MS mum Megan Healey will ride mower from Melbourne to Sydney | Herald Sun

This article talks about the lack of support for chronically disabled people in that country.  Canada is not much different and I can only imagine how hard it would be surviving without a national medical plan like in the good old U.S.A. There are war veterans living homeless in America just to give an idea of difficult things can  be if you slip through the cracks the system.This is the type of thinking to avoid - catastrophizing being disabled but articles like this get me going down that path.

 

MEGAN Healey, a Kulnura mum-of-three, has multiple sclerosis (MS) and is unable to put on her own shoes and do many things the rest of us take for granted. 

Yet Mrs Healey is planning an extraordinary adventure, driving a ride-on mower from Melbourne to Sydney next year.

The 43-year-old wants to raise awareness about the challenges her family and friends face as they struggle to help her maintain her independence each day.

"I only get one and a half hours of help each week, which isn't anywhere near enough to replace the domestic tasks a mother-of-three would normally do.

"I can't cook, do the washing, ironing or housework and all of this is left to my family and some wonderful friends," she said.

"My MS puts an enormous strain on the entire family. The disability also creates additional financial strain, because it's expensive to be disabled. 

Even with me doing the bookwork for our business, we are scraping the bottom of the barrel to have someone come in to help with washing, folding clothes and tiding the house. We need more help, but the funding just isn't there.


"I yearn to give my hubbie and kids a break now and then, so we can have quality time together.

"Under Medicare, the care plan for people with chronic disabilities allows only five visits to a specialist per year but I need these on weekly basis. It takes 52 visits to a physio each year just to maintain what little strength I have left.


"I'd like to think I can raise awareness about the people who give so much of themselves to help people like me.

"If nothing else, I want to show my children that even if you have a disability, you can accomplish a great things if you put your mind to it.

"The ride is for my own self worth. It's a adventure for me and the team who'll accompany me."


Great support from helpers

MEGAN is confident. "My team will look after me fabulously,'' she said.

"The journey will take around three weeks and we are aiming for May because that is Kiss Goodbye to MS Month. 

When we stop in Canberra I intend to meet with the minister for ageing and disability to lobby for government support for people living with disabilities.

"I can't even get on and off the mower on my own.''

Want to help? The article gives some contact numbers.


 Source:
MS mum Megan Healey will ride mower from Melbourne to Sydney | Herald Sun

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/ms-mum-megan-healey-will-ride-mower-from-melbourne-to-sydney/story-fndo317g-1226480895999