Latest News From Tissue Viability

Nicole says – “Despite the fact I was disabled all my life and fight almost every day with problems, life had offered me from time to time a reward giving me the chance to meet wonderful people. First was Vicki Pearson and her charity – Romania Connect- who brought me here and now Fiona Collins from Tissue Viability Consultancy Services Ltd and Steve Betteley Southern Mobility. I could not ask for more commitment and dedication from them both and they manage to change me from a person who had to be indoors most of the time to somebody who is able now to be in wheelchair 7 – 8 hours everyday. I don’t want anybody to know what means to live having constantly in mind the risk of pressure sores and knowing that every minute in wheelchair will be later “paid” in months of healing in bed. There are not enough words to thanks to Invacare and Helping Hands who responded to Fiona’s request to help in this project and I’m more than grateful that this joint effort has such an amazing end. Without them I never could afford to have such a great wheelchair like the one I’m using now or the cushion who sent away the risk of pressure sores. My life is now totally changed in a positive way and I will always think with love and gratitude to the people and firms I mention above who made this dream come true.

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!

Fiona has now agreed to visit Romania to assess more of Romania Connect’s clients; her company Tissue Viability Consultancy Services is now fund raising to pay for her flights and accommodation.

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.”