Accessible vehicle for Alejandra
Donation protected
Wheelchair van for a differently-abled active little girl and her Mum.
Hello everyone, my name is Antonella Germanese and this is my daughter Alejandra who is 7yrs old.
Alejandra was born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus...a neurological birth disorder that happens very early on in pregnancy. There are 3 types of Spina Bifida, Alejandra was born with the most severe called Myelomeningocele. It's when the neural tube along the spine fails to close allowing a portion of the spinal cord to protrude from the back thus requiring surgery immediately after birth to close the opening. Along with this come all sorts of other complications and depending where along the spine the opening is results in partial or complete paralysis of those parts of the body that are below the spinal opening. For Alejandra this means little feeling below the waist to no feeling in her ankles and feet.
To learn more about our life journey as a family please visit us at ...http://aid4alej.weebly.com/ or on facebook...https://www.facebook.com/Aid4Alej/
Despite all her challenges, Alejandra is a beautiful, smart little girl with a strong personality! She loves the simple things like reading a book, listening to music or watching tv. Weekly she participates in swimming and wheelchair basketball with the Toronto Tornado's. At school her favourtie time of day is recess where she gets around very easily in her manual wheelchair while socializing and playing with her peers.
Overall I am Alejandra's only caregiver. I am a single Mom working part-time doing what I can so I can be there for my daughter. We enjoy doing things together however it has become increasinly harder on my body to get her and her wheelchair in/out of the van. I take her to/from school and all her other extra circular activities where sometimes I am lifting her (she is now over 50lbs and growing) and then her chair into the van 2 to 6 times a day sometimes more. And lets not mention all the other times throughout the day that there is a lift involved. Alejandra has a number of other pieces of equipment she uses daily so having the capacity to get her and her chair in/out of the van without me lifting would be a blessing!
An accessible van which has all the options I need to relieve some of the everyday stresses on my body costs anywhere from $60,000-$80,000...WOW right! I know! This price all depends on the year, make and model of the vehicle and then there is the conversion package to consider. This has been almost a year long process for us. I had lots to consider as this purchase is intended to last the next 10-15yrs. Here is an example of the van and conversion we are considering...
It will also have a power in floor ramp with power sliding doors and back hatch. For the future this allows Alejandra to sit in the front seat as a passenger and possibly have the option to driving when the time comes. I know, scarry thought but its coming. Plus then she can drive Mommy around...hehehe!
I have been very fortuate to qualify for some funding through various organizations that help families like mine. Plus together with some of my savings and other funds that were raised for Aid 4 Alej a few years back I am only short $10,000
Alejandra and I hope you will consider making a donation in support of this purchase for an accessible van. We are almost there and the deadline to use all funds allocated from other sources has an expiry date that is fast approaching. Any dollar amount will be a big help! Alejandra and I thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness. From our home to yours...we wish you many blessings!
Hello everyone, my name is Antonella Germanese and this is my daughter Alejandra who is 7yrs old.
Alejandra was born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus...a neurological birth disorder that happens very early on in pregnancy. There are 3 types of Spina Bifida, Alejandra was born with the most severe called Myelomeningocele. It's when the neural tube along the spine fails to close allowing a portion of the spinal cord to protrude from the back thus requiring surgery immediately after birth to close the opening. Along with this come all sorts of other complications and depending where along the spine the opening is results in partial or complete paralysis of those parts of the body that are below the spinal opening. For Alejandra this means little feeling below the waist to no feeling in her ankles and feet.
To learn more about our life journey as a family please visit us at ...http://aid4alej.weebly.com/ or on facebook...https://www.facebook.com/Aid4Alej/
Despite all her challenges, Alejandra is a beautiful, smart little girl with a strong personality! She loves the simple things like reading a book, listening to music or watching tv. Weekly she participates in swimming and wheelchair basketball with the Toronto Tornado's. At school her favourtie time of day is recess where she gets around very easily in her manual wheelchair while socializing and playing with her peers.
Overall I am Alejandra's only caregiver. I am a single Mom working part-time doing what I can so I can be there for my daughter. We enjoy doing things together however it has become increasinly harder on my body to get her and her wheelchair in/out of the van. I take her to/from school and all her other extra circular activities where sometimes I am lifting her (she is now over 50lbs and growing) and then her chair into the van 2 to 6 times a day sometimes more. And lets not mention all the other times throughout the day that there is a lift involved. Alejandra has a number of other pieces of equipment she uses daily so having the capacity to get her and her chair in/out of the van without me lifting would be a blessing!
An accessible van which has all the options I need to relieve some of the everyday stresses on my body costs anywhere from $60,000-$80,000...WOW right! I know! This price all depends on the year, make and model of the vehicle and then there is the conversion package to consider. This has been almost a year long process for us. I had lots to consider as this purchase is intended to last the next 10-15yrs. Here is an example of the van and conversion we are considering...
It will also have a power in floor ramp with power sliding doors and back hatch. For the future this allows Alejandra to sit in the front seat as a passenger and possibly have the option to driving when the time comes. I know, scarry thought but its coming. Plus then she can drive Mommy around...hehehe!
I have been very fortuate to qualify for some funding through various organizations that help families like mine. Plus together with some of my savings and other funds that were raised for Aid 4 Alej a few years back I am only short $10,000
Alejandra and I hope you will consider making a donation in support of this purchase for an accessible van. We are almost there and the deadline to use all funds allocated from other sources has an expiry date that is fast approaching. Any dollar amount will be a big help! Alejandra and I thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness. From our home to yours...we wish you many blessings!
Organizer
Antonella Germanese
Organizer
Oshawa, ON
