Maitland Muscular Dystrophy battler Ellen Higginbottom is a step closer to getting a modified vehicle with a charity benefit night planned later this month.
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The community has rallied behind Ellen with friend Georgina Grine organising the evening to help Ellen get back on the road again.
Ellen was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy when she was 12.
The 34-year-old suffered mobility issues, would fall over and was weak. Despite these early challenges she played netball and took ballet lessons but as her condition deteriorated she had to rely on her family and a wheelchair for help.
While limited to what she could do, Ellen still managed to enjoy some independence, until she fell and broke her arm in 2011. “I went from being fully independent once dressed in my chair to being dependent on people to set everything up for me,” she said.
But the worst was to come. Ellen suffered an adverse reaction to her pain medication which resulted in respiratory failure and her placed on life support in intensive care. This was to become her nemesis. “The average life expectancy for someone with MD once ventilated is about five years. I hope to at least triple that,” she said.
Fairfax Media told Ellen’s story in a front page report in October.
The benefit night will be held at Maitland City Bowls Sports and Recreation Club on Saturday, November 25 at 6pm.
A night of live music, fun and games will be held with tickets available through TryBooking “On the Road Again Auction.
Tickets are $80 adults and $25 children. Children aged under five are free. Drinks and canapes are includes.