Mel On The Move: Help A Gal Get Her Wheelchair

Hello, I'm Mel!

If you've come as far as clicking this link, thank you.

I'm a disabled former teacher from Scotland whose life completely changed in September 2020 when I caught Covid-19 for the first time and never got better. I have had Long Covid for over two years which has developed into M.E./CFS, leaving me 90% housebound and unable to cook, drive, shower without sitting down or read anything longer than an email. When I do leave the house, I need to use a mobility aid to get around due to the fatigue, pain, weakness and dizziness I suffer daily.

I am making this crowdfunding page to help fund a manual wheelchair, power add-on and all-terrain equipment that would allow me to live a more "normal" life, better manage my symptoms while out and about and finally go on walks with Jura, our senior rehomed golden retriever, and my husband, Magnus (who is also now my carer).

I noticed while going through my phone recently just how many of my photos from the last two years are of nature but taken from my bedroom window, and I would love to be able to change that.

I really wish I didn’t have to ask friends, family, strangers and charities to help me access life-changing medical equipment but this is unfortunately the case for so many of us living with chronic illness and disabilities. Before I needed to use a mobility aid, I assumed that disabled people were given them for free, but this is sadly not true! Personal Wheelchair Budgets do not exist in Scotland and as I am an ambulatory wheelchair user (meaning that I can walk very short distances – e.g. to the bathroom inside the house), I would be a low priority for our incredibly stretched NHS that could take years and would not have the right resources for me.

I need to raise a total of £11,573 for this equipment (every time I write down that number I feel physically sick), and there is a required advance payment of £7000. So, as you can see, this is a big mountain to climb.

I currently use a mobility scooter (affectionately known as Sheila) for longer journeys outside that we bought ourselves in mid 2021. Unfortunately, as my physical and cognitive symptoms have worsened, I have been able to use it less and less. Holding my arms out to grip the handlebars quickly causes me a lot of pain, as does squeezing the accelerator to make the scooter go. I also have to use my hands and arms to move the handlebars and turn the scooter which quickly results in fatigue and pain.

My hands and arms are affected by severe nerve and muscle pain, fatigue, and weakness, which makes self-propelling a manual wheelchair impossible. This is why a power add-on is essential for me to have any sort of independence while still allowing Magnus to push me when my fatigue, pain or cognitive symptoms get too much and I can't control the wheelchair myself anymore. There is no way I could get a power add-on through the NHS and a fully powered NHS chair wouldn’t meet my needs, so fundraising and applying for charity grants are now my only options.

We live in a village in the middle of the Scottish countryside with a distinct lack of dropped curbs, so the bumps and vibrations from navigating those add to my pain level and make it harder to go out. I also can't use my mobility scooter on grass, so I have to sit and watch Magnus and Jura go off on walks without me. There's so much to concentrate on when using my mobility scooter that I can run out of energy quite quickly and end up in a dangerous situation where I can no longer function or hold myself upright. Basically, my mobility scooter no longer meets my needs. Please note that if I am lucky enough to raise the money needed for the wheelchair, power add-on and all-terrain equipment then I plan to donate Sheila to one of my best friends who is also living with Long Covid and M.E. and is in need of a mobility aid - she would also appreciate the wide variety of stickers I’ve used!

I recently had a demo with a rehabilitation engineer who recommended a combination of the Wolturnus W5S manual wheelchair, Benoit Light Drive 2.1 Plus (HD) power add-on, and Track Wheel all-terrain equipment. The power add-on is controlled by a simple joystick on the arm of the wheelchair, which would allow me to conserve so much energy and reduce my cognitive strain. The wheelchair itself has built-in suspension to reduce painful vibrations and better support my body. A specially designed wheelchair cushion would also add further support to help make me as comfortable as possible. The all-terrain equipment would mean I could finally go on dog walks and explore the beautiful Scottish countryside around us. This would massively improve my mental health and quality of life, and I could even get outside on bad days.

When I got to trial this equipment, I was so incredibly happy and excited at the thought of the freedom it would bring me! I would be able to have so many more opportunities and experiences with my husband, my friends and my family that have been impossible for so long. This specific wheelchair and power add-on are also quite lightweight and easy to assemble which would make life so much easier for Magnus who sometimes struggles getting my massive mobility scooter in and out of the car.

Simply put, this mobility aid would mean freedom for me. Freedom from isolation. Freedom from the same four walls. Freedom from pain and fatigue. And, access to nature - something that brings me so much joy.

If you are able to spare anything to help me get this life-changing equipment - or even just share this GoFundMe - then Magnus, Jura and I would be so grateful. I know times are incredibly tough right now for all of us, so any interaction with this crowdfunder is very much appreciated.

Thank you for reading.