Traci's New Chair

My wife Traci has been in her wheelchair for just about 10 years. A survivor or Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and Leukemia, Traci battled with acute Graft versus Host Disease which disabled her ability to walk. When she first found need for the chair, it helped Traci regain mobility and reestablished freedom from the home, to allow life's adventures to be lived, and not just watched from our bedroom our our living room couch. The chair has become a reliable assistant, allowing Traci the mobility that was stricken from her following her disease. However, a wheelchairs lifespan is not forever. At 10 years of age, Traci's chair has begun failing at more than just the standard rate. Recommended for replacement once every 5 years, Traci's chair has doubled that longevity and is now experienced repairs that are equivalent to replacement costs. A new motor, battery, set of wheels, replacement bearings, control panels and a new cushion are all on the list of recommendations for replacement, and a full work over runs in excess of $3,400 for the parts alone. Add to that the fact that the chair is now old enough that many of the parts are obsolete, it becomes rather fruitless to sink money into an item that is simply a bandaid to a bigger problem. The new chair that was recommended to Traci has an overall value of roughly $11,000, however fortunately insurance does cover a large chunk of the replacement chair. The deductible for our share of cost is just south of $3,000, with the insurance covering the remainder of the cost. However, as a family that gets by paycheck to paycheck, and with sending two of our four teenage daughters to college just a few weeks ago, a replacement chair is outside the realm of affordable for our family unless we get help from our family and friends. Every little bit that you can help us raise for a new chair will help Traci sustain her ability to have mobility. We thank you in advance for helping her and us continue the adventure of living life as joyously as possible through your giving.