Give Justin some independence with a special wheelchair
Avril Elizabeth Home resident in need of help from the community.
For Justin Scullard (40) life has changed completely.
From being an able-bodied resident of the Avril Elizabeth Home in Fishers’ Hill, he is now confined to a wheelchair.
And the worst part is no one has any idea why this has happened to him.
The GCN met Justin and his mother Sharon Levey at the home on Wednesday to find out what Justin needs to help him adapt to life in a wheelchair.
Sharon, who lives in Lambton, is appealing to the community and local businesses to open their hearts to assist the family purchase him a special wheelchair, as she cannot afford to buy one.
The wheelchair needed is an adult size chair with removable desktop armrests and removable footrests.
He is also in desperate need of a wheelchair cushion, which his physiotherapist Renate van Rensburg said is extremely important, as well as adult nappies.
“Justin has been staying at Avril Elizabeth Home since 2000, as I could not manage him at home anymore,” said Sharon.
“We visit him every week and it is sad to see him without his ‘independence’ as he used to love walking around the home.”
Justin suffered brain damage at the age of 20 months when he fell out of Sharon’s flat window.
Sharon added that he loves staying at the home and has many friends there.
“When I take him home, he will always make me bring him back early as he misses his friends,” she said.
Justin was taken to Tambo Memorial Hospital at the end of March as he had diarrhoea.
“He was there for about a week and when we visited him he couldn’t lift his head which was very strange,” Sharon said.
“When he came home he could not walk.
“He was home for about a week and then was taken back to hospital where he stayed for a further two months.
“The day he was discharged we didn’t think he was going to make it but the wonderful staff at the Avril Elizabeth Home nursed him back to health.”
Justin was released from hospital without a diagnosis even though the doctors had run numerous tests.
“I have had a meeting with the hospital regarding certain matters,” Sharon said.
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Justin could not use his arms either upon his release but through the dedication of van Rensburg he has regained the use of his arms and they are improving every day.
However, the prognosis is that he will never walk again.
“It breaks my heart that he will never walk again,” Sharon said.
“He loved his independence.”
If anyone can help Justin to regain some independence by donating the wheelchair needed or donating towards it they can contact Sharon on 084 633 6956.
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