A young man from Mühlviertler suffers from a disease that increasingly hinders his mobility, meaning he can only move forward using a wheelchair. But since Patrick lives on a hill, he can’t climb it without electric propulsion.
Patrick is a cheerful young man who, despite a serious illness (“Late onset Tay-Sachs”), always tries to look at his life optimistically and positively. He enjoys playing card games such as UNO with other people, and loves to laugh and chat. By the age of ten, the Mühlviertler had already developed serious neurological problems – apparently due to a genetic deficiency – making it impossible to continue going to school.
Joints become increasingly stiff
He is now 28 years old and works in an institution for the disabled. Since August 2022, Patrick has lived in an assisted living group in the Urfahr-Milieu district. Their house is on a hill. The problem is that Patrick suffers from severe mobility limitations in his musculoskeletal system. As this disease progresses, he is now wheelchair dependent. Because his joints become increasingly stiff and his motor skills decrease.
“There are now phases in which his joints unfortunately completely fail,” says Julia, one of his caregivers. The Mühlviertler can no longer get up without help and even in good times can only take a few steps with a walker.
In order to perhaps slow down the progression of his disease, Patrick trains diligently every day with dumbbells (for his arms) and an exercise bike (to maintain the muscles in his legs).
Too difficult for informal caregivers
He is the only one in his group who needs a wheelchair. However, the wheelchair he currently uses is very old and not suitable for the living situation on Mühlviertel Hill. “Patrick weighs over 80 kilograms. and if he is in a wheelchair, a total of 108 kilos must be pushed uphill. We as informal caregivers can no longer cope with that,” says Julia.
The result of this is that Patrick can no longer participate in group walks in the city. He rarely leaves the residential care center these days. “This is very sad because Patrick is a cheerful and extremely communicative person. “His greatest wish would be a wheelchair with electric drive and a stand-up aid,” the caregiver emphasizes.
High purchase costs
But a model that suits him costs 26,000 euros. An amount that neither Patrick nor his parents can afford. Two requests to the health insurance fund for financial support in the past were unsuccessful. “It was a bitter disappointment for him because he had pinned all his hopes on it.”
Because Patrick would really like to be more mobile and therefore have more self-determination. He could then roll into the city independently again and make social contacts with other people. For example, he likes to make small purchases – and as an avid football fan, for example, buy Panini pickles for his scrapbook.
“Patrick is also a big fan of Bayern Munich. He really wants to see a football match live. “We want to finally fulfill his wish in April,” Julia explains.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
