Bedbound ME Sufferer Creates #my30wishes Asking Others To Complete Tasks On Her Behalf Before She Turns 30

This is my 30 before 30 list But here comes the twist, Because of my illness and disability You will have to do it for me, See I have these plans in my head But I'm stuck 24/7 in a hospital bed!

This is my 30 before 30 list But here comes the twist, Because of my illness and disability You will have to do it for me, See I have these plans in my head But I'm stuck 24/7 in a hospital bed!

Plea to help grant 30 Wishes for a special 30th.

How did you celebrate your 30th birthday? With a few glasses of fizz? Burning up the dancefloor until the early hours? With a meal and balloons? For Vikki George, from Bookham, Surrey, she won’t be doing any of this because her 30th birthday will mark her 13th birthday spent in bed. As the 21st December 2014 rolls around, just like her 18th and 21st birthdays that have gone before,

Vikki will be confined to her bed with severe ME. Aged 17, Vikki was diagnosed with severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome, ME), a "serious condition that causes long-term illness and disability.” (ME Association). Her health has varied across the years, from occasional trips out in her wheelchair which can take her up to 6 weeks to recover from to being completely bedbound in a darkened room. And Vikki says her condition is quite often misunderstood.

“There’s no cure, just symptom management; I take a big cocktail of drugs ranging from morphine to anti-sickness tablets. It's a neurological condition with a huge range of symptoms but sadly some people still don't believe it's real, even though people have died from the condition. It's why I’m determined to speak out and raise awareness of it.”

Now, with her 30th birthday fast approaching, Vikki is asking for people to help complete her wish list of tasks ‘#my30wishes’ ahead of her milestone birthday. “I was feeling rather miserable about turning 30 on December 21st this year as I kept seeing '30 before I'm 30' lists around and my heart would sink.” says Vikki. "I think how I've not even ticked off teenage things like my first legal drink, first

driving lesson or first job yet. It got me thinking what I would put on a list if I had one and how I could do it. I can't achieve my wishes alone so the idea came to me to ask for help."

Some of her wishes are small and simple; from people donating blood to getting #my30wishes trending on Twitter; signing up for the bone marrow register to photographing a sunset. Other wishes are more ambitious, with the biggest wish involving raising £6,000 for a special beach wheelchair to

benefit disabled visitors to a Norfolk beach which Vikki used to visit with her gran. Vikki’s also looking for someone to run the London Marathon in her honour and asking people to donate musical instruments and buy gifts off Amazon Wishlists to donate to a non-profit hospital which helps her.

She’s asking everyone who takes part to send a note and picture of themselves making one of her wishes come true. On her birthday, Vikki plans to open all the emails and cards she’s been sent, enabling her to celebrate her birthday in a very special, unique way.

And there’s nobody who deserves this more. Despite her own ill-health, year round, Vikki ensures other ill young people have something to smile about, after single-handedly setting up Post Pals from her bed (www.postpals.co.uk), a charity which sends happy post to terminally ill children and their siblings. Vikki explains, “The idea came after I found receiving cards helped me cope with my own

illness.” Wanting to let other ill young people know someone is thinking of them, Vikki musters up the energy whenever she’s able to write post for pals and their families. She says, “"Life isn't all doom or

gloom; yes, I may have severe ME, but every day brings something to have a giggle about and I remain positive. When able I like doing crafts, listening to audiobooks, watching musicals online and having a good natter. However, the majority of my time is spent curled up in total darkness and silence."

In many ways, Vikki has done more to help others from her bed than some of us do in our daily lives.

Now this is a chance for us to repay the favour and help Vikki.

To find out full details of each of Vikki’s wishes and how you can help take part please visit:

http://my30wishes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-wishes.html

Article by Laura Mitchell