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Wheelchair for Akua

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Dear Friends 

I need a new wheelchair. The wheelchair I used daily is a manual Quickie 2 that I got in 2006 after being paralyzed by idiopathic transverse myelitis. I have not used another one.  Medicare will make me wait until October before considering a possible new wheelchair because five years ago I was given a motorized chair that I cannot use. (I only use my manual wheelchair. The story of the failed motorized one is a sad one of being duped and misprescribed for another day.) 

Medicare has not ever given me a manual wheelchair and it still may not give me one  (according to the local wheelchair supplier). October is sadly too long to wait for a maybe.

Beginning in February of this year, the right wheel began to slip out of place on my aging wheelchair and given the fact that I lived in an under-resourced area, I could not get anyone to repair it for over six weeks. Six weeks is a long time when you are depending on a piece of equipment for your daily life. I called 911 three times when the wheel slid against the brake and leaving me unable to move. One ambulance crew  derided and chastised me for calling them. I said I'd only called nine-one-one, not them in particular for help, because I could not move.  It was a humiliating and frightening experience. I had made repeated requests of wheelchair firms in the region for help and had already started the process – seen my physician -- to get a new wheelchair. Help was slow in coming.

I'm asking for your help because I need money. I need money not only because I’m disabled and on a fixed income, but because I am currently undergoing intravenous therapy that's costing me $1,100 a week out of pocket. This is a result, in part, from my issues arising from the ergonomics of my wheelchair and my paralysis--- pressure ulcers.

The new wheelchair I seek is a similar model to the one I have,  a new Quickie 2, but one that has elevating footrests and a deeper seat  with an ergonomic seat pad so I don't develop new pressure sores. The price is much more than the base model – I’m wider than standard and have long legs for my height – so I seek a 20”x 20”.  The estimate on the form was $4390 and the wheelchair cushion to prevent sores is another $300. My current wheelchair is desperate need of new wheels as well as brakes. As my current wheelchair is nearly perilous—with only one working brake, and shred and worn tires, I must effect these repairs in order to live safely. I’ve bought brakes and have spent weeks begging for someone to install them – I seek help with the cost of new wheels, another $200 including shipping. So the total l need is $4900.

If everyone can spare a little bit toward this endeavor, I will be able to buy a new wheelchair without further endangering my life and limb on aging equipment that needs repair.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

  

 Reference:

https://www.quickie-wheelchairs.com/Ultra-Light-Wheelchairs/Ultralight-Folding-Wheelchairs/Quickie-2-Ultralight-Wheelchair/2411p

 
Wheels: Quickie 5 Spoke Mag  24X 1-3/8
https://www.quickie-wheelchairs.com/cart

I would like to give something for getting help:

seated in wheelchair

$15                 pdf of wheelchair poem emailed

$50                 poem card mailed and pdf of wheelchair emailed

$200               signed copy of Them Gone, Les Tetes wire sculpture book mark, poem card mailed and pdf of wheelchair emailed

$500               paper sculpture boat, signed copy of Them Gone, Les Tetes wire sculpture bookmark, poem card mailed and pdf of wheelchair emailed

$1,000            abstract painting, paper sculpture boat, signed copy of Them Gone, and 2 Les Tetes wire sculpture bookmarks, poem card mailed and pdf of wheelchair emailed
 

When it was new ... at a poetry reading
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Donations 

  • Brian Jones
    • $20 
    • 3 yrs
  • Patricia Jones
    • $50 
    • 3 yrs
  • Ama Birch
    • $20 
    • 4 yrs
  • Wayne Hunter
    • $100 
    • 4 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50 
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer

Akua Lezli Hope
Organizer
Corning, NY

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