New mobility for Samantha
Samantha Rixon from Southampton has regained a lot of her mobility thanks to the provision of a mobility scooter from the Geoff Smith Foundation - her story, in the form of the letter she wrote to Geoff is reproduced below.
My name is Samantha and I live in Southampton. In 2009 I could not feel the left side of my body and was originally checked for a stroke. I had an MRI scan and my feeling came back to normal. In 2010 I had the same symptoms and had another MRI and was then diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting MS, although this time my left leg did not go back to normal and my left eye had a “blind spot” and this continues. I felt a strange sense of relief as there was finally a reason for my symptoms. I had relapses twice a year (summer and winter) and managed to carried on with full time work in a solicitors office for a further 2 years. I then decided to work from home as the stress of working and bringing up a family was too much. I was able to work as a virtual assistant for a year but my head was not working with my fingers and I was making too many mistakes and was signed off work. I got very low and felt useless. My legs constantly feel like jelly. I cannot think, I forget my words, my finger tips are numb and I have cramp like pain constantly in my right arm and right hip. I also suffer with back pain but am advised that this is secondary to my MS.
My relationship broke down and I was left to bring up my two children alone (a son 18 and a daughter 12). I do try and keep positive but there are days when I just cannot do things for myself. My daughter is a Registered Young Carer and helps out daily with meals etc. and my son is currently at University and helps out when he can.
When I tried to go out with my children I always had to sit down and wait for them outside a shop anddays out were non-existent. I just could not keep up with them. My fatigue is very bad so even a visit to the shops meant that I could not do anything else for the rest of the day as I was absolutely exhausted. My extended family were taking over my role as a mother and began to take them out for me.
I was given the name of the Geoff Smith Foundation by my GP as to somebody who may be able to help me and I was not expecting anything other than someone who understood what I was going through and that I could speak to. I was absolutely shocked when I learned that Geoff Smith was able to provide me with an electric mobility scooter that could fit into my car and my life has changed for the better. I am now able to go out with my children for days out, do my own shopping! I finally feel like a person again and I cannot thank the charity enough. I did not realise how isolated I had become. My MS will never go away but with my new sense of freedom I can finally take back a bit of me and start to enjoy things again.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
SAM
XXX
