A Car For Kara

I am writing this letter hoping it reaches the right eyes and kind hearts. I’m a 17 year old boy. I’ve been homeschooled my whole life by a wonderful single mom, Kara Stoltenberg. 5 years ago she was riding her bike in our neighborhood when she was involved in a hit and run accident. She was knocked unconscious and life flighted to a nearby hospital where she suffered many injuries including a life threatening liver laceration and traumatic brain injury. Thank goodness my mom survived but our lives completely changed.

For several months she couldn’t walk down the street without falling over. For 2 years she was not able to work because of her brain injury. Since she is self employed, this put a huge strain on us financially. With time she has slowly regained many functions but still remains unable to drive a car.

I want to be clear in stating that no one has told my mom she can’t drive. Her license has never been revoked. She just knows her limits and the task of driving includes many layers of visual and stimulation overlapping multiple decisions. That has been the challenge. She has worked to retrain the automated muscles of driving yet it remains an overwhelming task.

For several years she has relied on other people to drive her to appointments and other necessary things although she is fairly confined to our house. Since I turned 16, I’ve been able to help out with transportation but she still lacks the freedom she used to have.

As college approaches and the time for me to leave the house nears, I am looking to find a solution that will restore her freedom and give me peace of mind as I journey into my own life.

Recently, I had the treat of riding in a fully self-driving Tesla. I was amazed at how it navigated the roads with just a hand on the wheel. This got me thinking, “I think my mom could drive if she had a Tesla!”

We arranged dinner with the family that owned the Tesla and they graciously let her drive it to test it out. I sat in the backseat in complete awe. My mom, who hadn’t driven for nearly five years, was not only in the driver's seat, she drove for 45 minutes in the dark while it was raining! These are the worst driving conditions for her with her brain injury. Yet she could easily work in partnership with the Tesla to succeed at the task. After 45 minutes of driving on the interstate and all around town, we were all smiles arriving home to celebrate this success. My mom drove! And I realized the Tesla really is the answer!

Under our circumstances, we can’t afford the Tesla. But this car is clearly what my mom needs to get her freedom back. Driving is a huge step mentally and physically in her recovery. If you’ve made it this far I appreciate your time and ask how you can help our situation.

My momma is my world and her happiness and success is what I want most. It’s been a long journey but she is a fighter and we will keep fighting till we get her on the road and back on track.

I made this GoFundMe to help raise money to buy my mom a Tesla before I leave for college. Please consider donating to my cause.