Help Abbey Come Home Again

Hi my name is Zoe,

I am helping fundraise on behalf of Abbey. 
This lovely soul rarely asks for help and is the first person to help others out- knowing the uphill battle she is facing with almost no financial support available for people suffering complications of Covid, I’ve made this page to try and alleviate some of the financial burden. 

Abbey was struck down with COVID19 in February, at which point she was admitted to ICU. Since then she has suffered extensive lung damage/impairment from the virus and remains in hospital 14 weeks later. This in its own right has taken a large financial toll, having had no ability to work. As she moves towards going home she will need 24/7 oxygen and any portable oxygen is seen as a luxury, thus not provided by MASS subsidy scheme. This would limit her life to the confines of her apartment when all she wants to do is get outside, work and actually try to enjoy life.

 

A portable oxygen concentrator with an extra battery that can provide a higher oxygen flow rate will cost upwards of $5000 (the price of freedom in this case).

Centrelink have advised her she is not eligible for DSP given that ‘long Covid’ does not yet have a definition; it can’t be formally diagnosed and thereby assessed. 

She is looking into the nightmare process of applying for some NDIS funding; however, this is a very lengthy process and in order to secure a good outcome it is best to supply reports from all sorts of medical professionals and allied health staff…these reports regularly cost in excess of $2000. Even with this it is a gamble to be accepted given complications of Covid are a very new public health issue. There are people all around the country with varying degrees of severity when it comes to long Covid, who are also unable to get help and in a similar position (albeit most don’t have the added costs associated with needing home oxygen).

In terms of every day living she has always been a saver, however savings dwindle when you can’t work at all and still have to pay rent, bills, phone etc. she has cut all subscriptions and luxuries out of life to make this money stretch as far as she can. The only payment she can get from Centrelink is a basic job seeker that is around $650 a fortnight, however with rent at $490 a fortnight and multiple medications not covered by PBS, there is no money remaining even for food, fuel, rego, insurance or any incidentals. 

 

Unsure of when she would be able to return to work again, any money to help her get back on her feet would be absolutely amazing.
*She asked me that before I share this I mention that if anyone is doing it the slightest bit tough please do not feel obligated in any way to contribute- your friendship alone means the world to her.

 

She is a strong person, and any money will go a long way.

if you want to know more, please contact myself via email.