Help lift Amy up!

In October 2022, my younger sister Amy’s life completely changed. 

She was your typical 17-year-old girl studying for exams with the dream of enabling those less fortunate by becoming a human rights lawyer and being part of a power for change for minorities from all walks of life. 

Without warning, Amy suddenly found herself in hospital unable to walk, talk or fully comprehend, experiencing painful spasms and seizures. After multiple tests and scans, she was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and Functional Hyperkinetic Movement Disorder (FHMD). Amy had quickly gone from an average, able-bodied teenager to a wheelchair user experiencing non-epileptic seizures, speech impairments, cognitive issues, muscles weakness/pain, headaches, fatigue and brain fog, every single day. There is no known cure for Amy’s FND and FHMD. The only treatment being regular physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy attempting to keep her symptoms in check. Amy is having to retrain her body to do every day functions ranging from learning to walk to using her fine motor skills for everyday living activities. Amy needs 24-hour care due to the danger her symptoms of FND and FHMD can cause her. A large amount of that care is down to our Mum, Julie.

Julie is an independent Mum of 6 who has worked tirelessly for the past 37 years as a Registered Nurse. 12 of those years were served in the Army and included a deployment overseas. She not only provides as much care as she can to Amy but also to our Austistic younger brother, as well as being there for her four older children. She has always made sure we could rely on her despite mourning the loss of the future Amy had hoped for. Mum is an inspirational nurse who works every day to provide care for others loved ones, going above and beyond for her family and her patients despite all her adversities.

Despite everything, both Amy and my Mum still spend more time worrying and caring for others and their community and never ask for help; but now they need help!

Due to Amy’s care needs all available grants have been used to provide appropriate bathroom facilities, but she still needs access to her bedroom on the first floor. Due to Amy’s seizures and the house layout, a stairlift is not suitable so the only other option is a through-floor wheelchair lift. This would make the world of difference to Amy, giving her back some independence and make nightime care a little easier with all the family being on the same floor. 

This difference does come at the cost of £18,000. A cost that is not within reach for Mum and our family. 

That is why I am appealing to the kindness of my community to help ”Lift Amy up” and help in any way possible to get my fun loving, beautiful sister the lift she needs so she can live the life she deserves with dignity and ease. 

Any donations would help get us a step closer to helping Amy and provide my mum with the aid she needs to care for Amy effectively.

For more information about FND and FHMD please see the FND Hope UK website. Should we raise more than our target, the additional funds will be given to FND Hope UK.

Thank you for giving your time to read this. It has been a very hard decision to reach out to you all. x