Van & Home Modifications for Evan!
Donation protected
Hello, we are the Greuling family :)
We are a hardworking, fun loving, Navy family of nine. We have seven sweet blessings, ages 6 to 14. Our two oldest kiddos (twins) were born prematurely and as a result have cerebral palsy. Our Evan's cerebral palsy is much more involved and he is confined to a wheelchair. Now my health is failing, after years of caring for our little ones.
Due to our family health issues, in an effort to make life better for our large family, we recently used what little savings we had to buy our forever house here in TN. We did this so that my husband, who has served in the military for over twenty years, could retire here and no longer go on long deployments. We pray that one day we can make our home more wheelchair friendly and suitable for caring for our family's special needs. With my failing health, I am fighting to make sure we have everything we need to help us live life as normally as we can with our conditions. There are many modifications that need to be done to our home for us to function. There is a second level of our home that Evan and I can't even access!
Shortly after our move, our family van caught fire, while we were in the van with Evan. We are so grateful that we were able to get Evan out of the van in time! However, the van was a total loss. :(
Before the van caught fire, we were desperately trying to come up with the funds to have a much-needed wheelchair lift put in the van. Now, not only do we not have a wheelchair lift for Evan, we do not even have a van for our family. While we had auto insurance, the amount they are giving us (under $2,000) to replace our van does not even come close to being enough to buy a replacement. This van was our ONLY means for going anywhere as a family. Without it we can't do even the simplest of things like go to much needed doctor’s appointments, go to church, attend school functions, grocery runs, or go anywhere as a family. As you can imagine we have many vital doctor’s appointment. While our 15-passenger van was not the most sporty or luxury vehicle, it fit our family’s needs with the exception of a wheelchair lift. Our life has been turned upside down without or van. It breaks our hearts that ALL of our children are suffering without this van.
Robbie and Evan were born at 28 weeks and both boys were diagnosed with Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). ( a type of brain injury that affects infants. The condition involves the death of small areas of brain tissue around fluid-filled areas called ventricles. The damage creates "holes" in the brain. "Leuko" refers to the brain's white matter and "periventricular" refers to the area around the ventricles.)
Evan has also been diagnosed with failure to thrive and scoliosis. He WAS doing the combat crawl as a todler before having double hip and groin muscle surgery because his hips were dislocating. The groin muscles in his legs were cut too short by mistake and as a result his bone growth was too rapid for the muscles to catch up, the bones outgrew his muscles. His hips are permanently dislocated and swept to one side. This surgery that was supposed to help relieve his pain and help him one day walk, left him in unbareable pain and unable to ever even crawl again! He has undergone 6 surguries and sadly, there will be more in his future.
Robbie is on the autistic spectrum. (A range of conditions (from autism to Asperger’s syndrome) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior) He also has one leg that is shorter than the other and arthritis. One side of his body is more weak than the other due to the cerebral palsy. He struggles, but is determined to be more independent like other teenagers his age.
Our adventure as a big family with extra special siblings has been difficult, but VERY rewarding.
My long lasting medical issues have become much worse. I have been diagnosed with Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I also suffer with severe Ligament Laxity (most joints), which causes chronic pain and nearly daily joint dislocations and occurs in only about five percent of the population . I have been advised that as my condition progresses I will one day be in a wheelchair. My doctor also believes I could be in the early stages of MS. I can no longer lift Evan, certainly not his wheelchair, like I could before. This is why a wheelchair lift is SO important. It breaks my heart to think of all the things Evan, and all of our children, are missing out on without our van. As a mother, not being able to take care of our children like I used to, is devastating.
My husband and I hate to ask for help, because we have always taken pride in our ability to take care of our family’s needs on our own. However, we have to do what is best for our children, they come first before any kind of pride we may have. They are our world! We have tried for so long on our own, we desperately need the help! We cannot care for our family without a dependable van and modifications to our home. A large enough van for our family of nine, with a wheelchair lift and home modifications would be our lifeline!
We pray that if you are in a position to help us, that you would find it in your heart to do so. If you are not in a position to donate, please SHARE our link. If you know us personally, please take a moment to leave a comment about our family. Folks need to know that we are a real family with a real need. We would be eternally grateful.
