Hi everyone,
Three years ago, I was completely fine. Today, I deal with severe health issues, including endometriosis, cysts, a low-functioning heart, and narrow veins that cause blood to pool in my legs. This leaves me with constant, severe leg aches and terrible charlie horses. I also get unpredictable nerve pain flares that travel from my sacrum down my legs and all the way up into my arms.
Standing or walking more than a few steps is something I simply cannot do anymore. I face these struggles every single day. It has gotten to the point where I can't even stand up to cook anymore—I have to use a chair in the kitchen just to make a meal. On top of that everyday pain, when a flare gets really bad, my legs lose all strength, my knees buckle, and I will completely fall if I try to take a step.
Because I don't have health insurance, getting the right equipment on my own is incredibly hard.
Right now, I am stuck inside the house using a basic, heavy wheelchair that takes away all my independence. It is too heavy for me to handle. I have to rely on other people to help me load and unload it from the car, and I constantly need someone to push me around. Getting into places, even going through the doors at McDonald's or navigating stores, is a massive struggle. On top of that, it has no seatbelt, and I have almost fallen completely out of it a couple of times while being pushed on uneven ground. Honestly, always depending on others just to move around is embarrassing.
I am trying to turn our local car group into an official inclusive nonprofit for disability and LGBTQ+ individuals, but I can't run these events or participate if I can't leave the house safely.
A fully custom wheelchair costs thousands of dollars, which is out of my reach. But I found a great middle-ground travel chair on Amazon for $365. It is an Adults, Portable, Transport, Customizable & Folding Travel Wheelchair in Blue. It conforms much better to a body, handles outdoor terrain safely, has a built-in seatbelt, and is lightweight enough for me to manage.
Hitting this $365 goal on Spotfund will directly let me purchase this chair, function independently, get out of the house, and build a safe community for everyone. Every single donation or share means the world to me. Thank you!
