Hi, I'm Eden! Whether you found this page from friends, organizing, or the DIY scene, here's the gist. I'm a chronically ill Texan who tries to continue to be as active and engaged in my community as possible, despite the challenges I face with my disability. Wheelchairs are expensive. I'm trying to make my own from scratch with the help of my girlfriend.
The past two years since recovering from housing instability, major medical events, and trauma, I've had to be mobile. I've had to face a litany of challenges both medical and not, including needing biweekly infusions, frequent hospitalizations, surgeries, physical therapy, fighting for my disability claim, and endless, endless amounts of horrible testing.
Some days are easier than others. I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user because even on days where pain and fatigue are too intense for me to walk more than a few steps at a time, I often still have to leave the house. Right now I'm using a hospital chair. It's bulky, uncomfortable and generally not suited for my or any wheelchair user's needs. If you didn't know, custom wheelchairs are prohibitively expensive and difficult to get insurance to cover. Luckily, I found a project called Open Source Wheelchairs where they tell you how to make the frame from scratch with common materials, and furnish the rest with aftermarket parts.
Having a custom, lightweight wheelchair that's actually made for my body and specific to my needs would mean a world of difference. It would be the difference between having a day where I'm completely housebound (or even bedbound) and being able to move more freely. It would mean when my mind is bad but my body is worse, I can be around people I love instead of trapped inside. It would mean regaining some of my agency and autonomy as a human being. I want to be able to go places I like and do the things I love.
Here's where you come in: Right now I'm looking at a total need of $500 + shipping to buy the aftermarket parts for my wheelchair so I can build it. While this is still way less expensive then paying between $2000 - $3000+ out of pocket for a custom chair, it's more than I can comfortably afford right now. I'm hoping to get insurance to cover a custom one eventually, but in the meantime I'm really excited for this project.
DIY is something I've been passionate about for a long time, so stumbling on this project is honestly cool as f*ck. I'm hoping that after the first round of making it & customizing it, my girlfriend and I can work together to make a prototype diy motor assist function for it.
So whether you're looking at this because I've made you a meal, you met me at a show, or you're just a creepy stalker who thinks I'm kinda cute; Please help me meet my goal so I can regain my some of my autonomy and be as butch as possible while doing it. If you can't share some bread right now, (understandable times are hard) feel free this around so it can reach more people. Any extra money on made on this fundraiser will go to the upgrades and customization aspect of the wheelchair, so feel free to spoil me.
Much Love, Stay Nasty
-Eden
<3
