- J
- M
- D
Hi, my name is Jean Borgrud-Ahl. In 2000, I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and there is where it all started. My MS didn’t present itself much in the early days. I medicated with weekly injections so I was always very aware “it” was there. In 2004, my husband, Dave, was sent to Abbott Northwestern with what they thought was maybe brain cancer but was actually brain abscesses. They operated and after weeks of antibiotics the total right side hemiparesis caused by the pressure of the abscesses corrected. He was released to my care where I continued to administer an antibiotic through is pique line. Things seemed to be going pretty smoothly when we were laid off and our jobs went overseas in 2006. The stress of us both losing our jobs and the crumbling economy sent my MS into a tailspin. At this point, I applied and was awarded disability in 2006. Struggling to maintain our ground, we lost our home of 10 years in 2011 and moved into our camper. Since then, my mobility has been slowly slipping away. I went from a cane, to a walker, and now for distance and duration, I need a scooter but I am still getting around!
The opportunity to buy a house and move out of the camper after 5 years, have put me in a place of much financial stress. I am faced with updating this home as well as equipping it to meet the needs of my disability. I also have to be realistic and look ahead to advanced stages of my disease. I will need to set up sleeping quarters on the ground floor because currently all bedrooms are upstairs. There is only a toilet on the main level so a complete handicapped accessible bathroom will need to be installed downstairs. A lift chair in the living room would not only aide me in getting up and down but help with transfers. The house needs doors and windows but we can work with that if my immediate needs of sleeping and bathing can be met. It comes to mind that maybe purchasing a home more suitable would be a better solution but financially this home is a better fit and it also provides us with the space to garden. My husband currently works a night job which provides us with the schedule flexibility that I need from him. This type of work schedule enables him to implement my daily cares and take me to doctor appointments and scheduled medication therapy; as well as physical therapy when it is necessary. Your financial help in making these home modifications so I can maintain my current level of independence is what I am seeking.
My name is Dawn and I am Dave and Jean’s niece. There are so many things I would love to tell you about my aunt and uncle but there is not enough paper and time. I will note that I love them both very much. With that, I would like to encourage you to consider a donation to their plans to revamp their new home. There are many additions that need to be made for my aunt to be mobile in her home; a few new additions are hand railings, installation of a handicap accessible bathroom, and possibly a new scooter. Understand these are expensive adjustments and that without the help of you and the community it will be a struggle for them to pay for it in the long run. Any help will be a huge hand up and not a hand out!!!
Hi, my name is Tami Kobienia and I am one of Jean’s cheerleaders, her physical therapist and friend. I met Jean through her physical therapy interventions at ACMC’s Balance Center. During her time at therapy I became familiar with her functional abilities and her perseverance in fighting her MS to maintain independence and her way of life. If you know Jean, then you know nothing stops Jean. She will find a way to meet her goals.
As Jean transitions into her new home she will need to remodel and add features that allow for her continued independence, like handicap accessible entrances, wider doorways, grab bars, a handicap accessible bathroom, etc. I am challenging all her family and friends to help create her home into the space she needs and so richly deserves. With our help Jean’s future is established, and she can concentrate her efforts on the real fight- to live her best life, and stop MS in its tracks!
Tami Kobienia, MA, PT
The opportunity to buy a house and move out of the camper after 5 years, have put me in a place of much financial stress. I am faced with updating this home as well as equipping it to meet the needs of my disability. I also have to be realistic and look ahead to advanced stages of my disease. I will need to set up sleeping quarters on the ground floor because currently all bedrooms are upstairs. There is only a toilet on the main level so a complete handicapped accessible bathroom will need to be installed downstairs. A lift chair in the living room would not only aide me in getting up and down but help with transfers. The house needs doors and windows but we can work with that if my immediate needs of sleeping and bathing can be met. It comes to mind that maybe purchasing a home more suitable would be a better solution but financially this home is a better fit and it also provides us with the space to garden. My husband currently works a night job which provides us with the schedule flexibility that I need from him. This type of work schedule enables him to implement my daily cares and take me to doctor appointments and scheduled medication therapy; as well as physical therapy when it is necessary. Your financial help in making these home modifications so I can maintain my current level of independence is what I am seeking.
My name is Dawn and I am Dave and Jean’s niece. There are so many things I would love to tell you about my aunt and uncle but there is not enough paper and time. I will note that I love them both very much. With that, I would like to encourage you to consider a donation to their plans to revamp their new home. There are many additions that need to be made for my aunt to be mobile in her home; a few new additions are hand railings, installation of a handicap accessible bathroom, and possibly a new scooter. Understand these are expensive adjustments and that without the help of you and the community it will be a struggle for them to pay for it in the long run. Any help will be a huge hand up and not a hand out!!!
Hi, my name is Tami Kobienia and I am one of Jean’s cheerleaders, her physical therapist and friend. I met Jean through her physical therapy interventions at ACMC’s Balance Center. During her time at therapy I became familiar with her functional abilities and her perseverance in fighting her MS to maintain independence and her way of life. If you know Jean, then you know nothing stops Jean. She will find a way to meet her goals.
As Jean transitions into her new home she will need to remodel and add features that allow for her continued independence, like handicap accessible entrances, wider doorways, grab bars, a handicap accessible bathroom, etc. I am challenging all her family and friends to help create her home into the space she needs and so richly deserves. With our help Jean’s future is established, and she can concentrate her efforts on the real fight- to live her best life, and stop MS in its tracks!
Tami Kobienia, MA, PT