Help omar get a wheelchair van

Help Omar get a wheelchair van

 

 

I am the dedicated mother to my 8 year old son Omar who was diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegia and Cerebral Palsy at birth. Omar also suffers from vision impairment, intellectual disability, chronic lung disease and is oxygen dependent. Omar is a tall boy and weighs 26 kg’s, he continues to grow making his care needs increasingly harder for me to manage.

 

Omar is my youngest of 6 children,as you can appreciate this makes balancing the needs of all my children at times, very difficult. I have recurrent back issues due to lifting and caring for Omar as well as an increased mental health risk brought about by fatigue and stress. I have suffered significant trauma over the past year, having to face the possibility that Omar’s condition has the potential to deteriorate quite quickly and without warning. I do my best with balancing the needs of my other children against the extremely high needs of Omar’s.

 

Omar is completely dependent on me for everything such as feeding, toileting, mobility, dressing, and showering. We have continuously tried to make necessary adaptions to our home and to family life to allow for better management of Omar’s needs which result in a better quality of life for him. 

 

Omar uses adaptive foot orthotics, a standing frame. requires 24/7 oxygen monitoring, re-positioning for pressure care, regular chest physiotherapy, requires frequent suctioning and airway management as well as tube feeding and stoma care,. Omar has had extensive medical intervention after experiencing prolonged seizures and has frequent visits to The Royal Children’s Hospital; Omar is currently on night CPAP and oxygen to help with his breathing.

 

Omar is a joyful boy, he smiles and giggles all the time, even when he becomes ill. He loves watching cartoons, interaction from his siblings, racing in his gravity chair, being read to, painting (with help) and being pushed in the disability swing. Omar has filled our house with love and happiness. Unfortunately he has been unable to attend school regularly due to the fragility of his health and attendance outside the home remains limited. Transporting Omar in a Taxi presents significant risk due to his low immunity.

 

It has reached a point now where we are in desperate need of getting a wheelchair accessible vehicle.  Our current family car is no longer suitable for transporting him. Omar needs a significant amount of support whilst sitting and his wheelchair is the safest option for this.

 

Currently, Omar needs to be lifted in and out of the car by either myself or my husband and is unable to have his wheelchair with him when we travel in our existing vehicle as his wheelchair is very difficult to dismantle and takes up all of the boot space or back seats once folded, as a result, we are unable to all fit together in the vehicle as a family.

 

A wheelchair accessible vehicle will enable Omar to be safely supported whilst travelling; it will decrease the amount of repetitive strain on my back and arms, and allow greater inclusiveness for all family members. Having this vehicle will also enable Omar to attend critical medical appointments, give him greater access to the community to prevent social isolation and give my family an opportunity to go out together to attend activities, outings and events like many other families.  I worry that without this necessary and appropriate modified vehicle to transport Omar, we, as a family, run the risk of family breakdown and increased mental and physical health issues upon myself.

 

Omar, myself and my family are urgently seeking any financial assistance you can offer to support us in reaching our goal to purchase a modified vehicle to the value of approximately $60,000. The provision of a wheelchair accessible vehicle for Omar will improve not only his quality of life, but also our family as a whole.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration. 

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

For and on behalf of 

8 yo Omar

Update 2015-03-06

“Omars fundraising event”At Kemizo Family Entertainment Centre.Address:

Update 2015-03-08

THREE options of payment can be made to: