In my last article, I talked about the pros and cons of social networking and how since I have grown up, have connected with families with special needs children via Facebook. When I wrote that article I hadn’t realised the positive power that another feature of networking could have…
In the spring I was assessed by Wheelchair Services for a new electric wheelchair. My Permobil had served me incredibly well for 19
years but things were starting to malfunction and due to the age, parts were difficult to service. I was shown the chair that I could
have but after a test drive at my house and outside on the farm, it was obvious that it would not cope with the rougher terrain. I then went to Kidz to Adults South in Reading, a mobility exhibition which was well worth visiting (next year’s show - 8th June 2017) and it
was incredible to see all the different equipment that is now available. There were so many small children whizzing about in electric wheelchairs. I tested out the newest model of Permobil and did a very speedy race along the car park! I came home knowing that this was the right chair for me and after a test drive at home a couple of weeks later, I told my cousin who immediately set up an online Crowdfunding page to raise the funds I needed.
I could not believe how many people were interested in and responded to the campaign and I was overwhelmed by the generosity I
received – a lot of donations were from people I didn’t know and many were anonymous! Within 8 weeks we had raised all the money
needed, including a voucher from the NHS and a grant from the Joseph Patrick Trust (the funding group of Muscular Dystrophy UK for
wheelchairs and equipment). On 26th September my new Permobil F3 Corpus was delivered. I think the old chair was ready to retire as it had been playing up a lot the week before! I am now able to raise my seat to standing height which is extremely helpful when I am talking to friends and I can lie the whole seat back with one joystick movement. The top outdoor speed is 8mph but I have promised everybody I will only drive this fast on smooth surfaces with nobody in my way!
The suspension of the whole chair is fantastic which is really helpful when I have been down our field and makes the whole day more
comfortable too. Two brilliant new additions are the hand heater in front of my joystick so my driving hand never has to freeze again (!)
and the USB charger so I can plug my phone or Kindle in when I am out! At the beginning of October my parents and I attended the Muscular Dystrophy UK National Conference in London. While in London our taxi driver was so busy admiring my new Permobil, he forgot I was driving backwards down the ramp and I fell off it sideways. It didn’t matter as I was so pleased he loved the chair! We
had a fantastic day at the conference which had a very positive atmosphere. It was a lovely surprise to properly meet 4 year old
Stanley and his parents after knowing them on Facebook for over a year. Stanley has Congenital Muscular Dystrophy like me and we also both have Permobil electric wheelchairs!
It was brilliant for me to be able to share my experiences with people at the conference and to again see children happily buzzing around in their wheelchairs. It brought back such happy memories of my childhood in my Turbo chair which gave me so much independence and mobility in the garden and school playground. Having an electric wheelchair enabled me to develop friendships normally and growing up in a safe army barracks, my sister, brother and I had a gang of 8 friends and two Labradors who we shared lots of outdoor adventures with.
At half term I went to my first South Coast Muscle Group tea party (run by MDUK) in Crawley. Again I met more lovely families and
shared concerns and ideas. I am hoping to have a more local meeting one day but at least in my new Permobil I am able to travel more
comfortably!
Lizzie Baily 2016
In the spring I was assessed by Wheelchair Services for a new electric wheelchair. My Permobil had served me incredibly well for 19
years but things were starting to malfunction and due to the age, parts were difficult to service. I was shown the chair that I could
have but after a test drive at my house and outside on the farm, it was obvious that it would not cope with the rougher terrain. I then went to Kidz to Adults South in Reading, a mobility exhibition which was well worth visiting (next year’s show - 8th June 2017) and it
was incredible to see all the different equipment that is now available. There were so many small children whizzing about in electric wheelchairs. I tested out the newest model of Permobil and did a very speedy race along the car park! I came home knowing that this was the right chair for me and after a test drive at home a couple of weeks later, I told my cousin who immediately set up an online Crowdfunding page to raise the funds I needed.
I could not believe how many people were interested in and responded to the campaign and I was overwhelmed by the generosity I
received – a lot of donations were from people I didn’t know and many were anonymous! Within 8 weeks we had raised all the money
needed, including a voucher from the NHS and a grant from the Joseph Patrick Trust (the funding group of Muscular Dystrophy UK for
wheelchairs and equipment). On 26th September my new Permobil F3 Corpus was delivered. I think the old chair was ready to retire as it had been playing up a lot the week before! I am now able to raise my seat to standing height which is extremely helpful when I am talking to friends and I can lie the whole seat back with one joystick movement. The top outdoor speed is 8mph but I have promised everybody I will only drive this fast on smooth surfaces with nobody in my way!
The suspension of the whole chair is fantastic which is really helpful when I have been down our field and makes the whole day more
comfortable too. Two brilliant new additions are the hand heater in front of my joystick so my driving hand never has to freeze again (!)
and the USB charger so I can plug my phone or Kindle in when I am out! At the beginning of October my parents and I attended the Muscular Dystrophy UK National Conference in London. While in London our taxi driver was so busy admiring my new Permobil, he forgot I was driving backwards down the ramp and I fell off it sideways. It didn’t matter as I was so pleased he loved the chair! We
had a fantastic day at the conference which had a very positive atmosphere. It was a lovely surprise to properly meet 4 year old
Stanley and his parents after knowing them on Facebook for over a year. Stanley has Congenital Muscular Dystrophy like me and we also both have Permobil electric wheelchairs!
It was brilliant for me to be able to share my experiences with people at the conference and to again see children happily buzzing around in their wheelchairs. It brought back such happy memories of my childhood in my Turbo chair which gave me so much independence and mobility in the garden and school playground. Having an electric wheelchair enabled me to develop friendships normally and growing up in a safe army barracks, my sister, brother and I had a gang of 8 friends and two Labradors who we shared lots of outdoor adventures with.
At half term I went to my first South Coast Muscle Group tea party (run by MDUK) in Crawley. Again I met more lovely families and
shared concerns and ideas. I am hoping to have a more local meeting one day but at least in my new Permobil I am able to travel more
comfortably!
Lizzie Baily 2016