My name is Adrien Collins, I am a 56 year old man with a brain injury caused by Encephalitis when I was six years old. This left me visually impaired (registered blind) and with Cerebral Palsy and other health problems which has impacted on my life, especially my mobility, resulting in my having to use a wheelchair.
Five years ago, I had an accident that caused a severe burn injury to my left foot. The injury refused to heal over the following couple of years and eventually became infected. This meant I ended up having to have surgery for the toes to be removed. Unfortunately, after another couple of years things haven’t improved and I have to spend a lot of time with my legs elevated to try to reduce swelling and ease the, otherwise constant, pain. The only way I have been able to do this is by either lying on my bed or on a reclining chair. However, I can’t do this all the time as I need to be up and about in my wheelchair so that I can do things, as I live alone. I also have Bursitis and other issues in my arms, which makes it painful to transfer from, or to, my wheelchair, compounded by the fact that I can’t weight bare on my legs.
The wheelchairs provided by the NHS are very basic and aren't really meant for everyday use and are not very adaptable to any changing conditions, like those I have experienced. Last year I decided to buy a wheelchair and, whilst it was an improvement on the NHS one, it still didn’t meet my needs. I needed to elevate my legs and the leg supports on this wheelchair were very limited in their adjustability and proved to be very uncomfortable and left my feet hanging over the edge of the footplates, which was painful. I have recently swapped that wheelchair for a more customisable model but there are still issues with my feet and being able to elevate my legs easily for myself. I have spoken to various companies and engineers about making adaptions to various chairs, but it isn’t easy and I have been advised to look into wheelchairs that are more customisable.
Research into customisable wheelchairs has shown that the best long-term solution is to have a wheelchair custom built. Research in the UK shows that ‘between 80 – 90% of wheelchair users do not fit their chair properly’, resulting in a loss of confidence and poor well-being, and I am clearly one of them. My main issue is needing to elevate my legs, but with standard elevating leg rests I can’t operate them on my own. If I was able to get elevating leg rests that were motorised it would solve the problem. This elevation is vital for me as the wound from the burn and subsequent surgery cannot heal without it. I am very prone to Lymphedema (swelling) and would need to elevate my legs, as much as possible, even if I didn’t have the wound. There are no wheelchairs in production that have this feature, therefore the only solution is to have a chair made bespoke to my own specifications and needs. A custom built wheelchair could be much lighter in weight than a standard purchased chair, which would also be beneficial as I get older.
The cost of a custom-built wheelchair is considerably more than a standard ready made one and is more than I can afford on my low income. Whilst I am also looking at options for grant funding, I need to raise funds myself, which is why I’m starting this campaign to raise £5K so that I can resource the equipment I so desperately need.
The constant pain and discomfort and other health problems have led to bouts of depression and generally poor mental health, which I know can be improved. I want to be able to get out to visit places, friends and family. I also want to volunteer with a local charity to help other people who experience challenges as a result of disability and health issues.
Finally, thanks for sparing the time to read my story and I hope that you may consider supporting my campaign. I fully appreciate any donation to my cause, regardless of size, as every penny counts.
Thank You, Adrien!!