Power is Freedom: Sandie really needs these wheels

Hello

My name is Sandie, I’m a feisty, funny and slightly dorky 49 year old wife and mother of 3. I’m very lucky to live in a beautiful area of England called the Cotswolds.

My Story

In May last year I was rushed to hospital with suspected stroke after I suddenly collapsed at work. However after several more hospital stays I was diagnosed with something called Functional Neurological Disorder, or FND.

Classed as a rare condition (but is in fact much more common than at first thought), simply put FND is a problem with the way the brain sends and receives signals. Similar to a software problem in a computer.

This affects my body in multiple ways -

▪️Unable to walk

▪️Seizures

▪️Difficulty communicating

▪️Fatigue

▪️Unable to carry out everyday tasks

To say it’s been an adjustment for both myself and my family is an understatement. But adapt we have. Not only adapt but actually grow. We’ve found a love deeper than anything we could have imagined, we’ve grown in patience and understanding and have come through stronger as individuals and as a family.

Using a wheelchair since May 2019 has seen me go from viewing the chair with bitter resentment to an incredible tool that gives me freedom and independence. The first time I went out I couldn’t push myself at all but having worked hard on my upper body strength I can now push myself around comfortably- something I’m hugely proud of (you should see my biceps)!


Unfortunately this is where we get the plot twist. Six months before I collapsed I had a bad fall and damaged my right shoulder. Now they have discovered that I will need at least one surgery, maybe two, to correct things.

As you can imagine, taking my arm out of action only leaves me with one of four limbs functioning! The recovery period for the type of surgery I’m looking at is up to 6 months and this will severely impact my independence and ability to push myself in my wheelchair.

How you can help

This is where your help could make a massive difference. With the money raised I am looking to buy a small portable adapter that converts the manual wheelchair into a electric scooter. This will enable me to retain my independence while my arm is too weak to be able to push myself, and help my husbands back!

Without this adapter I will literally lose all my independence again and will be back to having to have someone push me everywhere. I can’t tell you how much this scares me, I’ve come so far mentally and am in a good place where I’ve accepted life the way life looks for me now, keeping my independence as much a possible is crucial and so this power adapter will be essential, not just for helping me physically but also mentally.

Costs

The Unawheel costs £2,250 ex VAT and shipping.

It’s small, light and portable and so we will be able to take it out with us easily. It’s also the cheapest power add-on in the market - bonus!

Backstory

I’ve struggled with my mobility since the age of 15 when a fall down the stairs left me unable to walk and staying many months in hospital. I fought my way back to walking then, and again several times throughout my life when other serious falls resulted in more hospital stays and more surgery.

Throughout my life doctors have always insisted that, due to my mechanical back problems brought on by injuries, I should expect to be in a wheelchair by the time I’m 30 then 40 then...? They’ve repeatedly said this and I’ve repeatedly proved them wrong. I’ve fought so hard to keep mobile and I’m fiercely independent to this day.

But when FND came along last year and added to all the spinal issues, I found myself in a wheelchair after all.

At first I was angry, resentful and hurting. I couldn’t believe that all my fighting had still led to this. I felt lost, incapacitated and just so tired of fighting.

Then something magical happened.

I experienced life without the excruciating pain I used to feel before FND. I used to block out any signals my body gave me to stop, silencing the voice telling me something had to change. My fighting had in fact caused me to become deaf to my own body. Now here I was, unable to walk but experiencing life with such reduced pain that I could actually enjoy my day, my time out with family.

FND took a lot away from me but what I have learned from my situation is worth so much more than what I’ve lost. I’ve become kinder to myself, more understanding and generally a better person.

We have already bought a new-to-me wheelchair which is smaller and much lighter to help me as much as possible and to which this power adapter will be easily attached, but with FND I am currently unable to work so any help you can give is so gratefully received.

On this journey I have found that it’s ok to ask for help, it’s ok to be vulnerable. It’s not weak but incredibly brave to step out into the unknown with an open heart. Ready and willing to learn.

Thank you

I can’t express how grateful we are for your help in raising the money for the Unawheel. It will give me so much more practical independence and mentally enable me to feel free and not feel trapped again.

How you can help

You can donate any amount and you can remain anonymous if you’d prefer. You can also help by sharing the link by text or email to your friends and family and also on your social media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...go wild!

I know you’ve heard it all before but it’s true that every single £1 helps. Every share of the link to my GoFundMe page helps get the message out there.

Thank you xx