Appeal for cash to pay for schoolgirl's new wheelchair
A MUM whose daughter is battling a life-long muscle wasting condition has appealed for funds to buy a wheelchair that will help the plucky youngster maintain her independence.
Jessica McHarg (11), attends Hilton Primary School in the city using a conventional hand-propelled chair.
But in August the Primary 7 pupil will transfer to Inverness Royal Academy and her mother Morven (47), would love to provide her with an electric wheelchair to allow her to move around more freely before that big day.
Jessica is slowly losing the ability to wheel herself around because of her muscle wasting condition, but a modern electric buggy would give her greater mobility and independence.
Morven said the NHS had been very supportive but, because Jessica can still wheel herself a short distance, at present she does not meet the criteria for a powered chair. Morven, of Temple Crescent in Hilton, is therefore seeking any assistance that is out there.
Jessica has type 3 spinal muscular atrophy. She can no longer walk, even with a walking aid, and can only stand fully supported in a standing frame for short periods.
Morven said: "Jessica finds moving herself any distance now in her wheelchair quite an effort, and if she wants to go outside her friends or a teacher have to push her.
"Despite this, she never moans about anything.
"It is a big thing going up to the academy even without a disability, so this electric chair will give her that wee bit more independence.
"The condition is not life threatening but limits what she can do."
Morven, who has two other children, Rebecca (16) and Ryan (20), added: "A powered wheelchair before the move to the academy would reduce her reliance on adults pushing her manual chair, and give her greater freedom at home and at school.
"It would also enable her to be a more active member of her peer group and local community, and help her achieve greater social integration."
Morven said her fund-raising target was £6000, which would cover the cost of an electric wheelchair plus maintenance and servicing for a year, and is appealing for donations.
She was full of praise for Jessica’s current school. She said: "Hilton have been absolutely fantastic. She has done so much since going there. It has been a super school for her."
Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic condition that primarily affects the muscles. They do not receive signals from the motor neurons in the brain, causing them to become smaller, which is what generally happens to muscles when they are not active.
It was first noticed in Jessica when she was a baby and began walking late, and when she did, she would fall over about 10 to 15 times a day.