Uvaldo's wheelchair-accessible van

Over three years ago on November 4, 2014, I received one of those phone calls no one wants to receive.  My mother called at around 5 am saying, "Your brother was in an accident on his way to work!"

I immediately asked How? Where?  She said we don't know, he never made it to work this morning.  My brother, Uvaldo, was on his way to work in the wee hours of the morning.  He worked at BNSF Railway in Amarillo, Texas.

My mom and dad began driving from Littlefield, Texas towards Amarillo (roughly a two-long drive) in search for my brother.

I heard back about 30 minutes later.  My mother told me that my brother had been in a car accident on his way to work.  He was being flown by emergency helicopter to a hospital in Amarillo, Texas.  I knew I had to hit the road and drive to the hospital in Amarillo.

The next few months were full of sleepless nights at the hospital.  He stayed in Amarillo for more than a month before being transferred to Lubbock, Texas.  He was in the hospital for months, surgery after surgery.

When he finally went home from the hospital in the fall of 2015, things were a lot different.

My brother is no longer the active person I used to know.  He was always going places, he loved rock concerts, working out and enjoying life.  Now, he is at home.  He doesn't go anywhere.  He is recovering but it's a slow process.

He is no longer able to do anything for himself.  He was sent home from the hospital because medically he was fit to go home.  But physically, he cannot walk or stand up on his own.  He needs a dedicated care person 24 hours a day.  His medical insurance doesn't pay for someone to care for my brother.  Medicare doesn't either.  He doesn't qualify for a rehab facility and the little therapy he receives is not enough to help him walk.

My mother is the only one there for him!  She has been there for more than three years and continues to take care of my brother.  There have been others that help when they can.  I try to do as much as I can but Fort Worth is a long way from Littlefield, Texas.

My younger brothers help when they can.  They do so much more than I have ever done.  I am grateful for my siblings and all they do for our brother, Uvaldo.  We all know that Uvaldo would do the same for us if we were in his shoes.  He did so much for us before the accident.

Uvaldo was always a generous person.  He always provided for his loved ones when he worked at BNSF Railway.  He made a good living and he was always willing to make others' lives better.  He gave freely!  Uvaldo has a very kind heart, he enjoyed helping other people.

Now it's my turn to do what I can for Uvaldo Ramirez!  It's my turn to find a way to help him.

This is the reason I have created this GoFundMe page.  My brother is in need of a wheelchair-accessible van so we can take him to doctor visits and other places.  A van will allow us to take him places so he can enjoy a world outside his house once again.  A van will allow my brother to go to Lubbock from time to time.  People who live in small towns in West Texas enjoy the big city just 32 miles away.  Lubbock is the place to go, maybe to a drive-in movie.  Maybe to a Texas Tech football game.

This vehicle is needed by the end of December 2017.  Any money donated here will be used for the purchase of a wheelchair-accessible van, new or used. 

There's so much that goes into these wheelchair-accessible van. See how one is built here.  And these are so expensive.  A new van will be ideal but a used one will work too.  

If you can help with a donation of any amount, I will appreciate it greatly.  If you know of an organization that can provide a grant for such a van, please let me know.

If you can't donate, please share my brother's web site to anyone who may want to read his story.

Thank you for taking time to read his story!  May God bless your generosity!

More photos at www.UvaldoRamirez.com