Rochdale dad’s appeal for more suitable power chair to regain ‘sanity’

A Rochdale dad-of-two is appealing for help ‘to regain some freedom, independence’ and ‘sanity’.

Trem Feighery, 46, from Hamer, first noticed symptoms of lumbar spine degenerative disease - a syndrome in which wear and tear on a spinal disc causes back pain - in 2010 before he was officially diagnosed by specialists in 2014.

The once ‘very active’ dad has already undergone an operation to relieve pressure on his spinal cord in 2015 but, sadly, found himself with chronic neck pain and diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as a result.

 

 

Currently in use of an electric wheelchair, Trem is now appealing for help to gain the key to his independence – a more suitable power chair.

Trem said: “I am in constant varying levels of pain, weakness, fatigue and brain fog. Any mental or physical exertion can cause a CFS flare up. Also pain from my spine and neck issues causes CFS flare ups. I am caught in a vicious circle I can't seem to break.

“Recently I started using an electric wheelchair, but even though it's pretty much no physical exertion, the concentration required, and the pain caused by vibrations in the chair mean I am struggling. My worry is that my current chair is making me worse, and I don't know what's next if I do get worse.

“If I can't manage the pain, then the CFS will get worse.”

Trem hopes to get a more suitable power chair with better suspension and a tilting and reclining seat ‘to ease some of the pressure’ on his spine and neck and better manage his CFS, so he can have some day-to-day freedom.

“I've looked at lots but to get chairs specially configured/made costs money I don't have,” added Trem.

“I work full time and am not in receipt of any benefits. I can't risk doing credit to buy a chair as I can't guarantee how much longer I will be able to work for.”

To give himself a better quality of life by managing his health, Trem has started a GoFundMe page with the aim of raising £6,000 for a more suitable chair.

“I used to be very active, able to walk/cycle miles every day, but over the past 11 years or so I have become more and more limited in what I can do to the point I currently struggle to get around the house and often have to crawl up the stairs.

“Up until 2 years ago I was doing what I could to get to work. Now I can work from home I'd like to do what I can to enjoy days out with my family again.”

To help Trem, you can donate to his GoFundMe page here: www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-me-get-a-more-suitable-powerchair