Van for Candisse McCormick
Donation protected
Give the Gift of Independance!
Imagine the ability of hopping into your vehicle to get you to your next destination, be it the grocery store or a road trip with your friends, suddenly taken from you.
Can’t imagine it? Well I (Candisse) can, and do, on a daily basis.
I was born on January 15, 1983. I was your typical, happy, chubby, growing baby. But as I was to start hitting typical milestones like crawling, walking, etc, my mom realized I wasn’t. I also stopped doing things that I was doing previously – like holding my own bottle. At 18 months old, my parents were given the news and I was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1. Of course this news is always devastating, but it doesn’t help that back then the “statistics” about those with SMA showed a very short life span. Mine was that I wouldn’t live past the age of 9. Some people choose to let this diagnosis become their fate, some choose to pick up life and move on and see whatever life has to offer. My parents chose the latter. Overall I’ve lived a pretty average life, other then the fact that at the age of 3, I received and started using my first power wheelchair. I went to regular public school, graduated High School, took some college classes, and now I have started my own business as an event planner. My parents made me live and believe that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. Only thing different from my life as opposed to others is that I had to learn to adapt to situations and surroundings as life moved forward. From adapted school workloads, to now making sure event spaces are accessible. I have never gone through life with any what if’s, or feeling like I have missed out on certain things in life because of my physical disability.
However, living a full and active life with a physical disability, isn’t so easy when it comes to accessibility. It very quickly becomes the beacon of ones existence. Trying to live as happy and carefree a life as everyone else who isn’t affected becomes life’s biggest challenge. Things that so many take for granted, become huge speed bumps in life. Things, in this case, like driving.
5 years ago, thanks to a grant from Muscular Dystrophy Canada, my own fundraising efforts, and then a financing company that would accept someone with such a low income due to being on a disability income – I was able to purchase a 2007 wheelchair accessible van which was a major upgrade from my previous van that was may parents. This new van gave me a new sense of independence. I wasn’t afraid to go with my friends & family – without my parents – because I had a road worthy vehicle that didn’t guzzle gas like crazy! Every day this van continues to give me that independence…but it’s now 8 years old, has seen many of miles, and is starting to show signs of wear & tear. Keep in mind it was used when I purchased.
Which brings me to what I have started this campaign. I, again, am in desperate need to upgrade my van, so I can really live out my long term plan of fully adapting it so that I have the ability to drive myself. Talk about freedom & independence!!
I know that I live in a community of amazing, loving, and supportive people! Which is why I am enlisting, hoping, and praying for the help of this community, friends, family and supporters to help make this happen.
I have had a few health scares over the past 5 years, as well as lost some friends who were affected by muscular dystrophy, and this has really opened my eyes. We are not promised any tomorrows, so we should all live life to its fullest! I truly feel that I deserve this and I know that with the support of everyone who encounters this page, we can make it happen.
Every dollar and cent counts. One dollar can start a ripple that spreads wider then our eyes can see, and our hearts can imagine. Help this ripple spread!
Thank you for reading my story. Thank you for sharing my story. Thank you for supporting my cause.
Sincerely,
Candisse
Imagine the ability of hopping into your vehicle to get you to your next destination, be it the grocery store or a road trip with your friends, suddenly taken from you.
Can’t imagine it? Well I (Candisse) can, and do, on a daily basis.
I was born on January 15, 1983. I was your typical, happy, chubby, growing baby. But as I was to start hitting typical milestones like crawling, walking, etc, my mom realized I wasn’t. I also stopped doing things that I was doing previously – like holding my own bottle. At 18 months old, my parents were given the news and I was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1. Of course this news is always devastating, but it doesn’t help that back then the “statistics” about those with SMA showed a very short life span. Mine was that I wouldn’t live past the age of 9. Some people choose to let this diagnosis become their fate, some choose to pick up life and move on and see whatever life has to offer. My parents chose the latter. Overall I’ve lived a pretty average life, other then the fact that at the age of 3, I received and started using my first power wheelchair. I went to regular public school, graduated High School, took some college classes, and now I have started my own business as an event planner. My parents made me live and believe that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. Only thing different from my life as opposed to others is that I had to learn to adapt to situations and surroundings as life moved forward. From adapted school workloads, to now making sure event spaces are accessible. I have never gone through life with any what if’s, or feeling like I have missed out on certain things in life because of my physical disability.
However, living a full and active life with a physical disability, isn’t so easy when it comes to accessibility. It very quickly becomes the beacon of ones existence. Trying to live as happy and carefree a life as everyone else who isn’t affected becomes life’s biggest challenge. Things that so many take for granted, become huge speed bumps in life. Things, in this case, like driving.
5 years ago, thanks to a grant from Muscular Dystrophy Canada, my own fundraising efforts, and then a financing company that would accept someone with such a low income due to being on a disability income – I was able to purchase a 2007 wheelchair accessible van which was a major upgrade from my previous van that was may parents. This new van gave me a new sense of independence. I wasn’t afraid to go with my friends & family – without my parents – because I had a road worthy vehicle that didn’t guzzle gas like crazy! Every day this van continues to give me that independence…but it’s now 8 years old, has seen many of miles, and is starting to show signs of wear & tear. Keep in mind it was used when I purchased.
Which brings me to what I have started this campaign. I, again, am in desperate need to upgrade my van, so I can really live out my long term plan of fully adapting it so that I have the ability to drive myself. Talk about freedom & independence!!
I know that I live in a community of amazing, loving, and supportive people! Which is why I am enlisting, hoping, and praying for the help of this community, friends, family and supporters to help make this happen.
I have had a few health scares over the past 5 years, as well as lost some friends who were affected by muscular dystrophy, and this has really opened my eyes. We are not promised any tomorrows, so we should all live life to its fullest! I truly feel that I deserve this and I know that with the support of everyone who encounters this page, we can make it happen.
Every dollar and cent counts. One dollar can start a ripple that spreads wider then our eyes can see, and our hearts can imagine. Help this ripple spread!
Thank you for reading my story. Thank you for sharing my story. Thank you for supporting my cause.
Sincerely,
Candisse
Organizer
Candisse McCormick
Organizer
High River, AB
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