This Christmas is like no other – Kerry Thompson

I am all too familiar with an “online festive season,” ordering everyone presents online hoping it either doesn’t ping back into my emails as out of stock or arrives on time. Then setting an alarm just in case you fall asleep waiting up until midnight to book a food delivery and hoping all your favourite foods are still available and the carrots aren’t substituted for Brussel sprouts. Unless you’re a sprout lover!

As I have muscular dystrophy; a progressive muscle wasting condition, I am either relying on the weather to be okay to go out, hoping the public transport stops or has wheelchair access or your able to book a wheelchair accessible taxi that charges you a fortune just because you’re in a wheelchair. Don’t even try to be spontaneous because it’s probably never gonna happen.

This Christmas is like no other. It’s been just over two months since I took delivery from GM Coachwork of my Ford Custom Quantum, it has given me the freedom to experience Christmas in a different way and make new memories and new firsts.

Being able to travel to a tree farm and hand pick our first real tree, going shopping for everyone’s presents, food shopping without the worry of missing items or substitutes, And the icing on the cake was seeing my mummy the week before Christmas (something I haven’t been able to do in over 25 years) with the added bonus being able to take my nanny with me.

This is what the festive season is all about being able to make new traditions but also having the freedom to be able to be that more independent or possibly spontaneous. Having my WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) has given me far more than I ever expected.

And you can’t put a price on that.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year I hope the festive season is brings you all the joy that mine is bringing me.