Сообщество собрало более 5200 долларов на покупку ортопедического аппарата для парализованной женщины

A few weeks ago, Courtney Preece looked someone in their eyes when speaking to them — the first time she had done so in 14 years. “I got to stand up and look them in the eyes instead of them having to get on my level to look me in the eye,” said Preece in an interview at her home in Smiths Falls. Since a traumatic infection as a teenager that stripped her myelin sheath — a layer of fatty tissue that protects nerves through the body, including in the spinal cord — Preece has been paralyzed from the waist down. She uses a wheelchair full-time. Preece said that the simple act of meeting another person at their eye level was transformative for her mental health, not to mention the benefits to her physical health. Sitting in her wheelchair severely affects Preece’s blood circulation, resulting in several blood clots in her legs and lungs over the years. It also disrupts her ability to digest food properly, not to mention the strain on her ribs and hips. Because of these symptoms, Preece’s neurologist recommended she try a standing frame. What is a standing frame? Standing frames are medical devices that support wheelchair and other mobility aid users who lack strength or control of their lower bodies. The devices are specially designed for each individual, allowing them to rest comfortably in an upright position. Between getting the recommendation from her neurologist to seeing her physiotherapist to actually getting to try a standing frame — which had to be specially transported to Smiths Falls from Toronto — Preece ended up waiting seven months. Her response to the device, though, was immediate. “My appointment wasn’t supposed to be super long there,” said Preece. “But they let me stay for an hour. I was in the middle of their floor. They had other people coming in and looking at things, and I’m just standing there, in this frame, happy as can be.” While Preece surely wanted to go home with the standing frame that day, there was a hitch: a $12,000 price tag that the mother and small business owner could not afford. For most of her adult life, Preece survived on ODSP benefits that amounted to $1,600 per month for herself and her 12-year-old son. Confronting systemic challenges Olivia Slosson is an early childhood educator who met Preece through a mutual friend at a hockey game. They have been inseparable ever since. When Slosson learned about the standing frame — and, what’s more, saw the photographs of Preece smiling while standing for the first time in over a decade — she asked for permission to create a GoFundMe. While Preece had always been an active community volunteer, working with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mumma’s Here Now Neonatal Rescue and the Smiths Falls Accessibility Advisory Committee, she recently started a social media management business to supplement her ODSP benefits. People on ODSP benefits are permitted to work and still receive their benefits, but they may only earn up to $1,000 per month before their benefits start to be reduced, according to the province. Preece’s current income places her a few hundred dollars above the poverty line, but that doesn’t mean she can afford the standing frame. Had Preece been a minor at the onset of her paralysis, her standing frame could have been funded by the government. “It doesn’t matter how old I am, the (health) benefits are still the same,” said Preece. “So why at 18 do they just go, ‘Oh you’re not as important anymore. We can’t help you’?” How the community stepped up “No one should be afraid to ask for help,” said Slosson about her friend’s initial hesitancy. “And no one should have to depend on the community to provide something that is medically necessary and should be covered by their benefits.” The community showed up for Preece and Slosson, with the fundraiser having already accumulated over $5,200 in the span of just two weeks. That generosity gives the two friends hope. “I’m engaged, so Olivia and I were talking about how cool it would be if, at my wedding I could stand up to say ‘I do,’” said Preece, looking to the future. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.