A Van for Ginger Broslat

Anyone who knows Ginger knows how extraordinarily capable, competent and compassionate she is. That’s true whether you have worked with her at Hospice of Marion County or as a strategic communications consultant, through the Florida Public Relations Association or in any other capacity.

Ginger did not let a childhood diagnosis of muscular dystrophy – a progressive condition that causes muscle weakness and atrophy – get in the way of a life brimming with adventure. She earned her driver’s license; graduated from college and earned her master’s degree; went skydiving, parasailing, whitewater rafting; became a TV news journalist; and, most importantly, gave birth to her beautiful and perfectly healthy daughter, Brooke, who will soon make Ginger a Gigi.

You may also know Ginger from her book, “Fall Therapy: How to go down GRACEfully and RISE Triumphantly,” or from her TedXOcala Talk in which she encouraged us to:

“Build relationships with people you can trust to bring you the right chair … to hold that chair steady enough while you do the brave work to take the courage to pull up for that first step. Build relationships with people real enough and strong enough to put their foot behind your own and tell you, ‘I’m not going to let you slip back. I’m going to keep pushing you forward. You can do this.’”

Well, this is a moment when Ginger needs us, to have her back, to lift her up, during a very difficult time.

Ginger lost her customized van in a crash on Dec. 6. The first responders who cut her out of the wreckage nicknamed her “Nascar” because of the miraculous way she slalomed between stands of trees, avoiding near certain death.

Though Ginger survived, the power lift chair and specialized van so essential to her daily life and mobility were destroyed.

Her insurance would not replace the specialized chair with a similar model, one that enables her to fully relieve pressure on her hips and alleviate the pain of sitting in one position all the time. So when her auto insurance paid out on the van, a portion of that money went toward a new chair.

But Ginger really needs that customized van. She is working with Vocational Rehabilitation which will pay for the modifications, but she will still have to purchase a new van to receive that assistance.

She’s been limited to her condo community since December, unable to spend precious moments with her ailing mother. Her mom died in January but Ginger could not attend the visitation in person.

Ginger continued to work remotely from home until Feb. 15, when the next devastating shoe dropped. Ginger learned her position had been eliminated after close to six years.

No matter how you know Ginger, please join us in helping her move forward. Together we can say to her: “I’m not going to let you slip back. I’m going to keep pushing you forward. You can do this.”

With hope and gratitude,

Laura and Joe Byrnes and Dave and Amy Schlenker