After becoming a paraplegic 18 months ago, and undergoing a divorce while in hospital, Leonie is asking a compassionate home-owner for a helping hand.

“I haven’t been able to find a place to rent and it could be years before I can get a place through Homeswest.

“After living out of a hospital room for the past year and a half it would be nice to be able to go home to my own house.”

Complications with Leonie’s severe asthma led to her becoming paralysed.

“I have severe asthma and have been taking strong medication for it.

“No-one thought to do bone density tests on me and around 18 months ago I got osteoporosis. It resulted in four fractures in my back.

“I went to see the asthma specialist and then the next thing I remember was waking up in hospital with a nurse telling me that I was paralysed.”

On top of that Leonie had to contend with a divorce while in hospital.

Since then she has been living in a hospital room, looking for her own place.

“I’m not asking for a give-away. I will pay rent and Disability Services Commission will install and pay for the house to become wheel-chair friendly.

“When my lease finishes and I move out then everything will be returned to normal.

“One permanent addition is that the owner has to be willing to have a wheelchair accessible bathroom and air conditioning installed, which will also be paid for by Disability Support Services.

“This is a bonus for an owner because they get a new bathroom without having to pay for it.

“In addition, air conditioning will be installed as this is an essential feature for me.”

“Ideally, I would like a three- bedroom place with rent of around $240 a week, because I would like to have my intellectually-challenged son live with me and it would be nice for my elderly father to be able to visit me.”

Leonie said there were also lots of support services that she would be able to access with a home address.