We are a hardworking, fun loving, Navy family of nine. We have seven sweet blessings, ages 6 to 14. Our two oldest kiddos (twins) were born prematurely and as a result have cerebral palsy. Our Evan's cerebral palsy is much more involved and he is confined to a wheelchair. Now my health is failing, after years of caring for our little ones.
Due to our family health issues, in an effort to make life better for our large family, we recently used what little savings we had to buy our forever house here in TN. We did this so that my husband, who has served in the military for over twenty years, could retire here and no longer go on long deployments. We pray that one day we can make our home more wheelchair friendly and suitable for caring for our family's special needs. With my failing health, I am fighting to make sure we have everything we need to help us live life as normally as we can with our conditions. There are many modifications that need to be done to our home for us to function. There is a second level of our home that Evan and I can't even access!
Shortly after our move, our family van caught fire, while we were in the van with Evan. We are so grateful that we were able to get Evan out of the van in time! However, the van was a total loss. :(
Before the van caught fire, we were desperately trying to come up with the funds to have a much-needed wheelchair lift put in the van. Now, not only do we not have a wheelchair lift for Evan, we do not even have a van for our family. While we had auto insurance, the amount they are giving us (under $2,000) to replace our van does not even come close to being enough to buy a replacement. This van was our ONLY means for going anywhere as a family. Without it we can't do even the simplest of things like go to much needed doctor’s appointments, go to church, attend school functions, grocery runs, or go anywhere as a family. As you can imagine we have many vital doctor’s appointment. While our 15-passenger van was not the most sporty or luxury vehicle, it fit our family’s needs with the exception of a wheelchair lift. Our life has been turned upside down without or van. It breaks our hearts that ALL of our children are suffering without this van.
Robbie and Evan were born at 28 weeks and both boys were diagnosed with Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). ( a type of brain injury that affects infants. The condition involves the death of small areas of brain tissue around fluid-filled areas called ventricles. The damage creates "holes" in the brain. "Leuko" refers to the brain's white matter and "periventricular" refers to the area around the ventricles.)
Evan has also been diagnosed with failure to thrive and scoliosis. He WAS doing the combat crawl as a todler before having double hip and groin muscle surgery because his hips were dislocating. The groin muscles in his legs were cut too short by mistake and as a result his bone growth was too rapid for the muscles to catch up, the bones outgrew his muscles. His hips are permanently dislocated and swept to one side. This surgery that was supposed to help relieve his pain and help him one day walk, left him in unbareable pain and unable to ever even crawl again! He has undergone 6 surguries and sadly, there will be more in his future.
Robbie is on the autistic spectrum. (A range of conditions (from autism to Asperger’s syndrome) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior) He also has one leg that is shorter than the other and arthritis. One side of his body is more weak than the other due to the cerebral palsy. He struggles, but is determined to be more independent like other teenagers his age.
Our adventure as a big family with extra special siblings has been difficult, but VERY rewarding.
My long lasting medical issues have become much worse. I have been diagnosed with Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I also suffer with severe Ligament Laxity (most joints), which causes chronic pain and nearly daily joint dislocations and occurs in only about five percent of the population . I have been advised that as my condition progresses I will one day be in a wheelchair. My doctor also believes I could be in the early stages of MS. I can no longer lift Evan, certainly not his wheelchair, like I could before. This is why a wheelchair lift is SO important. It breaks my heart to think of all the things Evan, and all of our children, are missing out on without our van. As a mother, not being able to take care of our children like I used to, is devastating. My husband and I hate to ask for help, because we have always taken pride in our ability to take care of our family’s needs on our own. However, we have to do what is best for our children, they come first before any kind of pride we may have. They are our world! We have tried for so long on our own, we desperately need the help! We cannot care for our family without a dependable van and modifications to our home. A large enough van for our family of nine, with a wheelchair lift and home modifications would be our lifeline!
We pray that if you are in a position to help us, that you would find it in your heart to do so. If you are not in a position to donate, please SHARE our link. If you know us personally, please take a moment to leave a comment about our family. Folks need to know that we are a real family with a real need. We would be eternally grateful.
Organizer
Jennifer Parks-Wichmann Greuling
Organizer
Munford, TN
