist.
If I have this chair I will be able to go out and represent other fat, disabled, spoonies like me. I am a civil rights activist. With this chair, I would be able to attend meetings with other organizers and finally go on protest marches again. If I'm not fighting for a cause I believe in, I don't feel alive. A motorized chair would expand my world and allow me to be able to go to my doctor and therapy appointment or even just to the movies by myself. I get cabin fever frequently because I'm not able to leave the house, unless I know for sure that I have a set plan that works for me without a chair.
I have not been able to get a doctor to write me a prescription for a motorized chair, because I am young and fat. My PCP recently said if I got in touch with one of the chair stores, that she would fill out the paperwork and let Medicare decide if they will cover it. I don't know if what is written up will tell my true story, or if it willl downplay my needs. I have fought over a decade of weight bias just to get diagnosed. There is this general feeling from healthcare providers that I can get better somehow. It stems from the belief that my disabilities are caused by my weight. This is simply untrue, and is in fact backwards. Healthcare workers generally feel like getting this aide is akin to giving up. It's the opposite; having a motorized wheelchair will improve the quality of my life. I just don't want to waste anymore of my life confined. A ramp to make my house accessible goes hand in hand with the chair.
The second part of this is for a quality hearing aid(s). My hearing loss is quite abnormal. As well, as generally moderate hearing loss, I have a problem hearing high pitches. Consonants are high pitched, so that if I am trying to follow a conversation in public, I get the "Charlie Brown adult voice". I am often confusing what people have said, or missing it completely. This prevents me from having needed conversations, socializing, or going back to school.
Please help me thrive. Give any amount you can, and PLEASE, PLEASE share this site if you can't afford to give, and let someone you didn't even think had a cent to spare be blessed by giving to someone in need. I even have special offers for certain donation levels! AND I'm thinking of having a donation contest soon!
THIS IS THE TL:DR VERSION: I AM A GEEKY, FAT, DISABLED FEMINIST, ACTIVIST AND POET WHO NEEDS A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR TO GET OUT AND REPRESENT PEOPLE LIKE ME AS AN ACTIVIST. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A PRESCRIPTION FOR A MUCH NEEDED POWER CHAIR FROM MY DOCTORS AS YET AND BECAUSE I AM A DISABLED PERSON ON MEDICARE, (doesn't cover hearing aids, or glasses or dental work) I CANNOT AFFORD THE HEARING AIDS I NEED.
I am a really awesome person, and you'd have no doubt if you were to meet me. I'm witty, goofy, sarcastic, and creative which can make for a lot of fun and laughs. I am an artisan (I MAKE LOVELY AND AMAZING THINGS) and poet and I am happily married to my rock-n-roller with a heart of gold, George. We have a house in Austin where we live with a baby hedgehog named Hank Quilliams, Sr., and 7 pet rats: Lemmy, Dio, Joey, Edie, Clem, Frida, and Ollie. George and I are both fat and proud Ramones enthusiasts (which was enough for us to fall in forever love). We love to watch bad movies and make fun of them. We are both collector geeks and bargain hunters. We are always making each other giggle. He is the best partner I could have ever asked for. He takes care of me on an extra level that most couples can't comprehend, because I am disabled and need help daily.
That brings me to the why I need your help. I am permanently sick. I have terrible days and not so terrible days, but every day of my life, I will be sick and in pain. I battle debilitating fatigue and my mobility is greatly limited. I am unable to stand or walk for more than a minute or two , and sometimes not even that.
See, (among other things, i.e. fibromyalgia, birth defects and Dercum's Disease) I have a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It is caused by genetically defective collagen. EDS causes my joints to be hypermobile, so that they can easily sublux or dislocate, which leads to early onset osteoarthritis. My left kneecap has gotten so bad, that I have to wear a brace when I leave the house because my kneecap will just slide back and forth with each step. My right hip slides out of joint frequently, and I've had to learn to pop it back in. Many other joints will right themselves on their own. I get frequent strains or sprains and terrible muscle spasms because of my body trying to hold the joints in place. EDS also makes my skin soft, stretchy and prone to tears and bruising. Wounds heal poorly with abnormal scarring. EDS leads to periodontal disease and tooth density problems. This is an often excruciatingly painful disorder, and the only treatment is supportive for pain relief.
I am severely limited because of my lack of mobility.
I am completely dependent on my husband to be able to push me in my manual wheelchair when we go on an outing, because both my elbows are dislocated permanently and I could throw out a shoulder or wrist.
If I have this chair I will be able to go out and represent other fat, disabled, spoonies like me. I am a civil rights activist. With this chair, I would be able to attend meetings with other organizers and finally go on protest marches again. If I'm not fighting for a cause I believe in, I don't feel alive. A motorized chair would expand my world and allow me to be able to go to my doctor and therapy appointment or even just to the movies by myself. I get cabin fever frequently because I'm not able to leave the house, unless I know for sure that I have a set plan that works for me without a chair.
I have not been able to get a doctor to write me a prescription for a motorized chair, because I am young and fat. My PCP recently said if I got in touch with one of the chair stores, that she would fill out the paperwork and let Medicare decide if they will cover it. I don't know if what is written up will tell my true story, or if it willl downplay my needs. I have fought over a decade of weight bias just to get diagnosed. There is this general feeling from healthcare providers that I can get better somehow. It stems from the belief that my disabilities are caused by my weight. This is simply untrue, and is in fact backwards. Healthcare workers generally feel like getting this aide is akin to giving up. It's the opposite; having a motorized wheelchair will improve the quality of my life. I just don't want to waste anymore of my life confined. A ramp to make my house accessible goes hand in hand with the chair.
The second part of this is for a quality hearing aid(s). My hearing loss is quite abnormal. As well, as generally moderate hearing loss, I have a problem hearing high pitches. Consonants are high pitched, so that if I am trying to follow a conversation in public, I get the "Charlie Brown adult voice". I am often confusing what people have said, or missing it completely. This prevents me from having needed conversations, socializing, or going back to school.
Please help me thrive. Give any amount you can, and PLEASE, PLEASE share this site if you can't afford to give, and let someone you didn't even think had a cent to spare be blessed by giving to someone in need. I even have special offers for certain donation levels! AND I'm thinking of having a donation contest soon!
Organizer
Wendy Darling
Organizer
Austin, TX
