A Wheelchair Van for Wiley

Wiley Douglass suffered a debilitating stroke in March of 2017. Since then he has been in and out of hospital and rehabilitation facilities and has received countless hours of therapy, however he remains paralyzed and unable to care for himself. He is currently at home being cared for by Jean, his loving wife of almost 60 years. Jean is determined that Wiley will remain at home for as long as possible and wants to provide him with the highest quality of life possible in their current situation. One of the greatest challenges is being able to leave the house as they do not have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

Below is a note from Jean:

I think the isolation is the worst part of Wiley's stroke and his Parkinson's disease. He has to be in a wheelchair when he is not in bed. We have some visitors, but we don't leave the house very much. It is very difficult for me to get him in and out of our vehicle now, even with a special hoist. It costs too much to hire a special van, and public transportation is not an option. 

As a retired U.S. Army veteran, former police officer and softball coach, Wiley was used to being active. Being "confined to quarters" is a hardship on both of us. We miss being able to visit our family and friends, go to church, and participate in our community like we used to.

We live simple, and like others of our generations, we have always been self-reliant. It is difficult for us to ask, however he are hoping for help to purchase a used wheelchair-accessible van or SUV. It would mean freedom for Wiley, and it would bless us both more than you could possibly know.

Thank you and God bless you,

Jean and Wiley