Reena needs a new car

Hi, we're the McIntosh family and we live in Brisbane! We're raising money for an accessible car for our 5-year-old daughter, Reena, who has a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and uses a wheelchair full-time.

Up until now we've been transferring Reena into a standard car seat and loading her wheelchair into the back of our car for transport, but as she gets bigger (now approaching 20kg) these transfers are getting more difficult, and less safe for our necks and backs.

If we can buy a car suitable for conversion that a.) is less than 5 years old, and b.) has done less than 80,000km, then the NDIS will pay for disability-related conversions, but they won't fund the car itself. In consultation with Reena's occupational therapist we've established that the most suitable options for us in terms of size and function are a Kia Carnival or a Hyundai Staria, and to buy either of these new will set us back about $55,000.

Our first accessible car, affectionately known in our family as "the big car," has allowed Reena to attend kindergarten and her first year of school with her wheelchair (which has been amazing!), but it's an imported welcab (a Toyota Voxy) and doesn't comply with Australian safety regulations which would allow Reena to travel *IN* her wheelchair. (For now we can legally transport the wheelchair as cargo though, which is what we've been doing.)

In late August we're expecting the delivery of Reena's long-awaited new wheelchair, as she's outgrown her beloved Permobil Koala. Her new one, an Alltrack P3, will be a tight squeeze in our little Toyota Voxy, so this is another factor motivating us to fundraise now. We need a car that will meet Reena's needs as both she and her equipment continue to grow.

We hope to sell our current car for about $25,000, which leaves a further $30,000 to fundraise. Can you help us by donating, and sharing our story with your friends and family?

Reena was diagnosed with SMA type 1 at the age of five months, at which time she had lost significant strength and movement. SMA is a genetic neuromuscular condition that causes the loss of motor neurons, leading to progressive muscle wasting, and life-threatening complications such as breathing and feeding difficulties. In the absence of treatment the life expectancy for children with SMA type 1 is less than two years.

We're so thankful that Reena has received world-class medical treatment (first Spinraza, and later a gene therapy called Zolgensma) that stopped the progression of SMA and has allowed her to gradually gain back some strength. There is currently no cure for SMA, but ongoing therapy (physio, OT, speech therapy and more) along with assistive technologies such as her power wheelchair are helping Reena to live her best life as a cheeky, 5-year-old preppie who loves Bluey, Minecraft, Disney princesses, and her little sister, Tully.

Please help us reach our goal of providing her with an accessible vehicle that allows her to travel safely in her wheelchair for many years to come. We so appreciate your support.

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If you, or someone you know, can help us with our fundraising beyond donating and sharing, please get in touch. We would love to have a chat!