A Wheelchair Van = My Freedom ツ
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Monica Trundle, I'm 35 and have Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. My husband, Jesse, has been peer pressuring me into writing my story like this for a while so forgive me if the tears on the keyboard translate to your screen. I say peer pressuring me because doing this means I'm admitting that I'm unhappy and that we need help... and I'm not ok with that. Those who know me know I'm a perpetually positive person. So this is especially hard.
I started experiencing symptoms in 2009 or 2010 its hard to remember. I cant even tell you how many doctors I had to go to, to finally get a diagnosis. During that time I was told it was all in my head, that there was nothing wrong with me, that it was a brain tumor, and even had a doctor come right out and tell me that I weighed to much for him to treat because I would void the warranty on his equipment (insert choice expletive here). Thank goodness it only took a year and a half (roughly) to find a doctor who would truly listen to me and cared and I was diagnosed PPMS May 17,2011.
As of the time of my diagnosis I was still able to walk short distances with the help of a walker. However one morning that following July that would change. I got up to go take a shower and fell...and I havent been able to walk since. There was no break, no physical reason that can be found other than MS is running its course. So I lay in bed all day. I've tried sitting up in the wheelchair all day but I can only handle doing that for so long because of my knees.
My husband Jesse is my caregiver and I'm blessed to have him. He gets me out of bed with the Hoyer lift when I want to hang out in the living room or go in the front yard. But what I wouldnt give to go grocery shopping with him!!! I used to HATE to go grocery shopping! It was such a chore and monotonous, but now? I'd jump at the chance to go! Do you know how long its been since I've been in a grocery store? Its been at least 3 years and probably closer to 4.
The point of this is we have no transportation for me. Thanks to MS, Im kind of a prisoner right now. If I have a doctors appointment we have to call a taxi and pray they can come and it costs money we dont really have. All too often we call them and they cant come and I end up missing my appointment. Other forms of public transportation arent an option for us because of my chair. We're just desperate at this point. Jesse is looking for work so we can have some more money coming in as my disability checks aren't stretching very far these days. I just want to be able to see the world again, you know? Have some freedom! I mean if we had our own van I might actually be able to have real life friends that dont live in a computer! Thats a novel concept, isnt it? Actually talking to people face to face! Wow... Outside of doctors and family members I havent done that in...who knows how long.
So...in the meantime I keep busy with my fur babies at home and my MS family on Facebook at "The MS Hideyhole". Every once in a while someone gives me grief for naming it that but...oh well. Its my group, I'll name it what I like! =-P
Seriously though.... a wheelchair accessible van would completely change my life for the better. And Im praying that even if you cant help maybe you can pass it on? And if you have MS or know someone who does who needs a good support system or place to vent, send them to my group. =) Theres always someone on to be helpful and offer support.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/683086168434708?ref=bookmark
I started experiencing symptoms in 2009 or 2010 its hard to remember. I cant even tell you how many doctors I had to go to, to finally get a diagnosis. During that time I was told it was all in my head, that there was nothing wrong with me, that it was a brain tumor, and even had a doctor come right out and tell me that I weighed to much for him to treat because I would void the warranty on his equipment (insert choice expletive here). Thank goodness it only took a year and a half (roughly) to find a doctor who would truly listen to me and cared and I was diagnosed PPMS May 17,2011.
As of the time of my diagnosis I was still able to walk short distances with the help of a walker. However one morning that following July that would change. I got up to go take a shower and fell...and I havent been able to walk since. There was no break, no physical reason that can be found other than MS is running its course. So I lay in bed all day. I've tried sitting up in the wheelchair all day but I can only handle doing that for so long because of my knees.
My husband Jesse is my caregiver and I'm blessed to have him. He gets me out of bed with the Hoyer lift when I want to hang out in the living room or go in the front yard. But what I wouldnt give to go grocery shopping with him!!! I used to HATE to go grocery shopping! It was such a chore and monotonous, but now? I'd jump at the chance to go! Do you know how long its been since I've been in a grocery store? Its been at least 3 years and probably closer to 4.
The point of this is we have no transportation for me. Thanks to MS, Im kind of a prisoner right now. If I have a doctors appointment we have to call a taxi and pray they can come and it costs money we dont really have. All too often we call them and they cant come and I end up missing my appointment. Other forms of public transportation arent an option for us because of my chair. We're just desperate at this point. Jesse is looking for work so we can have some more money coming in as my disability checks aren't stretching very far these days. I just want to be able to see the world again, you know? Have some freedom! I mean if we had our own van I might actually be able to have real life friends that dont live in a computer! Thats a novel concept, isnt it? Actually talking to people face to face! Wow... Outside of doctors and family members I havent done that in...who knows how long.
So...in the meantime I keep busy with my fur babies at home and my MS family on Facebook at "The MS Hideyhole". Every once in a while someone gives me grief for naming it that but...oh well. Its my group, I'll name it what I like! =-P
Seriously though.... a wheelchair accessible van would completely change my life for the better. And Im praying that even if you cant help maybe you can pass it on? And if you have MS or know someone who does who needs a good support system or place to vent, send them to my group. =) Theres always someone on to be helpful and offer support.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/683086168434708?ref=bookmark
Organizer
Monica Trundle
Organizer
Kansas City, MO
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