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Need Wheelchair Accessible Van

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Hello, my name is Amy Schmitt. I am the single mother of my wonderful 13 year old Jacob, who is Special Needs. Jacob was born with Crainosynostosis. He would need surgery to correct the shape of his eye socket, forehead and the back of his skull. When he was four months old he had the first of what has become a lifetime of operations. After several hours and just before the operation was completed he hemorrhaged. He coded twice, he went through 32 units of plasma. The surgeons worked over four more hours to save him. 
While in a medicine induced coma from the surgery he had a stroke, a blood clot and seizures. He was in the ICU and the step-down unit for 15 days. The trauma left Jacob with brain damage and paralyzed on his right side. He had to have a shunt to control the fluid on his brain. Shunt malfunctions became a regular occurance over the years. He cannot sit or rollover by himself so he depends upon me to lift him, transport him and all his daily activities.
Over the years, Jacob had several more operations to cover the opening left in his skull due to swelling from his first operation. He had to wear a helmet to protect his head during this time. The operation was finally a success when the surgeons took two of his rib bones to close the opening in his skull - two more operations. 
Jacob once contacted an infection in his head from a shunt malfunction operation the previous week and was hospitalized 71 days, having several more operations. Several years later he was diagnosed with Albrights Hereditary Osteodystrophy. A year ago Jacob had to have a feeding tube due to not eating and a drastic weight loss. With weight loss the doctors discovered he has Scoliosis. He wears a wrist brace, braces on both feet and now a back brace. He missed 18 months of school. He has had over 70 surgeries. Let me tell you - this is one strong little guy.The good news is his appetite seems to have returned to normal so hope- fully he will soon be able to have the feeding tube removed.
Jacob remains happy at all times throughout all he has endured. He loves school and the bus ride to school. Jacob loves to play in the pool especially going under water. In the winter I take him for
indoor swimming and in the summer he is in grandma's pool - for hours. He also loves going for walks with his papa. Jacob is on a baseball team for handicapped children - the Downriver Panthers - he loves it. He laughes all the way around the bases. 
My son is a lot of work but I still consider myself one lucky mom.  His happiness, his joy makes everything easier and my world and those who love him a little brighter.  
I am looking for funding to purchase a much needed wheelchair accessible van for the many weekly appointments and doctors visits.The van I drive is on its last leg with over 200,000 miles on it, no longer safe or reliable. It has actually broken down two times in the past few weeks - needing repairs.To visit his cousins in NC or any driving not local we take his papa's F150 - it takes two of us to lift him up onto the seat and to lift his wheelchair  up into the back of the truck.
Obviously I cannot work. The ex-husband, Jacob's father is completely out of the picture. There will never be a cent of support from him and hasn't been for several years. The other grandparents do not help. My parents help with housing and living expenses.
If you could help us in purchasing a van it would be life changing for us..we could never thank you enough.

Thank you ,
Amy Schmitt
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Donations 

  • Gabrielle Burkett
    • $100 
    • 10 yrs
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Organizer

Amy Schmitt
Organizer
Romulus, MI

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