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Handicap Van for Twins With CP

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We need your help! Our twins Mia and Maya are our miracle twins born extremely premature at just 24 weeks.  Considered Micro Preemies, Maya was born at 1.3oz and Mia under a pound at 15oz.  They both have Cerebal Palsy and Mia has most of the lingering additional issues such as profound hearing loss and Intellectual Delays.  They dont walk, Mia doesn't talk hear or speak and she has glaucoma now in both eyes and there are numourous medical treatments including many surgeries. One that's an exam under anesthesia/possible surgery (if they find something)  all the way in Miami.  We have taken almost 20 trips in the past 4  years.  This is when we realized the extreme dire need for a handicap van.  We currently have a 2006 SUV that is literally falling apart.  From major work needing to be done to smaller issues like the doorhandles that keep breaking.    We are down to just one and it's on the way to being broken.  I have to climb in the back to start my car and roll the window down.  Such and inconvienience when I have to put two 4 1/2 yr old children in their car seats (which they are outgrowing and Mia can't do a booster seat cause of lack of head control). 
.  ****((Update 04/25/15 door handles are fixed but the car broke down--timing belt busted and some other issues--- over $2,000 to get it running again.  Quote to fix everything closer to $3,000)
I am unable to go anywhere by myself unless my husband is with me because I can't get Mia's wheelchair in the car without any assistance.  At school, her teacher has to come outside to help me get it in the car.  It's even hard to get it out of the car.  After getting help with Mia's chair, I then take Maya's chair completely apart to stuff it in the vehicle, as you can see in the picture.  I always need an extra 15-20 minutes per trip and God forbid it rains.    They have outgrown their double stroller which I am still forced to use if my husband can't get out of work to help me at an appointment. ***UPdate Eddie just takes time off of work now and  Mia attends a different school now and takes the bus but Maya still gets picked up***** We've made it work the best we can however we are at a point that we know we need a proper handicap van.   We have had to rent a mini van to make the trips to Miami.  With the wheelchairs taking up all the space in our trunk area there's no room for luggage and it's just and uncomfortable trip when we don't rent one (which was just one time).  How sweet it would be and such a blessing to just roll my kids in the handicapp van, properly seated in their custom wheelchairs. The extra room for the 5 of us because the twins have an older sister Melinda who is also growing and is now being squeezed tight between both car seats.  Please help us!  Please share this page!  I know we are asking what seems to be alot, but we have looked at new handicap vans and we are hoping for new because we need something completely reliable for the long trips and hope to not have to worry about something for a while.  This is the average price we have seen.  We havn't done alot of research but have visited a car lot selling just cutom vans and have looked online a bit.   People ask why not just get a good used one?  I looked at one and got scared when the motorized ramp got stuck.  No thanks lol.  What about a new one and pay for the features needed?  It adds up to about the same.   Why not just a mini van no handicap features, It still will be bigger? True, bigger is better however the wheelchairs are heavy enough that 3ft vs 1ft makes no difference it's still heavy and I still have to find a way to lift it in the car.  Something even my stonger than me hubby has a problem with when we have the rental.  What about a lift in the back? We have 2 chairs, plus I still have to get the other chair out the back. People have asked us these questions and we have considered and looked into many and all options.  We are still up for suggestions.   I will post videos of us featured talking about our girls so you can see our story is ligit if you don't personally know us.  It's extremely humbling to have to ask this way.  Me being a public figure as a radio personality in Orlando, most People may think I make a great deal of money but I'm just part time, barely working. Please help even if you just have a couple of dollars.  Maybe friends and family can donate instead of presents during birthdays and holidays.   Having this handicap van would be such a blessing for my family. Who would of thought a mini van would be our new dream vehicle! lol
Thank you for reading!
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Donations 

  • Mara Bella
    • $50 
    • 8 yrs
  • Kara Killen
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 9 yrs
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Organizer

Lizzette Perez
Organizer
Sanford, FL

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