I always struggle to talk about this as its a hard subject for me. All my life I had been independent and a go-getter, the type of person who would wake up one day and go on a train to anywhere just for the hell of it. I was able to walk for miles without any problem and even in 2010 went to Australia and climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I then noticed I started having major back pain and that standing or walking for long periods of time were causing some major issues. I was carrying some pretty heavy boxes at work so thought it may even be that causing it. I went to my Doctor about it but after blood test after blood test and x-ray after x-ray he was scratching his head. I was put on NSAIDs (non steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs) and ibuprofen to help with the pain though it didn‘t seem to work.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, eventually in 2012 I was diagnosed as having Ankylosing Spondylitis, an incurable disease which attacks the immune system and grows extra bone in the spine, eventually leading to possible spine fusion. Also on that day I found out I was pregnant and was also made redundant. Two really shitty things to happen together but one miracle to make up for it. I was told that I may not make full term but was determined to go through with having my son if it was to be the only chance I would have at having children. He was four weeks early and perfect in every way.

In the last few years my condition has worsened. No longer do I have my freedom and have to rely on full time care when my fiance is at home. My son who is five now has Autism Spectrum Disorder as well so requires my care the best I can do. Thankfully he is at school most of the day and I can concentrate on sleeping as I suffer from Chronic Fatigue as a mixture of the disease I have and the meds I am on.

The long and short of it is I cannot walk very far anymore. To my front door in fact before setting in excrutiating pain. I walk with a stoop and have to hold on to things as I move round the house, like a child learning to walk cruises the furniture. I haven‘t left the house by myself in five years. It took three years to get a visit from wheelchair services and even then it took a further year and a half to get a wheelchair. Even then its only a manual one and I cannot propell it myself. I have to rely on my fiance/carer to take me out places when he isn‘t at work. I have to book him in advance to take me places, I can’t go anywhere ad-hoc. I can’t even take my son to the park and that is what I hate the most! I feel like I am missing out on so much with him. I am on 13 different meds a day and I have to rely on somebody to push me around, wash my hair, help me in and out the shower, and the thing I hate the most - wipe my @ss. I feel like a child and that I have lost all my independence.

Wheelchair services won’t give me an electric wheelchair or scooter and I cannot afford to get one on PIP as it pays for us to live on.

I found one suitable that would be perfect for my needs. It has a head rest that would help keep my spine level if I strap my head to it, it holds above my weight which is great, foldable so can go in fiance’s car and he doesn’t need to push me around. I would have my freedom to leave the house and go places on my own, best of all I would be able to take my son to the park.

Even if you could spare £1 it would be a massive help to my cause. I would be forever indebted to you all if you could help me reach my target. Thank you for reading.