Aoibhneas Plantation

*Update 9/27/2016: We have decided to downscale our plan at this time, and have decided to put The Rowan Tree Foundation on the back burner until Aoibhneas Plantation is up and running. Our goal remains that Aoibhneas Plantation be a main partner & contributor for The Rowan Tree Foundation, so we must establish this first.  
Our new goal amount is $950,000.
Please read our latest updates for more details* 

In the hopes of avoiding bank loans & investors as much as possible..... I am giving this a try.

Who I Am: 
I am the wife of a severely wounded Veteran, and mother of six beautiful children. Three of my six children have three different rare diseases. Chiari Malformation Type 2, Neurofibromatosis Type 1, and Unknown disease causing Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia.

How This Idea Came To Be: Aoibhneas Plantation (pronounced: eve-ness; meaning bliss or happiness) has been an evolving idea for the past 8 years. It began with observing & dealing with the struggles that my husband endured when he was injured in 2006. He lost his right leg & left eye to an IED explosion in Iraq. As we struggled to find some kind of normalcy, adjust to therapy schedules, appointment schedules, wheelchairs, prosthesis, being newly married, and having young children.... 2 years down the road...It was very hard to find affordable, family friendly, handicap accessible places. Especially when it came to the outdoors. This planted the idea of Aoibhneas Plantation....
Then, in 2014-2015 our life changed again. Our oldest son underwent four brain surgeries to help with his Chiari Malformation. Also in this year, our youngest daughter was born, and diagnosed with Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia after she failed to thrive. We were told to prepare for the possibility of a funeral, and then another blow when our second youngest daughter was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis.
Our son now takes medication to stabilize him, our second youngest daughter is monitored every 9 to 12 months to make sure she does not develop tumors, and our youngest is the most disabled. 
At the age of 32 months, she functions at about a 18 month old level. This is an improvement, but there are no guarantees as to how she will progress.
So, the idea of Aoibhneas Plantation had finally finished evolving, and along came another idea: The Rowan Tree Foundation.

What will Aoibhneas Plantation and The Rowan Tree Foundation be?
Aoibhneas Plantation will be a retreat for severely disabled Veterans, severely physically & mentally disabled individuals, and their immediate family members/caretakers. It will have ADA approved accessibility around the entire property, and completely free of charge for them.
Aoibhneas Plantation will be an organic farm, have therapy animals & petting zoo area, livestock, gardens to stroll in, 6 ADA approved cabins, 2 bunk houses, large pavilion and dining hall, and more on (hopefully) 400+ acres.
Aoibhneas Plantation will be available for everyone to enjoy at a very low price.
Ask yourself this: How often does a family with a disabled child or severely wounded Veteran get a chance to have a vacation or break? I can tell you from personal experience, it is rare.... and for free, is even more rare. 
Aoibhneas Plantation will also host various Farmer's Markets, and seasonal events throughout the year; as well as a Farm Stay program; educational, agricultural, cooking, and nutritional classes; facilities will be for rent for use for weddings, family reunions, etc. It will offer the opportunity for school field trips, and as a free meeting place for our local 4-H. 
Every disabled individual is different, but what I want most, is to give these individuals an experience that they may not be able to have and to give their family/caregivers a much needed break.... to offer some type of relaxation from the everyday stress and struggles. They deserve it!

The Rowan Tree Foundation will be a non-profit organization that will assist disabled individuals, severely wounded Veterans, and their family with medical bills, medical supplies, therapy service bills, gas cards to get to and from appointments, hospice care, funeral costs, assistance with travel expenses to Aoibhneas Plantation, medical testing, and research.

If we can get this information out to 5 million people and they each only donate $1, we can make this a reality, and give an amazing experience to the severely disabled.
Please share this Go Fund Me link & Thank you.

You may email me at [email redacted] 
with any questions.