Help Stella Get a Power Wheelchair for College

Hi! My name is Stella, and I am 18 years old about to move across the country from Florida to Boston for college. I am diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, Small fiber neuropathy, fibromyalgia, functional neurological disorder, likely gastroparesis, as well as autism and many other possible things we haven’t finalized yet. I have experienced a wide variety of constant and intense symptoms for years and require almost full time wheelchair use, as well as my medical alert and mobility service dog Venus. I will be pursuing pediatric occupational therapy to help be the person I wish I had when I was a kid. This degree will take lots of hard work and will subsequently be very hard on my body. My school’s residential campus and academic campuses are about an 8 minute walk apart, which is why I wanted to pursue a power assist for my wheelchair, otherwise I would likely be unable to attend most classes or have a life outside of school due to fatigue, shoulder dislocations, and pain from extensive manual wheelchair pushing. I will be living in the city and not have access to a car and will need to use my wheelchair everywhere I go. 

However, at my power assist appointment I was informed that due to my insurance change I will be unable to start the process until October, with a 4 month back order time, plus about 3-4 months for delivery IF insurance approves it (which took 5+ months for my wheelchair) otherwise it could take well until my sophomore year, and I will be back living at home for the summer at that point. Oddly enough, a pink airhawk foldable power chair is cheaper than buying a power assist (which would be around $6000), and will likely help me even more than a power assist would. I will be working extra hours but there is only so much my body can handle, however I absolutely cannot make it through college without this. I will also still be using my manual chair on days I can handle it, but this power chair would be my primary transportation to class and big days around the city!

I need to keep my independence, and I want to be able to enjoy the city and my college experience like everyone else. Disabled people are already at a disadvantage and are statistically severely less likely to complete a college degree. We deserve access to the things we need to be successful. I hate that insurance gets to decide who gets to have the medical care they desperately need based on stupid things. I am frustrated, I am upset, I am disappointed, but I know that I will make it through this. A wheelchair should never have to be a birthday or going away present. I should have access to the things I need to survive and shouldn’t have to worry about if I’ll be able to make it through college because I can’t afford it. I love you all and how much you have supported me. I didn’t want to make this GoFundMe but many people kept telling me to, and reminded me that I deserve to keep my body safe and comfortable. Please never feel obligated to donate, but please share if you can. <3