Help me after a horrific accident in my electric wheelchair. Last chance to donate today.

Since I last wrote, I would summarise what has happened rather than a 10-page novel I am prone to writing.

ACC

It took about a month for ACC to act as they said that 2 of my issues were not on my discharge papers. One of them was, but who am I to argue? It then took another week? To get things going there.

1. I have home assistance for 4.5 hours a week. Three for a round trip to the dr one a week and 1.5 for 'home and personal cares'. This lasts for six weeks, so another 2-3? to go.

2. A lot of the 'powers that be' have come crawling out of the woodwork - some with good news some with the same old stories.... not eligible, no this no that...

3. I am getting some more home help type care on an ongoing basis which I am very grateful for. It's only been two weeks in, but already it has made a big difference - so one good thing.

4. In the world of 'equipment', there is 'nothing' they can give me or do that will meet my needs apart from a stool. I am in no man's land because of the things I do need are not funded as I said because partly they aren't required by a lot of people because how I am is quite rare. They just aren't supported full stop.

5. Some of my GAL money has come in, so I am paying back the $570 that my Alexa and Echos through the house have been set up, so I have voice action anywhere in the house now. I do have my St Johns alarm too, but I feel/felt like I needed a back up in the case for any reason I can't reach it...It's all about fear and security, I guess.

6. This weekend I am looking to buy the 'thing' to get me off the floor which will come from overseas and be the last of my GAL and the kind people who have slipped me a card etc. directly - thank you all. So hopefully that will be here in a few weeks.

7. My long term goals are still a work in progress, but I feel that at least something good has come out of it all and that wouldn't have happened without you all to bring this to peoples attention about "the system".

I don't wish to be negative as I am grateful, but I wanted to give you two examples of "the system" I have hit again since/despite my accident.

1. Shoes. Since the labour govt took over, they poured all their money into hospitals. Very good. Where did the money come from? A lot of it came from peripheral services to keep people safe in their own homes. Shoes. Shoes. Shoes. Prior the National Govt still had the old one pair a year rule but in sensible cases that was excepted. Now the Labour Govt has whipped that away and are down on the Orthotics like Thors Hammer ... (or is it Mallet? I had a new pair in August last year, or so, I ordered them then, but I did not receive them until December, due to being forgotten, unable to get an appointment for three months. So, therefore, I am not eligible and can not get new shoes until December? I can start the process again - so in reality that works about to be every 15 or so months. Despite the fact that they are the cause of 3 of my four prior wheelchair falls, it's just too bad. Unless I want to fork out up to $800 myself, all that will do is delay further my next pair of shoes. They "sold" me some boots in the meantime that are relatively normal shoes but are very soft - suitable for diabetic people (I am not) - they are quite good and comfy but alas I can not get them on and off on my own. Therefore there goes more independence and an increase in reliance (paid or otherwise) for someone to help me twice a day.

They are 'patching up' my old shoes, but based on their condition and the fact I need 'reassessing' not just same old made again, this is not going to do any good and is only going to result in a big hunk of stiffness on the outside of my shoe causing it to dig into my leg. Happy days... I sound like a complainer, but this is the sort of thing that wears me down.... which leads me onto my next whinge and moan...

2. I need a stool for the bathroom to help with safe transfers (or to see if it helps). I met with one OT. He was inexperienced he felt so he moved me to another OT. A lovely lady but I had to repeat everything over again (for the third or fourth time as I had already gone through it in excruciating detail to ACC at least twice let alone whoever I have forgotten).... So we agreed I needed a stool with X Y Z and without A B C.

What arrived on Friday?

If you have been following this or have personal experiences, then you will know what arrived on Friday.

A chair - not a stool

Arms - explicitly asked for no arms - cant transfer or get in and out with sides

a back - see above

rubber feet - not suction feet that OT advised

It swivels around and does other weird unrequested things.

So I got A B C with no sign of X Y Z. It is like they are at kindy learning the concept of opposites and failed.

Now it could have been the company isn't the wrong thing, I am not blaming the OT, but I will find out. The here we go again - more phone calls, more people to collect it, more to drop the next one-off and on it goes.

I have had about 2.5 days a week taken up since my accident with this sort of stuff... every week. I'm getting frustrated, but I tell myself "you have to do this" and "this is the last time you have to do it" and"what good will come of any of this if you don't see it all through".

After this round of asking for help, that will be it. I'm giving up on the system and will sort myself out as I am able with the help of my GAL, family, robbing the bank and more :P :)

Honestly, I am happy for the good stuff that has come out of it all. That's all down to every one of you all as much as it is to my accident and decision to try to make something good come of it instead of wallowing in it and feeling sorry for myself (I've done that too!). My big girl panties are back on .... and get on with it...

Thanks for listening, thanks for helping, the cards, the gifts, the shares, everything. It is all received with gratitude and used with

care.

"Frida Kahlo Quote: “At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.”

The photo is of Frida Kahlo. Someone who's life in some ways mirrors my own, except she is incredibly talented and interesting...

The painting was done for me by a very good artist https://www.facebook.com/sandrajane.artist and friend of mine. Check out her work it really is something else!

Signing off now,

Tracey

xx