Kerry Jensen did not expect to be in a wheelchair in her 30s.
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Four years ago, she was diagnosed with a seven-in-one-million autoimmune disease which few have heard of – Dermatomyositis.
“For me personally, it’s like my life has been put on hold,” Mrs Jensen said.
“I’m not able to work like I used to.”
The Bridport resident found her muscle strength wasted away so she couldn’t play with her three young boys anymore as her fatigue swelled.
“They don’t have a cure yet.”
Fluro supermarket lights felt like they were burning her skin as it became more and more sensitive.
Waking up meant coughing up gunk.
They recently discovered they had to move out of their rental property by September, but are yet to find another property that could accommodate for Mrs Jensen’s needs.
“Everything has steps or a shower over a bath. It’s just a nightmare,” she said.
For at least six months, they have searched for a house to buy so they can add the hand rails, ramps, walk-in shower and other necessities.
But they have discovered banks will not loan them money because Mrs Jensen is on a disability pension while her husband Benjamin left his job to become her full time carer in 2014.
Out of desperation to find a permanent home, they created a GoFundMe fundraising page to help fundraise for a new house.
Setting an $50,000 goal, the Jensens have turned to people’s generosity to help pay for a reliable roof over their family’s head.
Mr Jensen said buying a house was the only viable option that would provide some stability and give Mrs Jensen more independence.
“On a daily basis, she struggles to keep up with everyday normal activities, which most people take for granted.”
They discovered a perfect house in Scottsdale, but found without a bank loan or fundraising it was out of reach.
Mrs Jensen wanted to raise awareness for a disease many people would not know about.
When she was diagnosed in September, 2013, she had to look up what it was, discovering symptoms included muscles wasting away, weight loss, fever, greyish-red rashes and joint pain.
People with dermatomyositis have a higher chance of developing cancers.
Apart from the physical effects of the disease, Mrs Jensen said she had to work through being in a wheelchair as her children grow up, not being able to play in the garden or run around with them.
“It’s a mental battle.”