Last year after taking a fall from my wheelchair I developed skin issues. These issues turned into a bigger problem which sent me to the hospital for better treatment. What I thought was going to be a simple evaluation and plan of treatment quickly became more serious. Suddenly I was being air lifted to Jefferson Main Hospital and intubated as my breathing became too weak to breath on my own. It wasn’t clear if I would live. For 14 days I was on life support until finally I began to support my own breathing. It had turned out to be a massive infection on my spinal hardware (put in when I had my initial car accident 14 years ago). I had complete reconstruction surgery of the spinal hardware to take care of the infection but from the intubation and months spent on a hospital bed I developed more pressure sores on my backside.

For the past, almost year, I have been in the hospital and nursing facility trying to heal. I’ve finally made it home this year but am continuing to battle the sores that developed. I have an in home hospital bed and have Homecare weekly. After years of getting myself fully independent from my manual wheelchair, my strength has weakened incredibly from so much time in bed. I was lucky enough to have a family member gift me a power wheelchair to get around my home. However this has posed a new issue as I have no transportation to get myself and the wheelchair to doctors appointments or just normal errands. But fortunately an opportunity has come up from some very nice people, offering a great deal on a used accessible van! Unfortunately, though, between the new and ongoing medical bills and regular monthly expenses, finding the funds for this vehicle is hard.

So, somewhat reluctantly, I’m trying this route of putting my pride aside and asking for help. It would change my life drastically to be able to get to appointments that I’ve put off due to the enormous cost of a daily rental. I’d be able to see certain doctors I haven’t yet made appointments for because of an unknown of how to get there. Not only that but I’d be able to get out into our community again and run simple errands and grocery shop! It will help to give me back my independence and freedom!

I know it’s a hard time for everyone out here right now so I know it’s not an ideal time to ask. But as my mom has always told me, “it doesn’t hurt to ask.” Any little bit could help.