Darell Nettles

Family and friends of Darell Nettles are raising money to pay for uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Injury. In this case his new wheelchair.

Darell is raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a Catastrophic Injury. Darell has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

Hi Everyone!   Please help us raise money for our friend Darell who is in need of funding for his new wheelchair. Darell’s chair that he was using for the past 5 years is worn out with failing parts and he needed a new ride. Darell’s insurance will not cover the full cost of the chair, and we urgently need your help raising funds. The chair’s backrest, footrest, laterals and electronics was failing, with most parts jerry-rigged to make it from day to day. 

Rell is a partial quadriplegic, due to a tragic car accident about 16 years ago. Not only are his wheels his independence, but they are an indispensable part of life.   Darell has experienced an increase in health problems associated with sitting stationary in his chair for extended periods of time. The laterals in his chair designed to hold his body and spine in the proper upright position are no longer supporting his body weight properly, causing irritation under the arms from having to right himself constantly and uncontrolled muscle spasms across his abdomen. Due to the failing backrest and recline and tilt functionality which is designed to allow him to change positions to increase blood flow, he has experienced increased swelling in his ankles and feet, which triggers anatomical dysreflexia that causes imbalanced hot and cold spells that cause sweating and irritation on the left side of his body. This condition is extremely irritating and also causes increased blood pressure, which can be life threatening.   Continuous sitting in an improperly functioning chair has led to multiple complications with urinary tract and bowel function over the last few months, resulting in several doctors visits and various new medications to attempt to correct the complications. These complications have also caused abdominal pain that manifests as severe nerve pain that shoots down his left arm. 

Darell really needs the physical benefits and his independence increasing with a standing wheelchair, including increased cognition, an exponential reduction of muscle spasticity, muscle contracture and pressure sores, and a reduction of fatigue and pain from being in uncomfortable positions for an extended period of time.  Physical improvements of having a standing wheelchair will also include increases in blood circulation, bone density, and urinary and bowel health, but will also give Darell the ability to stand upright and reclaim his self-reliance.  Darell is most excited to reach the kitchen cabinets and to cook a thing or two. One thing is for sure, he plans to learn to drive again, continue in his garden, keep eye level with his friends and family, and back to driving again. 

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!