Solihull woman's life changed in an instant when she awoke and could not walk

A Solihull woman is fundraising for a wheelchair after awaking to find herself unable to walk or move her legs. Lucy Cowan, 24, has suffered with a number of chronic illnesses that have affect her mobility.

Over the years her mobility deteriorated as a result of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a group of genetic disorders. She always managed day-to-day tasks but awoke one morning in 2022 to find her life transformed.

Lucy was later diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder, which affects how the brain sends and receives signals. Now she is fundraising for a wheelchair she said would give her hope of some normality.

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"I want nothing more than to have some of my life back," she said. "I suffer from a number of chronic illnesses that cause severe pain, fatigue and mobility issues.

"My mobility had been deteriorating for a few years due to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder that causes chronic pain, joint dislocations and issues with many of my internal organs including my heart, stomach and bladder."

After her diagnosis, she said she began to experience many of its main symptoms which include muscle weakness, episodes of paralysis, tremors and dystonia. She began using a wheelchair in 2022, which helped her leave the house.

Lucy said: "My wheelchair has been transformative for my independence and over the past two years has allowed me to experience things I would not have been able to without it. From travel, to socialising and my education my wheelchair has allowed me to access them all."

But she said her condition had progressed and she needed a power-assisted wheelchair. "Unfortunately over the past two years my fatigue has significantly deteriorated and I am now at a point once again, where I very rarely leave the house and when I do it is not independently

"I am unable to simply pop out to the shops when I want to, to go and visit my friends or even just to go on a walk to clear my head. This lack of independence and autonomy has had a massive impact on my mental health and I want nothing more than to have some of my life back.

This is why I am funding for a power assist for my wheelchair." Lucy said powered assistance on her wheelchair would reduce the effort of pushing it - which drained her reserves of energy.

She has launched a GoFundMe page in the hope she can secure the right piece of kit and achieve more independence. So far it has raised £400 of its £4,600 target. "These devices are extremely expensive and unfortunately is not something I am financially capable of funding myself.

"While I am saving money and also looking at other avenues of funding, any donations would be a massive help and will be instrumental into my getting some freedom and joy back in my life."

You can find Lucy's story on her appeal page here.