WE’LL GET BRIDGET BACK ON THE ROAD!
Glenealy native lost both of her legs – now there’s a campaign to get her car adapted
A GLENEALY WOMAN who had to have both her legs amputated is looking to regain some of her independence by modifying her car so she can drive it again – and she’s being helped by locals in Glenealy. Around €3,000 is required and a fundraising campaign has already been established to assist Bridget Evans in her efforts. ‘ To be able to drive again would be really life-changing,’ said Bridget.
THE village of Glenealy has rallied in support of a local woman who wants some of her ‘independence’ back after having both her legs amputated.
Bridget Evans contacted an infection in her leg that ended up spreading and causing her to have a double leg amputation.
Things have changed dramatically for Bridget since the operation and she wants to restore some normality back into her life by having her car specially adapted so a wheelchair user can drive it.
‘ The car is partially adapted and I could drive when I had the one leg but not since I had my other leg amputated.
‘Having a wheelchair adapted car would mean so much to me. I live out in the country and I’m pretty much stuck here. Not being able to drive makes things very difficult. I can’t really get out anywhere and I love being out and about and meeting people.
‘I’m a very sociable person but not having a car leaves me stranded. Being able to drive a car would give me so much more independence.’
Initially Bridget had one leg amputated but in August of 2015 she was informed that the infection had also spread to her remaining leg.
Emergency surgery was required and Bridget ended up in critical condition and spent twelve days in an intensive care unit.
Now her cousin Natalie Duffy and Anne Hogan of Glenealy Tidy Towns have lent their assistance by starting up a fundraising campaign in order to raise the €3,000 needed to fit sensors into the gear stick of her car so Bridget can operate the clutch.
The Bus Eireann route Bridget lives on doesn’t have adequate bus stop infrastructure to safely operate a wheelchair lift, leaving her totally reliant on taxis to travel to Wicklow town or elsewhere.
‘If I want to go into Wicklow it costs me €22 there and back in a taxi. It’s just too much money to be spending. I have a free bus pass but it isn’t much use to me when I can’t get on the bus.
‘If I want to get the train I have to give 24-hours’ notice. That’s no good to me if a friend contacts me and says “do you want to meet up in town in a couple of hours?”’
‘Everything has to be planned way in advance. It hinders me an awful lot and makes things very difficult.
‘ To be able to drive again would be really life-changing, even to just be able to drive down to have a look at the sea front in Wicklow would be great.
‘I was told three weeks ago that I will definitely never walk again. It was a big blow but it would have felt a lot worse if I thought I would never be able to drive again as well.’
Fundraising efforts on behalf of Bridget have already raised €920 in the space of a week and she is overwhelmed with the amount of support the campaign has received.
‘People have been brilliant to me, especially Natalie Duffy and Anne Hogan. I have had lots and lots of support and people have been so good.
‘I can’t wait until I get behind the wheel of the car. I’ll go out and beep the horn driving down Glenealy’s Main Street and on the way back home again.
‘ It’s my dream to be back driving and the last few years have been hard but I know I’m lucky to be alive and that there are plenty of people who are a lot worse off than me,’ said Bridget.