A while ago, mutual aid and lemmy helped me get enough money to pay for 9 shockwave therapy sessions. I need this because I had a stroke which has left me with mobility problems that have affected my ability to walk. My physiotherapist recommended the shockwave after all NHS treatments failed, but the NHS in my area doesn’t pay for shockwave, so I had to pay for it myself.

9 sessions were recommended initially, and mutual aid enabled me to get enough to pay for that and a scan to assess the damage. The scan showed that the damage extended further than initially thought. It extended so far I needed to pay for a second scan to assess more of the area, which means I already didn’t have enough left to pay for the full 9 sessions.

I’ve already had three sessions and paid for a further three. With the two scans, that has used up all the money. I need at least three more sessions at £75 each to complete the full original course, plus a recommended further three on the extended area.

So far the three sessions I’ve had do seem to be helping. I’ve gone from being trapped indoors all day every day, frustrated and bored, unable to do anything for myself, depending on the whims of my landlady as to whether I can go anywhere or not (as I need her to drive me and help me due to the mobility issues) to being able to walk around outside for 10 minutes today. If I can get further improvements in mobility maybe I can go back to walking further and being able to get the bus places and I won’t be so dependent and trapped.

If I can raise £450 that will pay for the rest of the recommended sessions. But any amount will help, every extra session will bring some improvement. I can’t pay for it myself due to the situation with my disability benefits - the last contact I had from them said I would find out the result and whether my benefits will be reinstated in January.

This is time sensitive not only because the sessions will work better if I carry on with them in the correct timeframe but also because the British government have now announced when they’re going to start checking people’s bank accounts. I knew they were going to start but didn’t know when exactly, which is why I’ve always been worried about accepting money through paypal, and always asked people to write that the money was a gift so I could prove I hadn’t been working. I would have to explain any incoming money for the previous 6 months and potentially get in trouble for accepting it. They have now announced they’re going to start in April, so this is really the last month I can accept money through paypal. If I don’t raise the full amount by the end of this month I will just have to go without.

If anyone can help, my paypal is [email protected] and I am really grateful for any help.