Avery's Mobility Aid Journey

Hello,

My name is Brynn (Avery) Hanson. In 2022 I was officially diagnosed with auto-immune connective tissue diseases called Systemic Sclerosis (also called Scleroderma or CREST syndrome), Sjogren's Syndrome, and am on the hypermobility spectrum. I also have a condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, which is a type of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and likely developed due to damage from my connective tissue disorders. My conditions have made it so that standing, walking, and (yes even) sitting for long periods of time very difficult. Because of my constant pain, fatigue, dysautonomia, etc. I spend most of my time at home, laying down. There are a lot of joys in my life that I cannot seek out anymore without risk to my health and safety. I miss going to concerts, outdoor events, amusement parks (I'm tired of renting uncomfortable chairs), parties, etc. I have also had to limit my working hours and type of work I do. I really want to go to nursing school and become financially independent from my family, but I am waiting until I have a wheelchair so that I can go through classes and clinicals safely. Without a chair I honestly do not think it would be possible for me.

Because of my conditions, small size, and specific needs and because I feel very strongly about supporting businesses within the disabled community, I have decided to go the custom chair route with a company that I feel really good about having be the creators of my mobility aid/new best friend. BaileyBuiltWheelchairs is owned by Tyler Bailey, who started building chairs for his wife. This chair will be made specifically to fit my body, my needs, and my lifestyle goals in ways that an off-the-shelf chair from a normal DME cannot. Unfortunately, this means I have to forfeit any help from my insurance (not that they give hardly anything for the standard chairs anyways) because they WILL NOT (I fought them for 6 months) cover it or even a percentage.

Those who know me, know that it is really difficult for me to ask for help, especially financially when I know so many of my friends and family struggle, but I know in my heart I would encourage any other disabled person to do this: make a fundraiser. So here I am, asking for help, but please I don't want anyone donating more than they can afford. If this does happen to raise more than the goal, anything left over will go to medical bills (because a wheelchair isn't the only thing insurance doesn't cover).

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Avery