Kurt's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Hi,
I’m writing on behalf of my friend Kurt Leschkies. My name is Jane Carvey and I am paralyzed (from the chest down) due to a spinal cord injury from a bicycle accident 17 years ago. It was a devastating, life altering experience that effected not only me but my family and friends as well. My life was turned upside down realizing I was permanently resigned to living in a wheelchair and unable to perform the simplest of tasks. What I was totally unprepared for was the cost of all the equipment and assistance that would be needed on a daily basis.
On a yearly basis it is necessary to budget an additional $70,000-$85,000 to provide for basic needs. This includes caregivers which could cost up to $150 or more a day. Purchasing durable medical equipment (a shower chair, wheelchair and repairs, patient lifts, adapted automobile and repairs, hospital bed, commode, portable ramps, and smaller less expensive items such as under-pads, vinyl gloves, medications, various creams and ointments, catheter kits etc.). A wheel chair can cost up to $50,000, and insurance only covers 80%. A major expense came from adapting my house to make it suitable to get into most of the rooms and being able to reach and operate light switches, doorknobs, drawers, TV remotes and phones.
17 years ago my community, friends, colleagues and family united to provide any support they could. There were fundraisers that raised up to $90,000 which enabled my family to modify our home and paid for much of the durable medical equipment that insurance would not cover. I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. It’s saved me both physically and mentally. As low as my spirits were the community's support was a testament to what human kindness and generosity could do.
My friend, Kurt Leschkies, just sustained a spinal cord injury in May. He fell off a beam while working on his own home and has paralysis from the chest down. By trade Kurt is a contractor for custom homes. He and his wife Yvonne (who is working for school district 118), were supportive of me back when I broke my neck. Kurt (who I didn’t know at the time), built my deck with a ramp at no expense, would drive me around to various engagements, and came over to visit. His life is now turned upside down as mine was, but he has a fighting spirit and a positive attitude that will sustain him and help him to recover as much as possible.
I pledge to make this transitional period in his life as easy as possible. Therefore I decided to set up this fundraiser in hopes that others will help in this endeavor. I figured it’s my turn to pay it forward. How about you.
Sincerely,
Jane Carvey
Organizer and beneficiary
Jane Carvey
Organizer
Palos Heights, IL
Kurt Leschkies
Beneficiary