CHRISTINA PERSICO

Last updated16:50, September 5 2017

SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF

Olivia Madgwick is delighted with her new trike and very grateful for all the support to help her buy it.

After completely losing her independence nearly three years ago, Olivia Madgwick is loving getting out on her own again on her new pink trike.

The 24-year-old went from living on her own since the age of sixteen to relying on others for her basic needs,after the discovery of a brain stem tumour.

But thanks to the generosity of about 90 people who contributed to her Givealittlepage to raise money for a specially adapted trike, she has got some of her independence back.

SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF

Olivia Madgwick has her new trike that has given her a bit more freedom and independence to get out and about.

"I love it. I've got it back;I just haven't got it fully back yet."

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The pedal trike, from Trikes New Zealand in Levin, cost $6472.98 andwill help with her physical rehabilitation.It has also been specially modified with a motor.

SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF

Olivia Madgwick is enjoying having her freedom back with her new pedal trike.

She has now had it for two weeks.

"It's not a cheap thing. It's more than a car.

"You can make it go up to 30 km/hr on the battery, and the battery can last to Opunake.

"It's an early birthday present to myself because my birthday was on Saturday."

She falls outside the age bracket for most trike funding options, so she wanted to thank all those who had contributed.

The trike has hand brakes and mirrors and also lights and flags to make her visible, as the rider sits quite close to the ground.

"I'm just getting used to pedalling on the cycle lane around cars. I'm sitting low."

It is also comfortable for her bad back, she said.

Madgwick underwent 31 radiation treatments and 4 chemotherapiesafter a concussion in late 2015 uncoveredshe was only days away from dying of medulloblastoma, a rare type of brain cancer which left her with a large tumour on her brain stem.

But she has been in remission since Marchand wants to encourage others as a children's author and motivational speaker. She has the letters P, M, and Atattooed on her wrist, reminding her to have a positive mental attitude.

She was the first person in New Zealand to have the brain stem cells removed from her body, cleansed and put back in. She still struggles with speaking and can only walk a few metres unaided, but is loving her new freedom.

She is also hoping to start going tosome kickboxing and zumba classes.

"I can get there myself. I mean it might take a bit of time but that's okay."

She's not planning on going on the open road, though.

"I do want to go and visit my grandad in Jean Sandel."

-Stuff

Read the rest here:
Independence regained for cancer sufferer with new trike - Stuff.co.nz