Korrumburra: Judy Martin is fighting for independence after a debilitating stroke

A Korumburra grandmother is desperate to spend more time with her family after a stroke left her without vision and hearing. Here’s how you can help.

A beloved Korumburra grandmother and town icon is struggling to see her family following a debilitating stroke and brain bleeds.

Judy Martin moved into aged care earlier this year after a shocking slide in her health stole her hearing, vision and movement on the left side of her body.

The 70-year-old needs a customised wheelchair if she is to enjoy her freedom and to see her family more often.

The wheelchair will cost more than $8000 and a GoFundMe page has been set up to raise the money required.

She has a chair on limited loan.

Erin Kelly said her mum was once “super independent” and to not have that independence “must be killing her”.

Judy Martin, 70, is in aged care in Korumburra after she had a debilitating stroke. Her family are now desperately trying to raise funds for a new wheelchair.

“She raised my brother and I as a single mother. She used to walk 15km just to get to work,” Ms Kelly said.

“Nothing has ever stopped her — now this kind of has.”

Ms Martin was a midwife, caring for babies as if they were her own.

She also spent many years volunteering at local op-shops.

“It has always been everyone else first,” Ms Kelly said.

To visit her daughter and six grandkids on their farm in Kernot, Ms Martin’s family has to fork out $200 for a maxi-taxi round trip.

If enough funds were raised, Ms Kelly said the family would buy a wheelchair-friendly van as well as the new wheelchair.

“I just want to do everything I can to help her. After all of her hard work I just want to do something for her,” she said.

Giving Ms Martin more time with her grandkids would, according to Ms Kelly, make her world 100 times brighter.

“She adores her grandkids. She used to come over every Sunday. Now we can really only afford special occasions,” Ms Kelly said.

“Whenever I visit her she is always asking when the kids are coming or when she can come to us.

“Getting this chair would be the best it can get.

“And then getting the van … that would just be a dream.

“Mum is such a proud person and would never ask for help herself. However, she does need it right now, and we would all be forever grateful.”