Romania Connect
Nicole Ionescu is smiling… because she’s just taken delivery of her new wheelchair and cushion! Nicole lives Romania, where she co-ordinates a small British registered charity, Romania Connect, which assists severely disabled people to live at home, provides financial sponsorship and specialist equipment.
Nicole suffered a spinal cord injury at birth and is paraplegic. Her posture in her wheelchair is so poor that she faces to the left, a situation that has prevented her from achieving a life long ambition – to learn to drive a car.
Vicki Pearson UK co-ordinator for Romania Connect approached Fiona Collins, an Occupational Therapist at Tissue Viability Consultancy Services based in Eastbourne. Fiona is an internationally renowned seating expert, whose patients come from all over the UK and abroad.
Fiona worked in collaboration with Steve Betteley at Southern Mobility, providing their services free of charge. Nicole urgently needed a special cushion and lightweight wheelchair. Using her industry contacts Fiona was able to obtain a bespoke Starlock cushion made by the Helping Hand Company and an Invacare XLT wheelchair, free of charge.
And the result? Nicole can now sit comfortably and supported. Crucially she is now able to sit facing fully forwards, which means that at last she will be able to learn to drive! Mission accomplished!
Vicki Pearson – “Fiona and Steve are utterly amazing! I cannot believe the differences they have brought about. I can’t stop looking at Nicole in her new chair with it’s new cushion.”
