Watch above: A young Saskatoon woman with spina bifida has started a ‘go fund me’ campaign to buy a piece of equipment that will allow her to stand on her own. Meaghan Craig finds out more.
SASKATOON – Her name is Kelsi Paul. She’s had 14 surgeries all related to her spina bifida and has been confined to a wheel chair most of her life but is hoping to change all that with a whole lot of motivation and a little help from strangers.
On Thursday, we met with 25-year-old Paul at her home and like many people her age life is pretty busy.
“I love music, other than sports, concerts are my life,” giggled Paul, “Between the two that’s how I spend my all my time.”
She also suffers from the most severe form of spina bifida known as myelomeningocele.
Spina bifida occurs in three forms and is part of a group of birth defects called neural tube defects. With Paul’s form, a baby’s spinal canal remains open along several vertebrae in the lower or middle back. It’s because of this opening, both membranes and spinal cord protrude at birth, forming a sac on the baby’s back.
According to health officials, in some cases, skin will cover the sac, however the tissue and nerves are typically exposed, making the baby prone to life-threatening infections.
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“I was born with a hole in my back, in the spine so they had to close that up so it makes me paralyzed from the waist down.”
As a result, Paul has required some form of splints and a wheelchair since the age of two but it hasn’t slowed her down.
Starting at age 10, Paul has competitively cross-country skied and just got back from the Canada Games.
“The more active I am, the happier I am.”
Which is why she’s now set her sights on walking and she’s getting there. Paul has started to hit the gym at least three times a week as well as physiotherapy.
“I’ve found there’s more extension in them, I’m able to put more pressure on them,” explained Paul. “I’ve actually found that in some parts I feel I’ve gained some sensation back which I never thought I would, it is a very sporadic sensation but it used to be none whatsoever.”
She’s now crowdfunding for the most expensive piece of equipment to help her walk, a standing frame which is approximately $7,000 for the version she would most benefit from.
“I’m just as capable as an able body and give me the chance and I can do anything.”
Paul has never been able to walk unassisted and admits she never will but she’s OK with that. Her long-term goal is to use a walker more than her wheelchair.
“I’m absolutely 100 per cent happy with my chair and I can be independent with it but I feel like maybe that will give me a little bit more independence and freedom,” said Paul.
She strives to achieve that freedom in the next two years.
“That’s a very ambitious goal but I know if I can work hard for it and get the equipment as soon as possible than it can be achieved.”
For more information on how to help Paul on her journey, check out her gofundme page Kelsi’s standing future.
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